Waldviertler Graumohn g.U *

Traditionally produced grey poppy in the Waldviertel, produced according to the specification as Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) pursuant to EC Regulation 1065/97 OJ. L 156/6/97.

Record number: 8
 
Disclosure date
First mention of poppy in the land register kept by Abbot Ebro in 1280 
 
 

Photo: BMLFUW/A...

Title
Waldviertler Graumohn g.U
(Waldviertler grey poppy PDO) 
 
  
Abstract or claim
Traditional knowledge of specific production of grey poppy. The poppy’s quality is due to the geographic environment (extensive hilly landscape, rough climate, heavy dew) including natural und human factors (tradition of poppy cultivation over centuries, small scale farms).
Produced according to the specification as Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) pursuant to EC Regulation 1065/97 OJ. L 156/6/97.
 
Name of product, product class
grey poppy, Papaveraceae (poppy family)
 
Name of  region
Waldviertel, Lower Austria, Austria
 
Field of search
Food and Agriculture
 
Name(s) of information provider
Waldviertel Tourismus
 
Names of applicant for title 
Waldviertler Sonderkulturenverein
3533 Oberwaltenreith 10
Tel:  02826/7443  Fax DW 50
e-mail: hof@waldland.at 
www.waldland.at 
 
Holder of knowledge or associated resources
farmers in the defined Waldviertel area
 
Grantee(s), holder(s), assignee(s) or owner(s) of title, if any
Waldviertler Sonderkulturenverein
3533 Oberwaltenreith 10
Tel:  02826/7443  Fax DW 50
e-mail: hof@waldland.at 
www.waldland.at 
 
Descriptors
Waldviertler Graumohn was probably introduced into the Waldviertel area by monasteries, since monks cultivated garden poppies from the early Middle Age for their pain-killing and sleep-introducing properties. Evidence of this can be found in the earliest land register kept by the monastery of Zwettl, by Abbot Ebro in 1280. Poppy cultivation in the Waldviertel area is mentioned for the first time in tithe records (Zehentbüchern) kept in the second half of the 13th century.
Agricultural statistics kept in the Austro- Hungarian Empire show that 1,200 ha of poppies were cultivated in 1912. Around 1930, grey poppy from Zwettl was still traded at the stock market in London.
After the Second World War the poppies were gradually squeezed out of plants that were easier to grow since they required less manual work. The old tradition of poppy cultivation in the Waldviertel was only revived from around 1980 onwards thanks to initiatives to promote agricultural alternatives (Verein zur Förderung von Sonderkulturen).
 
The poppy seed is grey, kidney-shaped and relatively large in comparison with seed of other poppy varieties, at around 1- 1.5 mm long and 0.7- 1 mm wide. The surface appears criss- crossed with fine lines.
Waldviertler Graumohn differs from blue poppy varieties through its delicate tegument and its oil content around 2-3 % higher than average (between 43.4 and 48.4%). This gives the Waldviertler Graumohn a distinctive mild and nutty flavour. Waldviertler Graumohn contains an extremely high percentage of unsaturated fatty acids (ca. 85%).
Waldviertler Graumohn belongs to the opium poppy or white poppy variety (Papaver somniferum Linné); it exists in both open and closed capsule forms. Open capsule forms are currently cultivated on a large scale, although in future the closed capsule form might also be grown on a similar scale for technical reasons.
 
The Waldviertler forms part of Austrian Federal Province of Niederösterreich; the border with the Czech Republic marks its northern boundary. Waldviertler Graumohn producing regions include the administrative districts of Zwettl, Gmünd, Waidhofen/Thaya, Horn, Krems/Land (north of the Danube) and Melk (north of the Danube).
 
Poppy growing requires a great deal of care, the ground must be prepared as for horticultural purposes. Since poppies have low susceptibility to frost the seeds are planted in spring (between the beginning of March and the end of April) so that the developing plants can make full use of the winter soil moisture. The poppy plant needs warm. Plant protection products have not yet been officially authorises for poppies. To control weeds, a triple hoeing process is recommended. Dry harvesting weather conditions and rapid yet careful harvesting is crucial to the quality of the poppy and the seed case. Since, in contrast to other varieties, the Waldviertler Graumohn has relative high oil content and a delicate tegument, harvesting it with conventional combine harvesters would cause untold lesions, crushing and spoiling it, thus badly affecting the quality of the harvest. For this reason the "Verein zur Förderung von Sonderkulturen" (Austrian Association promoting specialised crops) has developed special poppy harvesting equipment.
 
The leaves of the Waldviertler Graumohn are softer than those of other poppy varieties, the edges of the leaves are slightly serrated and lobed and the stem is lightly covered with hairs. This helps Waldviertler Graumohn make use of the dew caused by the wide temperature fluctuations between day and night in the Waldviertel contributing towards optimum development. The barren soil of the Waldviertel means that Graumohn grows slowly, greatly enhancing the quality and quantity of the poppy oil. Poppy growing is extremely important to the Waldviertler agricultural economy, in which small farmers predominate. Its impact on the countryside is also increasingly important, especially for tourism. The red and white blooms attract a great many holiday- makers to the Waldviertel area each year. Poppies are also traditionally used in regional cookery.
 
The description of the specification for the registration as PDO is to be found in the Austrian Patent Office. (National application No:1197-GR/95)

Key words
Food and Agriculture, Traditional Knowledge, Austria, Lower Austria, region, Waldviertel, poppy, grey poppy, Papaver sp.,  Papaveraceae, edible poppy oil, poppy bakery products , Waldviertler Graumohn

Bibliography/ References
Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92. Application for Registration: Art 17, PDO (National application No:1197-GR/95).
Ditta Rudle, Reinhard Mandl: Waldviertler Graumohn. Pichler Verlag, 1998; ISBN: 3854311737
http://www.defra.gov.uk
www.waldviertel.or.at 
www.waldland.at 
www.genuss-region.at 

Language code
German

Product of www.genuss-region.at 
yes

Regional contact
Waldviertel Tourismus, Hauptplatz 4, A-3910 Zwettl
www.waldviertel.or.at
 
Authors: Mag. Eva Sommer, Dr. Erhard Höbaus
 
* revised version in preparation
 

10.11.2011, Lebensministerium III/4