Hazelnut Milk
RegionalCommercially available in Europe and other markets
A plant-based beverage produced from hazelnuts and water. Its composition depends heavily on the amount of hazelnut used and any additional ingredients.
About Hazelnut Milk
Hazelnut milk is a plant-based beverage made from hazelnuts (Corylus avellana), also known as cobnuts or filberts. The hazelnut tree is native to Europe and western Asia and has been harvested by humans for tens of thousands of years — charred hazelnut shells from archaeological sites in Scotland date back approximately 9,000 years. Hazelnuts have been cultivated in Turkey, Italy, Spain, and the Black Sea region of Europe for centuries, and Turkey remains the dominant global producer of hazelnuts, accounting for approximately 70% of world production.
Hazelnut milk is produced by soaking whole hazelnuts in water, blending them with fresh water, and straining the resulting liquid to remove the nut solids. The resulting milk has a rich, distinctive hazelnut flavour with a natural sweetness and creaminess. It pairs particularly well with chocolate — hazelnuts and chocolate are a classic flavour combination (as in Nutella and praline), and hazelnut milk is especially popular as an addition to coffee and hot chocolate. The milk can be made with or without the hazelnut skins — removing skins produces a lighter, less bitter flavour.
Hazelnut milk is commercially available in many markets, though it is less widely distributed than almond, oat, or soy milk. It is naturally free of dairy, lactose, and gluten, and is suitable for vegans. It contains unsaturated fats including oleic acid (the primary fatty acid in olive oil) and is a source of vitamin E. Like other nut milks, commercial versions are typically fortified with calcium and vitamins D and B12.
Sources & Further Reading
- USDA FoodData Central — Hazelnuts (current search) — Current USDA database search for the named food; select the matching product/data type because formulations and database records can change.
- PMC — Commercial Plant-Based Milk Alternatives: Fatty Acids and Protein Digestibility — Beverage-level study that analyzed commercial almond, coconut, hazelnut, hemp, oat, quinoa, rice, and soy drinks; results are product-specific rather than universal.
Nutrition
Commercial hazelnut drinks vary by brand and formulation. Beverage-level research can describe tested products, but those results should not be treated as a universal hazelnut-milk nutrient label.
CaloriesVaries by product
FatVaries by product
ProteinUsually low; product-dependent
Vitamin EDepends on formulation and hazelnut content
CalciumDepends on fortification
LactoseNone
Hazelnut milk is low in calories and protein but contains healthy unsaturated fats and vitamin E. It is suitable for those avoiding dairy, lactose, and gluten. Not suitable for people with tree nut allergies. Fortified commercial versions provide additional calcium and vitamins.
Common Uses
◌ Coffee & lattes◌ Hot chocolate◌ Smoothies◌ Drinking◌ Baking◌ Desserts
Hazelnut milk is particularly popular in coffee drinks, where its natural nutty-sweet flavour complements espresso. It pairs superbly with chocolate in hot chocolate drinks, chocolate smoothies, and chocolate-based desserts. In baking, it can substitute for other plant milks in recipes where a hazelnut flavour is welcome — chocolate cakes, praline creams, and nut-based desserts all benefit from its distinctive flavour profile.
Interesting Facts
- Turkey produces approximately 70% of the world's hazelnuts, with the Black Sea coastal regions of Giresun and Trabzon being the heart of production.
- Hazelnuts and chocolate are a classic pairing — the global popularity of Nutella (a hazelnut-chocolate spread invented in Italy after World War II) has made hazelnuts one of the most recognisable flavours worldwide.
- Hazelnut shells have been found at archaeological sites across Europe dating back thousands of years, indicating they were a key food source for prehistoric hunter-gatherers.
- Hazelnuts contain vitamin E and unsaturated fats. Those ingredient-level values should not be read as a per-cup value for hazelnut milk.
- The hazelnut is the only tree nut that primarily pollinates in winter — hazel catkins release pollen as early as January in mild climates, making it one of the first flowering plants of the year.