Common hazel
A treasure trove of energy
The Common hazel is a widely spread plant, it grows everywhere and is splendid in February, when it’s completely covered with inflorescences .
Its scientific name is Corylus avellana: Corylus comes from the Greek word “corys,” meaning helmet , referring to the shape of the green bracts that cover the fruits; avellana comes from Avella, a town in Campania, known since Roman times for its flourishing hazelnut production activity.
The male inflorescences are formed by numerous small flowers, the female ones are similar to buds. The core represents one of the first sources of pollen in the year and is therefore very important for bees .
Did you know?
The first attempts to transform hazelnuts into chocolate date back to the early 1800s when Napoleon decreed the blockage of cocoa imports. The people of Piedmont decided to create a substitute made of hazelnut flour with a percentage of cocoa. This is how the famous “gianduia paste” was born.
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