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Vogelbeerschnaps
Spirit drink, distilled from rowan berries (Sorbus aucuparia), has a long tradition in the Federal Provinces Tyrol and Styria.Record Number: 45
Disclosure date
Emperor Charles the Great ordered the cultivation of Mountain Ashes (Rowans) in the 9th century.
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Vogelbeerschnaps
(Rowan berry spirit drink)
Abstract or claim
Spirit drink, distilled from rowan berries (Sorbus aucuparia), has a long tradition in the Federal Provinces Tyrol and Styria.
Name of product, product class
Spirit drinks
Name of region
Tyrol, Styria, Austria
Field of search
Agriculture and Spirit drinks
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Holder of knowledge or associated resources
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assignee(s) or owner(s) of title, if any
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Descriptors
- History:
In the 9th century, Charles the Great promoted the cultivation of mountain ashes (rowan trees) as rowan berries were regarded as remedies against lung diseases, costiveness and scurvy. Moreover, rowan berries were used as lure for the catching of birds.
Besides folk-medicinal uses, the European rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) has a long tradition in European mythology and folklore as magical tree and protection against malevolent beings.
- Region:
Tyrol and Styria.
- Mountain Ashes (Rowan trees):
Mountain Ashes (Rowan trees) belong to the family Rosacaea, genus Sorbus.
Native mountain ashes are commonly found in temperate countries across Europe.
In Austria mountain ashes are frequently found in Tyrol and Styria.
Mountain Ashes have various German synonyms, such as Eberesche, Aberesche, Eibschen and Vogelbeere.
The German term Eberesche might be explained as follows. “Esche” might stem from the german word “Esche” (Ash trees, Fraxinus sp., family Oleaceae) as the leaves are similar.
“Eber” might be derived either from “Aber” (inthe meaning of false, pseudo, superstition) or from the celtic term “eburos” for yew trees (Eiben in German). Eberesche might mean “Eiben-Esche” (Eibschen) and might thus refer to yew trees which are also producing red berries.
The German term “Vogelbeere” (literally “bird berry”) is mainly used in Austria. The term Vogelbeere is derived from the fact that rowan berries were used as a bait to catch birds. For this purpose the long twigs were glued or snares were set on the twigs. Vogelbeere comes from the scientific denomination Sorbusaucuparia (au = avis = Vogel= bird, cuparia = capere = fangen=to catch). Moreover, sometimes the trees are called after the birds feeding the berries such as Drosselbeere, Krammetsbeerbaum (Krammet = Drossel= throstle), Kreienbeer (Kreie = Krähe= crow) or Gimpelbeere (bullfinch berry). Other synonyms are Faulbeere, Moosesche, Wielesche, Stinkesche, Güütsch and Quitschbeere.
Mountain Ashes are native trees and are also cultivated as ornamental trees. These deciduous trees up to 15 m tall and can reach an age of about 100 years. The trees are very tolerant of cold and are found at high altitude on mountains (in Tyrol up to 2400m).
The trees are tolerant to habitat requirements, but like sunny edges and clearings of woods with mediate humid soils. The trees yield a good harvest usually only every 3 years.
The rowan berries turn from orange-red to bright-red when ripening between August and October. The ripe pea-sized berries taste tartly and acidly due to bitter compunds and fruit acids. Thus, the fruits are too astringent to be palatable when raw. However, the bitter taste is cut down in late autumn when the first frosts trigger the metabolization of bitter compounds.
Fruits contain considerable amounts of pro-vitamin A and of sorbit (“sorbit” comes from Sporbus sp.) which contributes together with other sugar components (10-12%) to the tartly taste of the berries. Moreover, the berries show high contents of vitamin C and pectin.
Raw berries also contain parasorbic acid, which causes indigestion after the uptake of a larger quantity of raw fruits.
In folk-medicine fresh rowan berries are used as laxative while dried berries are used as remedy against diarrhea.
