Hazelnut

Available at the Emerson and McClanahan Food Forests

Harvest in September - October. The nuts are about a 1/2 inch in diameter and turn a light brown when ripe, enclosed in a shaggy yellow casing (the flower).
The nuts have a mellow, sweet and nutty flavor.
Nuts can be eaten raw, roasted, or chopped and used in baked goods or salads. Grinding the nuts generates a delicate flour that can be used in baked goods (hazelnut flour is gluten free!).
After picking, hazelnuts should be refrigerated as they have a high fat content and can go rancid if left out at room temperature.