The Festival of Hazelnuts in Zagatala

“Dana Gez”, “Atababa”, “Gelin Dyrnag” - more than 20 varieties of nuts were presented at the hazelnut festival, held in Deda Gorgud Square in Zagatala. The executive branch of the region and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan organized a delicious holiday.

Zagatala has always been famous for its large and selective hazelnuts (filbert). Here grow the most delicious of its varieties in Azerbaijan. Our country is the fourth largest export of hazelnuts. Over 35,000 tons of hazelnuts are collected in Azerbaijan annually 90% of which is exported. Most of the produced hazelnuts are in the Zagatala region. Funds are considered one of the main sources of income for the local population.
Interest in this culture is growing every year. About 25 countries including Italy, Germany and Russia are the main consumers of our hazelnuts.
The participants of the festivities could see and even taste various products, dishes and sweets made using this nut - the most beautiful basket (huncha) of hazelnuts, handicrafts, even with clothes made of it, not to mention the numerous dishes made from this wonder-nut.  At the feast of the nut  it was possible to play too. The game is called “Hazelnut cutting”: in a short time you need to clear as many nuts from the shell. In these competitions, the best and most agile were the local boys.
Zagatalets claim that their hazelnuts are distinguished by high fat content, while the fruits do not spoil for a long time. They make butter and sweets. Hazelnuts are widely used in national cuisine. Various sweets are baked from this nut: shekerbura, halvah, jam and of course the famous Azerbaijani bakhlava. Confectioners use hazelnuts in the manufacture of sweets, chocolate, cakes, ice cream, cookies, pies and other pastries. Hazelnuts are added to salads, snacks, sauces, they cook meat, fish, vegetables and rice. In Zagatala, the shell is also involved. Locals heat furnaces with it.