- Utilization:
Rowan berries can be made into jelly, jams and are distilled to spirit drinks.
The distillation of Vogelbeerschnaps (rowan berry spirit drink) has a long tradition notably in Styria and Tyrol.
For distillation purposes the berries are harvested after the first frosts but before birds start to feedon the ripe berries.
Harvesting is labour-intensive as ladders have to be used to pick the berries which are not self-falling. The berries are removed from the twigs (“abrebeln”) either by pressing them manually through wide meshed sieves or by using mechanic devices.
Often berries are stored in hay stables to allow for post-harvest ripening. This leads to very low levels of bitter compounds and enhances the aroma components.
As the water content of the berries is low, water is often added to the mashed fruits. Moreover, specific yeasts are added in order to ensure optimal fermentation. The yield is low, about 1.5 litre ethyl alcohol/100 litre mash.
Vogelbeerschnaps is characterized by a subtle note of bitter almonds and a distinct, intense, long-lasting flavour.
In folk-medicine Vogelbeerschnaps is much valued. It is reputed to be a remedy against common cold, rheumatism, diabetes, kidney and urinary diseases and it is said to stimulate metabolism.
- Protection:
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Key words
Agriculture and Spirit drinks, Traditional Knowledge, Austria, Styria, Tyrol, region, Vogelbeere, Eberesche, Mehlbeere, Drosselbeere, Gimpelbeere, Faulbeere, Moosesche, Wielesche, Stinkesche, Güütsch, Quitschbeere, Krammetsbeerbaum, Rowan berry, Mountain Ash, Vogelbeerschnaps, Rowan berry spirit drink, Sorbus aucuparia
Bibliography/ References
- PISCHL J. Rohstoffe der Brennerei. In: Schnapsbrennen. Leopold Stocker Verlag, Graz,
1994; 22, 109-110.
- KEPPEL H, PIEBER K, WEISS J, HIEBLER A. Die bedeutendsten Obstarten. In: Obstbau-
Anbau und Verarbeitung. Leopold Stocker Verlag, Graz, 1991; 111-112.
- JUEN W, WIESER J, BÖHM T.Die Vogelbeere. In: Das Tiroler Schnaps Buch- Edelbrände
mit Tradition, Verlagsanstalt Tyrolia, Innsbruck, 2002; 85- 96.
- Von der roten Maische zum edlen Vogelbeerschnaps
http://www.dachsteintauern.at/static/doc/nature_2004.pdf
- Die Früchte der Eberesche- Vogelbeeren
http://www.tirol.at/xxl/_articleId/488682/_area/414512/_subArea/456573/_subArea2/456599/_subArea3//_lang/de/index.html
- Vogelbeere & Elsbeere
http://www.spiritsmedia.at
- Alternative Obstsorten
http://www.schreiber-baum.at/alternativ.htm
- Vogelbeere
http://www.nagl-am-sulzbach.de/lexikon.html
- Vogelbeere (gemeine Eberesche)
http://www.zauser.at/schnaps/SORTEN/Vogelbeere.shtm
- Die Vogelbeere (Sorbus aucuparia) als Bestandteil einheimischer Wald- und
Gebüschgesellschaften
http://www.lwf.bayern.de
- Die Eberesche - Baum Des Jahres 1997
http://www.baum-des-jahres.de/archiv/eberesche97.html
- Die Eberesche - Beschreibung
http://www.naturdetektive.de/2000/bauminfos13_innen.htm
- Vogelbeere
http://lexikon.freenet.de/Eberesche
- Vogelbeere
http://www.mairs-beerengarten.at/fruechte/vogelbeere/
- Die Vogelbeere - Charakterbaum des Fichtelgebirges
Vogelbeere"
- Sorbus aucuparia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorbus_aucuparia
- Rowan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rowan
Language code
German
Product of www.genuss-region.at
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Regional contact
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Author: Eva Sommer, Dr. Erhard Höbaus
10.11.2011, Lebensministerium III/4