Hazel Catkins – Nutritious and Delicious
Hazel catkins are an amazing wild food that can be enjoyed at Chateau Feely in winter and early spring. We all know hazelnuts but what are hazel catkins? Hazel trees produce male flowers called catkins as part of their reproduction. Hazel catkins are highly nutritious and can be eaten in several ways.
Why eat Hazel Catkins?
Hazel catkins are packed with nutrition. They contain up to 20% proteins and essential fatty acids – good for cardiovascular health. Hazel catkins can help reduce ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL) while promoting ‘good’ cholesterol (HDL) levels. They also have with significant amounts of calcium, magnesium, silicon, phosphorus, and potassium. Vitamins B1, B2, and E are also present. As with all food moderation is advised. Also be careful if you are allergic to pollen and or nuts – if that’s the case hazel catkins are probably not for you.
Ways to prepare and eat Hazel Catkins
Sean made a crunchy sprinkle using hazel catkins and apple peels. He dried them on the cool edge of the top of the wood burning stove then chopped them rough. As usual we recommend organic ingredients – see why choose organic here.
Other ways you could use hazel catkins:
- Add fresh catkins to smoothies
- Include dried, ground catkins in bread
- Make Hazel catkin tea – steeping fresh catkins in hot water (not boiling as it will kill some nutrients)
- Use as a garnish for salads as we did – or for soups
See the instagram reel that goes with this story below. I married a man who feeds me tree pollen by candlelight. 🌿🕯️🍷 Catkins dried on the wood stove and sprinkled on salad like we’re completely normal and Château Feely “La Source” — organic, natural, no added sulphites.
Winter joy, candlelight, wild food and honest wine — welcome to life at Château Feely. If this makes you want to eat weeds and drink better wine, come visit us. ✨ Chateau Feely in South West France ; stay at Chateau Feely or do a multi day walking tour or yoga retreat. You can read the full story of Feely organic farm – a more than 20 year adventure in Caro’s books: Grape Expectations, Saving our Skins, Vineyard Confessions and Cultivating Change.
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#WildFood #EatTheWeeds #ForagedFood #NaturalWine #CandlelitDinner #FarmLife #ChateauFeely #WinterFeasting
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