Monday, January 14, 2013

What’s in a name? Hazelnut vs. Filbert vs. Cobnut

Hazelnuts... one of my favorite nuts!

What is the difference between a Hazelnut and a Filbert and a Cobnut? This is a convoluted issue with a lot of history, but here is my best attempt to piece it all together:

To begin with, there are between 14-18 species in the Corylus genus, depending on the botanist. All of the Corylus species are technically in the Corylaceae Family which many modern botanists are calling the Hazel family. Therefore all Corylus species produce “hazelnuts” in a general term.

Shelled Hazelnuts.

The name “hazel” likely comes from the Anglo-Saxon word haesel which means bonnet or head-dress. This describes the shape of the shell surrounding the nut. It is unlikely describing the color of the nut.

Many hundreds of years ago, the hazel species in Britain were given the common name “filbert”. Species that were discovered by British botanists in later years were often given the common name filbert if they were a shrub and hazel if they were a tree.

So where did the name “filbert” come from? There are two possible reasons for this name. The first is that the nuts mature around 22 August, a.k.a. St. Philibert’s Day (Saint Philibert of Jumieges was a French monk). The second reason is that the husked shell of a hazelnut resembles a beard, and the German word for “full beard” is vollbart. Over time, with English influences, this word may have became “filbert”. However, no one is really sure which the real origin of the name is.

With all that said, any Corylus species that have the common name “filbert” (i.e. European Filberts, Common Filbert, etc.) produce filberts, but they technically are all hazelnuts.

Kentish Cobnuts... fresh and ready to eat.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1192/1349145989_e09bbfcd0f.jpg

Now to further confuse the issue, some varieties of hazels grown in Britain are called “cobnuts”. This was based on a game kids used to play with the nuts where the winning nut was called the cob. Most cobnuts are cultivars of a variety named Kentish Cob. Cobnuts are also unique in that they are typically sold fresh, not dried. This gives the nuts a seasonal market and unique culinary uses.

To be complete in my explanation, some will say that filberts are longer and thinner, and non-filberts are shorter and more round. This is sometimes true, but is often based on species and varieties/cultivars.

A selection of nuts from an unspecified and unnamed group of British trees.
Note the variation on sizes and shapes... 

Finally, what really throws this whole naming scheme off is that people have regional preferences for what they call the nut from Corylus species. If you are in eastern North America, they may be called either filberts or hazelnuts depending on your family history. If you are in the Pacific Northwest, they are filberts to the older generation; the younger generation knows them as hazelnuts thanks to marketing starting in 1981. If you are in England or Europe, you probably call then filberts unless you specifically are speaking about cobnuts. If you are in Turkey, you probably call them hazelnuts. Of course, in Asia the local names are completely different.

So there you have it. In the end, I don't really care what they are called. These are just one of my favorite nuts!

Stay tuned for more information about growing Hazels.

133 comments:

  1. Have you been trackinging with the recent release of Mark Shepherd's book http://www.forestag.com/ restoration agriculture?

    Sounds like his operation is intensive on the use of hazelnuts.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What makes you think these nuts are called "hazelnuts" in Turkey? They are not.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was in the upstate NY. I saw it in one of the market and just jumped on it. St the register, the girl asked what it is, I said hazelnut. That's what the dictionary said when I was learning Einglish. She said no, this is something else. Then she read the script on the package. Lo and behold (hehehe) it said filbert. I felt ashamed, as if I was trying to cheat the lady. Anyways, in Turkey, we call it fındık. (Joke's on you now. Try to read it. i without the dot.). The people from the region where it us grown most call it finduk in their own accent. We have longer ones, round ones, big ones and smaller ones. We call them all hazelnuts, I mean fınfık. When I was in the region with a friend we saw really big ones on a market window. We had the intention to buy them later. Then we learnt from the locals that they are not good for eating and that we shoul go for the smallest ones, which they called them piko (like pico) if my memory serves me well. So the size matters but the smaller ones are better. Like "less is more". Some has more fat content and they are good for pruducing hazelnut oil. It was exported to Italy for a while and sold as olive oil there or they exported to other countries as olive oil until some gourmet guy realised it is not. That the info in a nutshell.

