A hazelnut is the nut of the hazel and is also known as cobnut or filbert nut according to species. There are about 20 kinds of hazelnuts in Asia, Europe and North America. There eight kinds and two variants in Northeast China, East China, North China, Northwest China and Southwestern China. The kernel of the seed is edible and used raw or roasted, or ground into a paste. The seed has a thin, dark brown skin, which is sometimes removed before cooking. Among the top four nuts, namely, hazelnut, almond, walnut and cashew nut, hazelnut is known as the King of Nuts.