Steirisches Kürbiskernöl g.g.A *

Styrian pumpkin seed oil (PGI) traditionally produced from soft coated seeds of the Styrian oil pumpkin.

Record number: 11
 
Disclosure date
First mention of "Kirbis Öell" around 1739
 
Title
Steirisches Kürbiskernöl g.g.A
(Styrian pumpkin seed oil PGI) 
 
Abstract or claim
The pumpkin seed oil is obtained from pressing the seeds of the Styrian oil pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo var. styriaca, sometimes referred as var. oleifera). The pumpkin variety is characterized by seeds which have lost their hard seed coats through mutation in the 19th century.
Styrian pumpkin seed oil’s inimitable aroma and subtle nutty taste is due to the unique pumpkin seeds, the specific soil and climatic conditions and the particular processing methods.
Steirisches Kürbiskernöl is produced according to the specification as Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) pursuant to EC Regulation 1263/96 OJ. L 163/19 ff/96.
 
Name of product, product class
pumpkin seed oil, oils
 
Name of  region
Styria, Austria
 
Field of search
Food and Agriculture
 
Name(s) of information provider
Producer group „Steirisches Kürbiskernöl g.g.A“
 
Names of applicant for title
Gemeinschaft der Arbeitsgemeinschaft
 
Holder of knowledge or associated resources
about 70 industrial oil mills and further oil mills of farmers in Styria
 
Grantee(s), holder(s), assignee(s) or owner(s) of title, if any
Erzeugungsorganisation Steirisches Gemüse G.m.b.H,  Mag. Christian Konrad
Am Engelsdorfgrund, 10
8041 Graz 
 
Descriptors
Numerous references reveal that oil was obtained from the pressing of peeled pumpkin seeds already at the beginning of the 18th century. In 1880, Styrian farmers detected a “soft coated” seed mutation, which was developed further by plant breeders.
Nowadays, the soft coated seed variety Cucurpita pepo var. Styriaca is exclusively cultivated.
 
The Styrian pumpkin seed oil is pressed exclusively in southern Styria (administrative districts Deutschlandsberg, Feldbach, Graz-Umgebung, Hartberg; Leibnitz, Radkersbrug, Voitsberg, Weiz) and the southern Burgenland (administrative districts Jennersdorf, Güssing, Oberwart).
The pressed seeds of the Styrian oil pumpkin stem exclusively from these districts and parts of Lower Austria´s administrative districts Hollabrunn, Horn, Mistelbach, Melk, Gänserndorf (limited to the circuit Zistersdorf) and Korneuburg-Stockerau (limited to the circuit Stockerau).
 
The ripe pumpkins are harvested in autumn. The dark seeds are taken out by hand, washed in clear water, carefully dried, and then ground into a dough-like paste. The next step is to add some water and gently heat the paste. The roasted seed mash is pressed mechanically without using any chemical additives.
The dark green, viscous Styrian pumpkin oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids (especially linoleic acid) and minerals.
 
The description of the specification for the registration as PGI is to be found in the Austrian Patent Office. (National application No: 1215-GR/95)
 
Key words 
Food and Agriculture, Traditional Knowledge, Austria, Styria, region, pumpkin, oil, pumpkin seed oil, Cucurbita pepo var. Styriaca, Steirisches Kürbiskernöl
 
Bibliography/ References
Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 Application for Registration: Art. 17, PGI. (National application No: 1215-GR/95)
Christoph Wagner, Lois Lammerhuber:Steirisches Kürbiskernöl Pichler Verlag  1997 ISBN: 3854311540
Der Steirische Ölkürbis und einige frühe Quellen über Kürbisanbau. – In: TEPPNER, H. (Ed.), Die Koralpe. Beiträge zur Botanik, Geologie, Klimatologie und Volkskunde, pages 57-63 (with 1 photo). – Graz.
www.tappler.com (further historic references)
http://kernoel.cc/PPF/sid/2/index1.asp 
http://www.kernoel.org/ 
www.genuss-region.at 
 
Language code
German
 
Product of www.genuss-region.at  
yes
 
Regional contact 
Producer group „Steirisches Kürbiskernöl g.g.A“
Julius Strauß Weg 1a
A-8430 Leibnitz/ Steiermark
Phone: 03452/72151
E-mail: bernhard.glawogger@lk-stmk.at 
www.Steirisches-kuerbiskernoel-gga.at
 
Authors: Mag. Eva Sommer, Dr. Erhard Höbaus
 
* revised version in preparation
 

22.02.2010, Lebensministerium III/4