      Delete
  3. Wow, you've really . . . cleared things up . . .

    I use both terms, and love both nuts! (Never heard the term "cobnut" before)

    ReplyDelete
  4. German is Haselnuss so it is likely more Saxon than Anglo. BTW French call it noisette or aveline.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Both the Angles and Saxons were north German speaking tribes, it could have come from either.

      Delete
  5. Growing up in the hills of W.V., if you were fortunate enough to find a hazelnut tree in the wild and could keep the location a secret, it was certainly a treat for the Christmas Holiday Season. A bit larger than a big pea or gooseberry, Mom used them to dress up the taste of just about everything from turkey stuffing to sprinkles on a cake. Just fun to remember those days.




    ReplyDelete
  6. We call them Hazelnuts and Cobnuts in the UK, certainly not Filberts. I'd never even heard the word before I came across your page and certainly never heard anyone call hazels that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We always called them cobnuts in the wild and hazelnuts if they were bought. In fact, as kids, most of us were unaware they were the same nut as they have a completely different taste when eaten fresh from the tree as opposed to the dried shop bought variety.

      Delete
  7. We do call them filberts where I'm from in the UK (London/Essex area) - possibly a regional thing? - or generational? (I'm in my mid-40s) My friend Hazel's nickname at school was Filbert. It's more common here to call them Hazelnuts though and only occasionally have I heard the term Cobnuts.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Football nuts will know that Leicester City's former home was Filbert Street, close to Walnut Street, Brazil Street, Chestnut Street, Almond Road and even Hazel Street - so the builders of these Victorian terraces certainly recognised a difference.
    Just a matter of taste, but I like Kentish Cobs better than the skinnier Filberts.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Just want to add to your information base about hazelnut naming. We had three trees in our backyard in Portland, Oregon USA when we moved there in 1958. Mom and Dad always called these hazelnut trees. I never heard the name filbert until I was much older.
    Our Wilamette Valley hazelnuts are a major crop...very large nuts... prized in China at this time. Because we have a native hazel, Corylus cornuta var. californica...the beaked hazel....we grow them easily as bird cover and as a forest crop.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I've lived in Oregon my entire life and always called these nuts Filberts...only in recent years have I heard the term Hazelnuts...I still call them Filberts...

    ReplyDelete
  11. My mom always called them filberts. She was born in Peoria, IL & grew up in the upper east area of Michigan's lower peninsula.

    ReplyDelete
  12. If you REALLY want to know about growing hazels; go here: https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Hybrid-Hazelnuts-Resilient-Changing/dp/1603585346 Shepard used to work here, and got all his plants from these folks- who are years ahead

    ReplyDelete
  13. are there any stores or distributors that sell the elongated version of the filberts - I find them more tender and softer nut than the round varity - please help - and I live in Canada to make it worse .... all we get here are the round harder version..

    ReplyDelete
  14. Well living in South Australia some 40 plusyears I miss the cob nuts my great uncle grew which we ate fresh and they were not dry as the hazel nut.This was in Essex.Wondeted if they grew in Audtralia and learnt all about the nut.Very interesting.Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  15. What makes you think these nuts are called "hazelnuts" in Turkey? Are they not?

