SHARRYLAND
Tower d. R. - Cardinal - The round hazelnut of Calabria
Among the many typical features of Calabria a humble forest fruit risen to pride of local confectionery
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A surprising Calabrian excellence
Calabria is one of Italy's most active regions in coriculture, or the specialized cultivation of hazelnuts(Corylus avellana), which particularly affects the neighboring municipalities of Torre di Ruggiero (m 590) and Cardinale (m 560), on the Ionian side of the Calabrian Serre, and the municipality of Simbario (m 766), on the Tyrrhenian side.
In the Serre two Hazelnut Cities.
The hazelnut is a small tree common in mixed deciduous forests, where it attracts the attention especially of strong-billed birds such as woodpeckers and rodents such as dormice. Cultivated since time immemorial in many parts of the world, over the centuries in Italy, too, it has been differentiated into regional varieties now protected by specific brands. As for Calabria, the hazelnut is documented as a cash crop in the 18th century in Cardinale and in the second half of the 19th century in Torre di Ruggero, municipalities that have been part of theItalian Hazelnut Cities Association since 2007.
A virtuous and eclectic fruit
A well-deserving and certainly healthy fruit, for the sum of its nutrients the hazelnut is even presented by its most enthusiastic supporters as a wellness factor. Producers of the Tonda di Calabria variety specifically point to an above-average concentration of oleic acid, the most virtuous component of plant-derived fats. This, on the health front, because on the taste front, from confectionery to ice cream, one is spoiled for choice, suffice it to say the famous Pizzo truffle, especially during the festivals that Calabrian hazelnut towns organize for the benefit of vacationers.
The noble origins of Calabrian hazelnut farming
The first Calabrian hazelnut orchard, in the technical meaning of the term, dates back to the second half of the 19th century and is due to an unpredictable character, the famous Neapolitan jurist Gaetano Filangieri, who like many intellectuals of his time found delight in the natural sciences and in particular in applied botany, a passion that convinced him to experiment with hazelnut production at the family castle in the locality of Razzona di Cardinale.
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Enter the Map of Italy's Undiscovered Wonders and find treasures where you least expect it... Inspire, Recommend, Share...
