Habitat
Type: scrub, woods, hedges
Distribution: throughout northern hemisphere

General
Growth type: tree
Cycle: deciduous
Height: up to 6 meters

Leaf
Shape: roundish with small point
Texture: downy
Edge: toothed

Trunk
Colour: silver-grey
Texture: metallic sheen

Flower
Shape: catkin
Arrangement: female: erect, male: hanging
When: December to April before leaves
Colour:

Seed
Shape: oval, slight ridge
Colour: pale to mid brown
Size: 10-25mm
Casing: hard shell, leaf cup

all year
August to November - best late September to early October

Parts with icons without colour are for non-culinary use

Flavour
Rating and Description:
sweet, nutty

How to Consume
raw (see note below)

Nutrition
dry: 16% protein, 60% fat, 20% carbohydrates

Used as ...
food

Action:
astringent, diaphoretic, febrifuge, stomachic, tonic, vermifuge

(trunk) timber

Collection
as a compromise on flavour and availability, best picked late September before the squirrels take them all (good luck!)

Drying
remove leaf cup from shell before drying as this may draw too much moisture through transpiration

Note
Although hazel nuts can be eaten raw, they may be digested more easily when cooked or roasted.

Hazel come into bearing age at seven years, on branched stems.

Plant parts:
leaf
stem or trunk
sap
root, bulb, tuber and other below ground parts
flower
fruit
seed

Parts with black and white icons in the availability section are for non-culinary use

Use:
culinary use
medicinal use
household use

Other:
caution

Glossary of Medicinal Terms and Nutritive Substances

• astringent: causes localised contraction of blood vessels and tissue, reducing the flow of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
• diaphoretic: promotes perspiration, aids the skin in elimination of toxins
• febrifuge: reduces fever; use only for dangerously high temperature; a raised temperature is the body's way of burning up the pathogen
• stomachic: treats stomach disorders
• tonic: improves general health, bringing steady improvement
• vermifuge: expels worms from the body