    ReplyDelete
  16. See how to get unlimited PSN Codes for free in every day giveaway using an easy to use app. Generate $20 or $50 code within minutes.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Get free Instagram followers. Boost your Instagram profile with real followers today.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh hazelnuts and filbert etc., I wasn't aware of all this. Thanks for the information

    ReplyDelete
  19. Looks good. I particularly like hazelnuts

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hazelnuts or filbert whatever be the case. They look same

    ReplyDelete
  21. Dad, Millard McGladrey, was born in a filbert grove in 1913 in Edgecomb Washington near Arlington Washington. So, to me, they will always be filberts.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thanks for sharing this article with us

    ReplyDelete
  23. Just picked some from my tree in South west France they are not round so maybe more like the cobnut shape but my neighbour called them a noisette.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Unlimited free Instagram followers into your profile instantly no hassle to get free free Instagram followers no survey

    ReplyDelete
  25. Earn FREE Nintendo eShop Codes by answering paid surveys, playing games, free eshop codes

    ReplyDelete
  26. Coin Master Hack
    https://coinmasterhacked.xyz/

    ReplyDelete
  27. Unlimited free Instagram followers into your profile instantly no hassle. read best torrent sites for eBooks on 2020.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I love the kentish cobnut, they are just so amazing. you know if we put them in slight salty water for a night and then let them dry in some sun heat. They become so crispy and tasty. More than that we also use coconut water and a 4 pinch of salt instead. I just loved this place, it is like https://situationistapp.com , grab my attention to their posts in seconds. Thanks again.

    ReplyDelete
  29. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I definitely enjoying every little bit of it. It is a great website and nice share. I want to thank you. Good job! You guys do a great blog, and have some great contents. Keep up the good work. Theappsradar

    ReplyDelete

  31. Your content is very inspiring and appriciating I really like it please visit my site for Satta king result also check
    Sattaking
    Nice post check my site for super fast Satta king Result also check Sattaking
    Nice post check my site for super fast Satta king Result also check Sattaking
    Nice post check my site for super fast Satta Result Result also check Sattaking

    ReplyDelete
  32. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  33. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Excellent work I Really impressed and got lots of information from your post and encourage me to work as best as i can. keep it!

    Sar Pass Trek
    Har ki Dun Trek
    Hampta Pass Trek
    Brahmatal Trek
    Dayara Bugyal Trek
    Everest Base Camp Trek

    ReplyDelete

  35. Hey, I am Leena Singh, I am Gussing in the game of Satta king. I can give you a passing game with daily good numbers.
    If you connect with me, you will get a lot of profit.

    Satta King
    Satta King Record

    ReplyDelete
  36. Thanks for sharing this wonderful information. Your information is very helpful for me. theappsradar

    ReplyDelete
  37. Önemli giriş adreslerine buradan ulaşabilirsiniz.
    betturkey giriş
    betpark giriş
    UVWHUJ

    ReplyDelete
  38. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  39. When it comes to storing homemade bread, choosing the right bread bag is essential to maintain freshness and prevent staleness. One of the best options is a linen bread bag, which allows the bread to breathe and helps keep the crust's crispiness. Another popular option is a paper bread bag, which is environmentally friendly and provides excellent moisture control. Plastic bags are not recommended as they trap moisture and lead to mold growth. Silicone bread bags are a perfect choice for those who prefer reusable, as they can be washed and reused many times. Ultimately, the best bread bag for homemade bread depends on personal preference and intended use, but opting for a breathable, moisture-resistant bag is the key to keeping bread fresh for longer.

    ReplyDelete
  40. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  41. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  42. something that is remarkable and should be learned. Thank you for providing this great information

    ReplyDelete
  43. Your blog is very nice thank you for this wonderful information I like very much for this article.

    ReplyDelete
  44. It's exactly what I'm looking for. I really appreciate your efforts in writing this kind of content for us.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Something outstanding and important to know. I appreciate you giving us this wonderful idea.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Your idea is really original and fantastic, and I believe it will inspire the creation of a lot more.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Lot of informative blog are provided here, Happy to read this good post

    ReplyDelete
  48. I’m glad to read this article. The website style is perfect, I'll support your articles

    ReplyDelete
  49. I checking continuously this weblog and I am impressed! Awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  50. Very god info. Lucky me I discovered your blog by accident

    ReplyDelete
  51. This blog is providing valuable and unique information.

