History of hazelnut

Introduction
The word hazelnut comes from the word "pontik", which is derived from "Pont Exinus", which was the name of the Black Sea in ancient times. Plinus also recorded that the hazelnut was called “Pontos walnut” because it was brought from the shores of Pontos. Hazelnut has spread to the Mediterranean, Middle East and European countries from the Eastern Black Sea, bringing its name together. The Persian word "fonduk", Arabic "bunduk", Latin "nux", German "haselnuss", French "noisette", English "hazelnut", Greek "leptokarion", Armenian "kalin", Tatar "çitlevük", ancient Greek " Funduki” means “nocciola” in Italian, “avellana” in Spanish, “avella” in Portuguese and “aluna” in Romanian.

It is reported that the spread of hazelnut culture among the Turks is in three periods. The first period is the period when the Turks were in Central Asia, where the hazelnut is called "kosuk" or "kosuk". The second period is the period when Western Turks used the word "çetlevük" for hazelnut. In the third period, Anatolian Turks named hazelnut as "bunduk" with Arab influence and changed it as "hazelnut"

Hazelnut in Ancient and Medieval Sources
Many writers, naturalists and historians have put forward different views about the homeland of hazelnut. Archaeological excavations prove that hazelnuts were part of the mesolithic diets around 10000 BC. In Chinese written sources, it is stated that hazelnut, which is stated to be cultivated in China in 2838 BC, is one of the five sacred fruits that God bestowed on people. The great historian of Antiquity, Herodotus (490-425 BC), in his work called Herodotus History, writes that hazelnuts were grown in the east of the Black Sea, and also describes how hazelnut oil was extracted in ancient times. Obtaining hazelnut oil by placing the hazelnut kernels in a bag and squeezing them is similar to the methods used in obtaining oil from olives and hazelnuts in rural areas today. Greek philosopher Theophrastos, who lived between 372-287 BC, talks about hazelnuts as follows: “In order to save the Pontic nut-hazelnut from wildness and domesticate it, it is sufficient to take it from the original root and plant it in another place. In this way, hazelnuts, which are more suitable for winter, are of two types, one is round, that is, plump, and the other is long pointed. Hazelnut saplings grow better in wet places.”

In ancient Greek and Roman cuisine, where the hazelnut tree was known by the Uighurs and even considered a sacred tree; Hazelnut is used frequently in the production of sauces, Athenaeus, who lived around 200 AD, included hazelnut in the "deipnosophist with honey and nuts" recipe in his work, Plinius (23-79 AD) in his work called Natural History; It is reported to refer to it as "Avellinea" and "Pontus walnut". In a study on the history of hazelnut, it was understood that hazelnuts were used as food in the first ages of history in the Rohen basin of Switzerland, when people built shelters on stilts in shallow parts of lakes.

Hazelnut in the Seljuk and Ottoman Era
The oldest work that mentions the hazelnut tree in Turkish sources is the Iranian version of the Uyghur Epic: “At the confluence of the Brick and Selenga rivers, a mountain between a beech and a hazelnut tree swelled and split. Five children came out of it.” The great Turkish scholar Ibn-i Sina (930-1037) mentions hazelnut as a medicine used in various diseases in his work called El Kanun Fi't-Tıbb. Seyrani from Isparta, who lived in the 13th century, mentioned that during his visit to the Black Sea Region, a large amount of hazelnuts were grown in Giresun. Again, Evliya Çelebi, in a trip to Trabzon region, mentions “The forests of the mountains and stones are hazelnut trees”. The first written document showing the sale of hazelnut as an international trade good dates back to 1403. King of Spain III. Henri sends an envoy to Timur in 1403, meets with Timur, returns from Trabzon to Istanbul by sea. The following sentence is written in his Travelogue, where he wrote his travel impressions: From Trabzon on 17 September 1403; We went to Istanbul in 25 days with a ship loaded with hazelnuts under the management of Captain Nicolos Cojen. A trade agreement was made with France in 1737, during the reign of Mahmut I (1730-1754). According to this agreement, hazelnuts are among the products to be sold to France. The recognition of Turkish hazelnuts, especially in European countries, is after the second half of the 18th century. It was reported that hazelnut exports started to Russia in 1782, to Romania in 1792, and to Belgium in 1875. The first export of hazelnut was made in 1879. Hazelnut exports started to Serbia in 1906, to Germany in 1907, to Marseille (France) in 1909, and to the USA in 1912. In 1900, Turkey was the only producer and exporter of hazelnut. Swiss Lui Ramber's travel diary dated 5 May 1902 included the following sentences about hazelnuts: We came to Giresun with the dawn in the morning. Today we are in the land of hazelnuts. On the slopes, in the folds of small valleys, in short, regularly planted hazelnuts can be seen everywhere. It has been reported that the beginning of hazelnut farming in Ordu is at a late period. The article written for the prohibition of rice cultivation and the promotion of hazelnut agriculture in order to prevent malaria disease in Ordu province is dated 9 June 1894.

Hazelnut in the Republican Era
During the Republican period, the hazelnut issue was taken seriously and various studies were carried out on this subject. With the law numbered 407 enacted in 1925, Rize was included in the hazelnut growing provinces; Again with the law no. 552 enacted in 1925, the Tithe Tax was abolished, and the requirement of 8% tax on hazelnuts was introduced instead. With the government decree numbered 6207 issued in 1927, the export of hazelnut saplings was prohibited. In 1930, İş Limited Şirketi was established, and in 1931, it began trading in hazelnuts. On October 10, 1935, the First National Hazelnut Congress was held in Ankara. In this congress, from the cultivation of hazelnut to its sale, especially the quality and standardization issues were discussed and presented to the congress in various reports. The Hazelnut Regulation was put into effect. In 1936, the Hazelnut Station is established in Giresun. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, in the opening speech of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on November 1, 1937; “In the next year, unions should be established that also concern our other major products, especially hazelnuts.” He gives his direction. On July 28, 1938, the Hazelnut Agricultural Sales Cooperatives Union (FISKOBIRLIK) was established in Giresun. İş Limited Şirketi, which completed its function, was liquidated in 1939. Black Sea Region Hazelnut Exporters Union was established on 6 November 1940, with its headquarters in Giresun. The Second National Hazelnut Congress was held in Giresun on 7 November 1957. 47 years later, on October 10-14, 2004, the Third National Hazelnut Council was held in Giresun. Here, the hazelnut issue was discussed in various aspects and the decisions taken at the end of the council were announced to the public with a 29-item statement. In 1965, the Hazelnut Station was renamed the Hazelnut Research Institute. In 1983, the law dated 16.6.1983 and numbered 2844 was enacted, which stipulates "planning of hazelnut production and limitation of planting areas". The 1st Hazelnut Festival was held in Tirebolu on 6-7 September 1996. In 1996, FTG (Hazelnut Promotion Group) was established, and various studies were carried out to increase domestic and foreign consumption of hazelnuts.

Utilized resources
Barrett, D.M., Laszlo, S., Ramaswamy, H., 2005. Processing Fruits: Science and Technology. 841 p.

Duman, M., 2008. Hazelnut Book, 180 p.

Göreci, A., 2004. Hazelnut Culture, 112 p.

Unal, A., 2007. Modern Hazelnut Agriculture, 231 p.

Prepared by: Food Eng. Hesna Esin SAVRAN