Choosing the Best Turkish Hazelnuts for Wholesale & Manufacturing

Introduction

Turkey is the world’s leading producer and exporter of hazelnuts, supplying over 60% of global demand. Thanks to its favorable climate and fertile lands, the country offers a wide range of hazelnut varieties, each with unique characteristics.

This article aims to guide buyers, importers, and manufacturers in understanding the key differences between Turkish hazelnut types — especially the popular Tombul variety — and how these differences affect product selection.

Main Hazelnut Varieties in Turkey

Turkey’s Black Sea Region is home to several hazelnut types. The most common ones include:

• Tombul (Round): The most valued variety with high oil content and rich aroma.

• Sivri (Pointed): Hard-shelled, lower oil content but high yield.

• Palaz (Roundish): Easy to process, widely used in industrial applications.

• Kuş (Tiny): Very small size, often used for oil or processed goods.

• İncekara: Local to Trabzon, slightly smaller than Tombul.

The Premium Choice: Tombul Hazelnut

Among all Turkish hazelnut varieties, Tombul stands out as the most prestigious and globally sought-after. Known for its superior sensory and processing qualities, it is the top choice for brands that prioritize quality, consistency, and flavor.

Key characteristics of Tombul hazelnuts include:

✅ Exceptionally high oil content (up to 72%), enhancing both flavor and shelf life
✅ Rich aroma and full-bodied taste, especially after roasting — ideal for chocolate and confectionery
✅ Thin and easy-to-crack shell, reducing processing cost and time
✅ High roasting stability, maintaining structure and flavor without burning
✅ Low moisture content, contributing to longer shelf life
✅ Naturally sweet flavor profile, favored by gourmet and organic brands

Common uses for Tombul Hazelnuts:

• Luxury chocolate and praline production

• Premium hazelnut spreads and pastes

• Roasted snack mixes

• Organic and health-conscious products

• Gift packaging and gourmet assortments

Choosing the Right Hazelnut for Your Market

Not all hazelnuts serve the same purpose. Depending on your target market, processing needs, and product positioning, choosing the right variety is key. Here’s how the main Turkish hazelnuts align with different business needs:

Giresun Tombul

→ Recommended for: Premium retail, gourmet chocolates, luxury roasted nut brands
→ Why: Offers the highest quality in terms of flavor, oil content, and appearance. Protected by geographical indication and globally recognized as the finest hazelnut.

Trabzon Tombul

→ Recommended for: Mid-range confectionery, snack producers, private-label brands
→ Why: Maintains many of Tombul’s positive traits at a more competitive price. A strong option when balancing cost and quality.

Palaz

→ Recommended for: Large-scale processing, bakery fillings, paste production
→ Why: Roundish shape and moderate oil content make it easy to roast and blend. Ideal for industrial use.

Sivri

→ Recommended for: Spreads, nut pastes, flavored coatings, oil extraction
→ Why: High yield and pointed shape make it cost-effective. Less flavor intensity, but perfect for volume processing.

Comparing Turkish Hazelnuts

Conclusion

Turkey’s hazelnut sector offers more than just volume — it offers variety, specialization, and strategic value. Each region produces hazelnuts with unique properties in shape, oil content, roasting performance, and flavor intensity, making product knowledge a key advantage.

For instance, Giresun’s Tombul variety is globally regarded as the best hazelnut, ideal for high-end retail and gourmet chocolate. Its high oil content, low skin ratio, and aroma provide both quality and branding value.

In contrast, Trabzon Tombul and Palaz are well-suited for cost-sensitive markets, offering consistent quality for industrial use or mid-tier retail.

Sivri, with its yield and affordability, is perfect for mass production, including spreads, pastes, and oils — where cost matters more than flavor complexity.

Whether you’re a snack manufacturer, chocolate brand, importer, or wholesale distributor, matching the right hazelnut variety to your product line can make a real difference in both performance and profitability.

In today’s competitive landscape, sourcing isn’t just about procurement — it’s a strategic choice. And choosing the right Turkish hazelnut is one of the most impactful ones you’ll make.

Have you made a desicion and ready to source the perfect hazelnut for your business?