    ReplyDelete
  52. This is a very good post which I really enjoy reading.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Please share more information and I will bookmark to my blog.

    ReplyDelete
  54. I read it and I'm very happy with the post. Let's spread good stories like this again.

    ReplyDelete
  55. For latest information you have to pay a quick visit world-wide-web and on the web:

    ReplyDelete
  56. "Impressive Thanks for the post! Carry on, don’t stop! Thanks for any other great article.

    ReplyDelete
  57. I have a presentation subsequent week, and I’m at the search for such info."

    ReplyDelete
  58. looking forward for more posts. Thanks Feel free to visit my website;

    ReplyDelete
  59. Your article looks really adorable, here's a site link i dropped for you which you may like.

    ReplyDelete
  60. Very informative article also check my blog post for Top best earnings tools and many more must check

    ReplyDelete
  61. Thank you a lot for providing individuals with such a memorable chance to read articles.

    ReplyDelete
  62. My incredibly long internet look up has at the end been rewarded.

    ReplyDelete
  63. I am satisfied that you just shared this useful information with us.

    ReplyDelete
  64. .I’ll bookmark your web site and take the feeds also.

    ReplyDelete
  65. This blog is very easy to understand when compared to other blogs.

    ReplyDelete
  66. Lifetime Adirondack Chair is a timeless and durable outdoor seating solution. Crafted from weather-resistant materials, it offers comfort and style for lounging in your backyard or patio. With its classic design and sturdy construction, this chair ensures years of relaxation and enjoyment in any outdoor setting.

    ReplyDelete


  67. This is such an outstanding article; I have appreciated the fact that you took take some good time to work on this very blog.

    ReplyDelete

  68. I am always searching for quality posts and articles

    ReplyDelete

  69. What a nice post! I'm so happy to read this

    ReplyDelete

  70. very useful article , this is what i want

    ReplyDelete

  71. it’s awesome article. I look forward to the continuation

    ReplyDelete

  72. This is incredible, I feel really happy to have seen your webpage.

    ReplyDelete

  73. Thank you for always writing good things.

    ReplyDelete

  74. If you would like to grow your experience simply keep

    ReplyDelete
  75. Es muy facil encontrar cualquier tema en la red que no sean libros, como encontre este post en este sitio.

    ReplyDelete
  76. The weather is so nice today. Have a nice day today too.

    ReplyDelete
  77. Hello.. This is very interesting and useful information.. Thank you for sharing good information. Your article is so compelling I can't stop talking about it.

    ReplyDelete
  78. I genuinely enjoy studying on this internet site, it contains fantastic articles.

    ReplyDelete
  79. This website has some really good blog posts; bookmarked.

    ReplyDelete
  80. hello. The homepage is very nice and looks good.
    I searched and found it. Please visit often in the future.
    Have a nice day today!

    ReplyDelete
  81. This captivating blog, "Don't Say a Word While We Dance With the Devil," masterfully weaves words to create an immersive experience. The evocative title and compelling narrative make it a thrilling journey into the realms of mystery and intrigue.

    ReplyDelete
  82. Intriguing blog! "Don't Say a Word While We Dance With the Devil" skillfully blends poetic prose with gripping narratives, creating a captivating journey that lingers in the mind long after reading.

    ReplyDelete
  83. This is the right site for everyone who would like to find out about this topic.

    ReplyDelete
  84. Hello there! This post could not be written any better!

    ReplyDelete
  85. This website and I conceive this internet site is really informative.

    ReplyDelete
  86. I want to to thank you for this good read!! I definitely enjoyed every little bit of it.

    ReplyDelete
  87. I absolutely feel this web site. I’ll be back again to see more.

    ReplyDelete
  88. I will be very happy to discover this kind of post very useful personally.

    ReplyDelete
  89. I like your all post. You have done really good work.

    ReplyDelete
  90. Valuable info. Fortunate me I discovered your web site by chance.

    ReplyDelete