BIO Hazelnut (Corylus avellana) TONDA GENTILE DELLE LANGHE

Hazelnut (Corylus avellana) 'Tonda Gentile delle Langhe'

The Gastronomic Gem of Piedmont: Regarded as the world's best hazelnut and the gold standard for luxury confectionery.

The 'Tonda Gentile delle Langhe' variety (also known as Trilobata) is an absolute legend that defines the taste of authentic Italian chocolate and gianduja. This Piedmontese hazelnut is revered by world-class pastry chefs for the perfect balance of its aromatic oils, which fully develop upon roasting. If you are looking for a nut with unsurpassed buttery flavor and a kernel that clears its skin almost 100% after roasting, this Italian PGI-status treasure is beyond competition.

Main advantages of the variety:

• World Flavor Leader: The finest aroma and flavor profile of all hazelnut varieties.
• Perfect Blanching: Kernels shed their skin completely after roasting, a crucial trait for confectioners.
• Oil Stability: High oleic acid content prevents rancidity even during long-term storage.
• Early Ripening: Harvest is ready as early as the second half of August.
• High Resilience: Good resistance to monilia and surprising wood frost hardiness.
• Prestigious variety with European protected geographical indication (I.G.P. Nocciola Piemonte).

Origin and Tradition

• Origin: Italy (Piedmont region, Langhe area). Its fame is linked to the city of Alba and the creation of the world-famous Gianduja paste.

Variety Characteristics

Tree and Growth

• Vigor and Habit: Moderately vigorous, with a spreading crown. The tree is very vigorous and responds very well to thinning pruning.
• Pollination: The variety is self-incompatible. It requires a suitable partner to set fruit, such as 'Tonda di Giffoni', 'Cosford', or 'Tonda Francescana'.

Fruit (Nut)

• Size and Shape: Medium-sized nuts (2.5 – 3 g) with a characteristic, slightly three-lobed (trilobata) spherical shape.
• Kernel and Yield: The kernel is perfectly round, calibrated, and compact. Kernel yield reaches 42 – 45%.
• Flavor: Unsurpassed delicate, buttery taste with a very long sweet finish and no hint of bitterness.

Resistance and Requirements

• Frost: The wood shows good frost resistance (down to -24 °C / -11 °F). However, it thrives best in sheltered sites and wine-growing regions.
• Diseases: Naturally resistant to nut rot (monilia) and big bud mite.

Cultivation Recommendations

• Pruning: Requires regular thinning of the spreading crown to promote the growth of high-quality fruiting wood and ensure a good harvest.

Harvest and Storage

• Harvest Time: Early variety. Ripens in the second half of August. Early harvesting is key to preserving the aromatic oil profile.
• Storage: Excellent. Thanks to the high stability of its oils, the kernels stay fresh and flavorful for a very long period.