Hazelnut harvest - Our shared autumn adventure full of enjoyment

Autumn is here and with it begins our exciting hazelnut harvest season. These golden treats are just waiting for you to collect and transform them into delicious creations. Let's delve into the fascinating world of hazelnuts together and find out how you can collect your own nuts and turn them into wonderful culinary delights.

1. The beginning: When is the best time to harvest hazelnuts?

The hazelnut harvest usually begins in late summer and lasts until early autumn. The ideal time to collect your hazelnuts is when the green husks are drying and cracking easily. This usually happens in September to October depending on your region. Now is the perfect time to go out into nature and look for ripe nuts.

It's best to walk along the bushes you've spotted every now and then and take a closer look at a few nuts: the tips of the flowers start to open, no longer seem quite fresh, a little dry and start to turn brown, then that's it soon!

You can carefully feel with your finger whether the nut can be moved with minimal force. If not, then be patient a little longer. If yes, then get ready!

The nuts begin to turn brown from the base to the tips. Therefore, not every hazelnut that appears unripe actually needs to be left hanging. The common thing is that as soon as it is really ripe, the hazelnut falls out of the shell and onto the ground. Depending on where your bush is, it will fall into the undergrowth and you won't have a hazelnut.

Today we collected along the field paths and due to the last few weeks of heavy rain, the bushes in front of them were quite high. Many nuts had already fallen out of their shells. That's why we decided to take nuts that weren't 100% ripe with us instead of not finding any more next week.

Although hazelnuts do not ripen, they become even more beautiful and darken as a result of the drying and roasting process.

2. Where do you find hazelnut trees?

Hazelnut bushes or trees are native to many parts of the world and can be found in forests, parks, gardens or on field edges. If you're not sure where to look, ask locals or use apps and maps that can help you find a location.

3. The Harvest: How do you collect hazelnuts?

Once you find ripe hazelnuts, take your time collecting them. Be careful not to harvest the nuts too early, otherwise they may not develop their full flavor. The best test is when the shells open easily and the nuts inside are solid and heavy.

Be aware! The nuts are often hidden under the leaves, so it's always worth planning a lot of time. The nuts are often in individual perianths, but often also in real bunches. Our record today was 10 hazelnuts in one bunch!

So take a sufficiently large basket with you, preferably one with a handle that you can hang on your arm and your hands are free for picking.

Today we brought a very long shoehorn to pull branches down and that was just right. We walked 3 km, so we didn't have to carry anything bulky and still got to most of the nuts.

4. After harvest: How do you prepare the hazelnuts?

After you've collected your hazelnuts, it's important to prepare them. Here's what you can do:

• Peel the nuts from the flower base and lay them spread out on a newspaper to dry. As soon as the moisture is gone, the nut is ready for storage.

If you want to roast the hazelnuts, place them on a baking tray.

Roast the nuts at around 180 degrees Celsius for 10-15 minutes until lightly browned and fragrant. Roasting intensifies the flavor of the hazelnuts.

5. Creative delicacies made from hazelnuts

Now comes the exciting part: transforming your fresh hazelnuts into delicious creations. Here are some tempting options:

Hazelnut oil, hazelnut chocolate cream, hazelnut liqueur, hazelnut cookies, hazelnut muesli or simply as a stock for baking for Christmas... we give you some ideas for some great recipes in our recipe blog.

The hazelnut harvest is not only an autumn tradition, but also a fantastic way to enjoy the fruits of nature and express your creative side in the kitchen. Head out into nature now, collect your own hazelnuts and experience the magic of this culinary season. Enjoy every bite you take with your homemade hazelnut creations - a true treat for all the senses!