FAQs

Yes, 100% New Zealand grown and harvested at our family orchard in Wakefield, Nelson. We do not import any nuts.

We grow 3 main cultivars

• Whiteheart – essentially unique to New Zealand and is the main variety grown in commercial orchards in New Zealand. Exceptional blanching – 100% cleanly (pellicle/skin comes away easily). Very regular kernel shape and size, good for roasting and confectionery. A sweet, mild, nutty, clean taste – described as “delicate but rich,” and a firm favourite in NZ.
• Tonda Romana – an Italian variety of ancient origin, and the main variety in the hazelnut orchards of Viterbo province (north of Rome). Good taste and aroma, a rich nutty flavour. A favourite with NZ chocolate artisans.
• Barcelona – an old cultivar widely distributed in Western Europe, likely originating in Spain and is the main cultivar grown in Oregon, USA. Excellent taste with a good nutty, sweet flavour.

No. Hazelnuts are a tree nut and can trigger serious allergic reactions in people with nut allergies. If you or someone in your household has a nut allergy, please take appropriate care and seek medical advice before consuming.

• Store whole, uncracked hazelnuts in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.

• Once cracked, keep kernels in an airtight container in the fridge (up to 6 months) or freezer (up to a year).

• Always return nuts to room temperature before eating for best flavour.

Not always. A small percentage of nuts are “blanks” and won’t contain a kernel. This is a natural part of growing hazelnuts.

Hazelnuts are wonderfully versatile. Customers use them to make:

• Homemade nut butters

• Chocolate spreads and truffles

• Baking (cakes, biscotti, brownies, muffins)

• Salads and granolas

• Raw or roasted snacks

• Dairy-free nut milks

Hazelnuts are nutrient-dense and naturally cholesterol-free. They’re a good source of:

• Healthy fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated)

• Protein and dietary fibre

• Vitamin E, magnesium, and B vitamins

• Antioxidants that support heart and brain health

A standard nutcracker or small hammer works well. Crack gently to avoid shattering the kernel inside.

Yes! They can be eaten raw, roasted, or blended into recipes. Light roasting enhances their flavour and aroma.

Kernels have a thin, papery skin (pellicle) which comes off easily when roasted.

• The skin is completely edible and contains dietary fibre, antioxidants, and phenolic compounds, which may add health benefits.
• Taste: the skin has a slightly bitter, tannic flavour which is why many recipes suggest removing it (especially for baking, praline, or chocolate work). The bitterness is mild in some varieties and stronger in others. That said, most people prefer skinned hazelnuts in sweets, nut butters, and confectionery for a smoother, sweeter flavour.

Harvest takes place once a year in autumn and the nuts are sorted and placed on stackable racks in our shed to dry for approximately 5 months.  New season nuts are usually available from August / September.

We don’t use any harsh chemicals. Instead, we use natural neem oil to manage leaf damage caused by orchard pests (typically one application in spring by portable fogging machine). Neem oil is a plant-based product made from the seeds of the neem tree and is safe for people, animals, and the environment as it breaks down naturally without leaving harmful residues. Neem oil helps protect our hazelnut trees from pests like aphids, mites, and scale, while still supporting beneficial insects such as bees. It fits with our sustainable approach to farming and keeps our orchard healthy without synthetic sprays.

We are not certified organic, however we are very conscientious about the health and sustainability of our water, soil and trees. We use all natural fertilisers and sustainable farm management practices to keep our orchard healthy. We are NP1 certified through NZ Food Safety (MPI) and are members of the Hazelnut Growers Association NZ.

It takes about 2.150 kilograms of whole in-shell hazelnuts to produce 1 kilogram of whole kernels once the shells are removed. After cracking, the kernels are hand-sorted to remove the small percentage of kernel pieces and chips that naturally break in the process. Only whole kernels get weighed and packed into food-grade bags. So while both come from the same harvest, the extra care and time that goes into cracking and preparing the kernels — along with the natural loss of shell weight — is what makes them dearer per kilogram than whole in-shell nuts.

Yes — our courier partners Post Haste deliver nationwide across New Zealand including deliveries to offshore islands – Waiheke, Great Barrier, Stewart, and the Chatham Islands. Offshore surcharges are not programmed into our standard website shipping rates.  If you live on one of these islands, please contact us for a personalised shipping quote before placing your order.

• If you are local to our area, we can arrange a farm-gate pick-up or possibly a local drop-off (within the Richmond/Nelson CBD footprint).  Please contact us to arrange a date/time/place suitable for both you and us.

Courier companies apply extra fees for rural deliveries and surcharges for NZ offshore islands.  We always aim to offer fair and accurate shipping costs, but there may be times when the actual cost charged to us by the courier company may be higher than the rate shown at checkout.

What happens if the shipping charge isn’t correct?
Our courier partners, Post Haste use address validation and may reclassify the delivery zone, which may result in extra costs and delays.  We reserve the right to adjust shipping charges after checkout and payment if the delivery address provided falls into a higher tier such as rural zone or offshore island surcharge zones. If this happens, we will contact you to confirm the revised cost before dispatching your order.

The Post Haste online address checker tool can be accessed here for your convenience: