Macadamia Nuts vs Hazelnuts – What’s the Difference?

Nuts have been used for centuries for many different purposes. People have been using Nuts to add flavor and texture to their food, and some even use them to garnish their sweet dishes. Whether you are a professional chef or just amateur cooking from your home kitchen, there is a strong possibility that you have handled Nuts before. In addition to their culinary use, Nuts are also eaten as snacks; in fact, many dieticians recommend eating Nuts as snacks to control hunger and provide nutrition to the body.

Nuts come in many different shapes and sizes, but not all are the same. And even the ones that are similar also have many differences that set them apart. But many people don’t know these differences except the ones they can physically see; things like their nutritional value, history, and uses go unnoticed.

Two such popular Nuts are Macadamia Nuts and Hazelnuts. In this article, we will talk about their differences, so you can have a better understanding of what separates them. In this way, you will have the knowledge to make an informed decision about which type of Nut you should use as a snack or in your next recipe.

Hazelnuts

Hazelnuts have many different names depending on the region, for example, Filbert and Cobnut. These nutritious Nuts were initially grown in Asia, where people used them for different purposes. Today, Hazelnuts are consumed all over the world and are grown in different parts of the world, especially the Northern Hemisphere. The reason why Hazelnuts spread throughout the world is simple; they are highly resistant to pests, so you don’t need any type of pesticide to grow them.

Moreover, they can thrive in soil without the use of fertilizers, so almost anyone can grow their Hazelnuts. Hazelnuts can be grown as bushes or trees, depending on trimming or pruning. You can expect fruit from your Hazelnut trees in about four years, but the quality of the Nut will vary according to the specific conditions that you provide to the tree. The best Hazelnuts are found in Europe, where they are cultivated and grown with attention to detail to optimize the Nut’s flavor.

A process called selective breeding is used, in which only selected Nuts are planted again. These Nuts usually have a better and more desirable flavor than other Nuts of the same species. By using this method, the farmer ensures that only the best Genes are propagated, and due to this, Nuts of superior quality are produced.

It isn’t easy to describe the exact taste of Hazelnuts, but the closest we can describe it is as distinctly earthy. The texture is creamy, and when you take a bite, it might feel crunchy at first, but as soon as you start chewing, you start feeling the buttery smoothness.

Nutrition

Like most other Nuts, Hazelnuts are nutrient-dense foods, which means that a large number of nutrients are stored in a small portion of the Nuts. Nutrient-dense foods are good for health as they provide various nutrients in large quantities and help the body maintain a good nutritional status by fulfilling its nutritional requirements. But you have to keep in mind that too much of any nutrient-dense food can be harmful.

Hazelnuts have 175 calories in one serving of 30 grams. In addition to that, Hazelnuts also have large amounts of protein, unsaturated fats, Vitamin E, and anti-oxidants.

Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia Nuts originated in Australia, but the best Macadamia Nuts today are grown in Hawaii. These Nuts are also grown in other countries with Tropical climates, including Costa Rica, Portugal, and Brazil. Unlike Hazelnut trees, Macadamia Trees take longer to grow. On average, it takes up to 10 years for a Macadamia tree to bear fruit; this is because they require very specific weather conditions to grow, which are usually not found in Northern America.

Macadamia Nuts also hold the status of being the costliest nuts in the world. These delicious can be bought online or directly from stores. But we recommend buying them online, so you don’t have to extra mark-up on this already expensive food item. The Macadamia Nut has a distinct flavor not found in any other nut.

Biting into a Macadamia Nut is like chewing Solid butter with all its creaminess, but without the discomfort of eating butter. You can easily get addicted to the slightly sweet and rich flavor of these tasty Nuts.

Nutrition

Despite having a wonderful flavor, Macadamia Nuts don’t have any health benefits to make you feel better about consuming them, except if you are on a high-fat diet like a Ketogenic diet, in which case the high-fat content of the Nuts can help you in achieving your daily fat intake goals. Macadamia Nuts have about 23 grams of dietary fat in a 30-gram serving. Most of these fats are monounsaturated fats, which are essential for our body, and play an important role in boosting our brain health, preventing joint inflammation, and providing energy to the body.

Macadamia Nuts also contain several Vitamins and minerals, but they are present in small amounts, which is not enough to provide any significant health benefits. This makes Macadamia nuts caloric-dense instead of nutrient-dense. You can easily over-consume Macadamia nuts because of their awesome flavor, but doing so can be harmful.

Therefore, it is best to be conscious of your serving size when consuming them. Ideally, it would be best if you aimed to eat less than 12 Macadamia nuts at a time, and even lesser depending on the processing done to them.

So What’s the Difference Between Macadamia Nuts and Hazelnuts?

• Macadamia Nuts have a lighter flavor with a creamy and sweet flavor, while Hazelnuts have a distinct flavor that goes well with chocolate, fruits, and spices like paprika.
• Macadamia Nuts are popularly used in cookies, while Hazelnuts are used to make chocolate and Hazelnut spread.
• Macadamia Nuts are usually more expensive, while Hazelnuts can be bought for a cheaper price.

Sources

• Khoshbin
• Foodstruct
• Nutstop