Content
- Hazelnut leaves - Edible leaves of hazelnut tree
- The leaf of hazelnut
- Collect hazelnut leaves
- Collect leaves to dry
- Hazelnut leaves as tea
- Use of the leaves in the kitchen
- To preserve the hazelnut leaves by inserting them
- Tips & Tricks
Hazelnut leaves - Edible leaves of hazelnut tree
The leaves of the hazelnut tree have been wrongly forgotten. They are rich in nutrients and were previously used in natural medicine as a tea for many ailments. Also in the kitchen can be used hazelnut leaves.
The leaf of hazelnut
A hazelnut tree can be clearly assigned on the basis of its leaves.
Collect hazelnut leaves
The best time to gather leaves is from April to June. Then they have a fresh, green color and are still very soft and tender. Later picked leaves are leathery and not suitable for consumption.
Only leaves that fill up velvety when you stroke them are collected.
Only pick the leaves from a hazelnut tree that is not directly on the road. Trees or hazel hedges, which you have planted yourself in the garden, are best for collecting.
Collect leaves to dry
If you want to make tea from hazelnut leaves, you can pick leaves from the hazelnut tree later in the year.
Take only fresh leaves that feel fresh. Hazelnut leaves with holes or eroded edge should be left on the hazelnut tree. Insects are often present on them, which make the leaves unusable when drying.
Lay the collected leaves in an airy place to dry. Direct sunlight should be avoided as the leaves leach too much.
Hazelnut leaves as tea
The leaves of the hazelnut tree contain essential oils and a phytosterol called sitosterol. It is used in natural medicine to reduce cholesterol and intestinal problems.
For a tea, brew two grams of dried and chopped hazelnut leaves with 100 milliliters of boiling water. The tea is supposed to draw ten minutes and is then drunk hot.
Use of the leaves in the kitchen
Hazelnut leaves can be used in the kitchen similar to grape leaves. The taste is a bit milder. To make the leaves supple, they are blanched for a very short time in hot water and then rinsed with cold water.
The leaves can be served with a filling as a snack. They are especially good with savory game dishes.
Hazelnut leaves do not taste raw, only by blanching do they get their aromatic taste.
To preserve the hazelnut leaves by inserting them
To preserve leaves picked in spring for a long time, you can put them in a solution of good cooking oil and salt.
Before doing so, you should clean and blanch the leaves well.
They are kept in an airtight glass for several months. They taste good in lettuce or as a refinement of vegetable garnishes.
Tips & Tricks
Not only for humans are hazelnut leaves as a tea or supplement for salads and other foods healthy. Even rodents like rabbits appreciate the leaves fresh and dried as a valuable supplementary feed.
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