Alexander Hunt is famed for his nut production but also his tree nursery and orchard farming expertise. Yet another quintessentially British product, Cobnuts (and particularly the Kent Cob) are seeing a resurgence and are usually in season from the end of August through to October.

Cobnuts are a type of hazelnut, just as a Bramley is a type of apple. Unlike most other nuts, cobnuts are sold fresh, not dried, and keep well in the fridge in the salad drawer, away from environments where they can sweat. At the beginning of the season the husks are green and the kernels particularly juicy. Nuts harvested later on are ripe with brown shells and husks, and the full flavour has developed. These husks should be removed if loose but it is not necessary to take off every one. The addition of a little salt helps preserve the nuts. Stored correctly, ripe nuts will keep until Christmas and beyond.

Alexander also grows walnuts, another British staple. The season starts in June with young green walnuts that can be pickled, then as the husks of the walnut fall away and the shells harden, the paper forms around the actual nut. It is at this stage that walnuts are at their creamiest!