Wiesenwienerwald Elsbeere

 
Record Number: 74
 
Disclosure Date
Oldest known mention of the name Elsbeere by Martin Luther (1483 - 1546).
 
 
 

Photo: BMLFUW/A...

Title
Wiesenwienerwald Elsbeere
(Wiesenwienerwald Wild Service Tree)
 
 
 
 
 
Abstract or claim
Traditional cultivation of freestanding native Wild Service trees (also known as Chequer(s) Tree or Checker(s) Tree; Sorbus torminalis L.) on meadows or boundary ridges in the region Wiesenwienerwald, Lower Austria, at altitudes between 300 - 500 metres.
The trees are well adapted to the climatic and soil conditions of the area.
The ripe berries have dry flesh with sandy-floury and sourly-sweet taste and characteristic, intensive aroma.
Wild Service Tree berries are eaten in dry form, used in traditional cuisine or destilled to Wild Service Tree spirit.
 
Name of product, Product class
Fresh fruits, fruits
 
Name of region
Wiesenwienerwald, Meadow Vienna Forest, Mostviertel, Lower Austria, Austria
 
Field of search
Food and Agriculture
 
Name of information provider
---
 
Name of applicant for title
---
 
Holder of knowledge or associated resources
Farmers in the municipalities Brand-Laaben, Kasten, Stössing, Michelbach, Pyhra, Innermanzing, St. Veit an der Gölsen, Rohrbach an der Gölsen, Hainfeld, Ramsau
„Verein zur Erhaltung, Pflege und Vermarktung der Elsbeere“ (Association for the preservation, cultivation and marketing of Wild Service Trees berries)
 
Grantee(s), holder(s), assignee(s) or owner(s) of title, if any
---
 
Descriptors
- History:
Since time immemorial, the fruits of the Wild Service Tree have been used in traditional medicine because of their astringent effects which are due to the high tannin content.
 
The oldest known mention of the German term Elsbeere comes from Martin Luther’s (1483 - 1546) note in which he orders Elsbeere (Wild service tree berries) for the treatment of his wife Katharina von Bora.
 
Many of the Wild Service Trees in the Wiesenwienerwald region are older than 200 years.
 
In 2007 the association “Verein zur Erhaltung, Pflege und Vermarktung der Elsbeere” (Association for the preservation, cultivation and marketing of Wild Service Trees) was founded.
Twenty five producers have joined the association and created the denomination “Elsbeerreich” (Wild Service Trees realm) for the area. 
 
The association aims at preserving old trees, planting new ones and supporting the marketing of dried berries and processed berries, especially the excellent distillates. At present, about 300 - 400 “old” Wild Service Trees exist in the Wiesenwienerwald region.
 
In August 2008 the title Slow Food Region was bestowed upon Wiesenwienerwald Elsbeere.
 
- Region:
In the context of Regions of Delight the term “Wiesenwienerwald” is used for a peripheral area of the Vienna Forest dominated by meadows. The area encompasses the south-west part of the Vienna Forest which is bordered by the rivers Traisen, Gölsen and Triesting in the south-west and the rivers Tulln and Laabenbach in the east. It includes the municipalities Brand-Laaben, Kasten, Stössing, Michelbach, Pyhra, Innermanzing (political district of St. Pölten-Land) as well as St.Veit an der Gölsen, Rohrbach an der Gölsen, Hainfeld, and Ramsau (district of Lilienfeld).
 
Landscape:
The Region of Delight “Wiesenwienerwald Elsbeere” is situated at altitudes between 300 - 500 m.
 
The highest hill in the Vienna Forest is the so-called “Schöpfl” (893 m) which divides the Vienna Forest into two different landscapes:
A densely forested area towards Vienna and, on the other side, a more open and gentle landscape with meadows, farmland and old fruit-trees in groups or in lines of shrubs. The term Viennese Forest Meadowland refers to this specific landscape.
The big-crowned, free-standing Wild Service Trees form a landscape which is unique worldwide.
 
Climatic and soil conditions:
The region Wiesenwienerwald is situated in a transition zone between Atlantic climate in the west and continental climate in the east.
 
The average precipitation is about 1000 mm per year; the average annual temperature is about 12 °C.
 
Wiesenwienerwald soils are mostly heavy and deep. They belong to the flysch/sandstone zone.
 
- Wild Service berry:
The Wild Service Tree (Sorbus torminalis L.) belongs to the family Rosaceae, subfamily Maloideae, genus Sorbus.
The scientific name comes from the Latin word sorbere (= to slurp; the juice pressed from berries) and torminalis, which means “good for colic”.
 
The Elsbeere is also called Ruhrbirne (literally: dysentery pear), as the berries are traditionally known as herbal remedy against colic.
 
Moreover, synonyms in German are Atlasbaum, Adlitzbeere, Arlsbeere, Arisbeere, Elzbeere, Schweizer Birnbaum, and Wilder Sperberbaum.
 
Description of the tree:
Wild Service Trees are native in the deciduous woodlands from Central and Southern Europe to the Caucasus and are suitable for cultivation in extensive grassland-orchard management systems.
 
Wild Service Trees are deciduous trees which grow to a height of about 20 m and can live to three hundred years of age.
 
Occasionally they are shrub-like, especially when growing on rocky, shallow soils.
 
The trees prefer lime- and clay-based, dry soils. They are thermophilic and sensitive to heavy frosts. Moreover, they are susceptible to fireblight.
 
Wild Service Trees have extremely hard wood which is very valuable.
 
Blossoms and fruits:
Trees older than 12 years produce branched clusters of white blossoms in May and June.
The fruits are round to oval, 8-10 mm in diameter, and ripen in September to November. When fully ripe the edible, ginger-coloured berries turn to brown with lighter dots.
 
The berries are hard at the beginning, but become pasty and contain less tannins after having been exposed to frost.
Therefore, harvesting should start after the first frost, if possible.
 
Taste and contents:
The berries taste tartishly and, with increased ripeness, unfold a flavour similar to almond and marzipan and an aroma that resembles apples and pears.
Ripe fruit taste sandy-floury and sourly-sweet.
They show a high content of vitamin C, pectin, flavonoglycosides, and fruit acids.
 
Harvesting and storing:
Harvesting is labour-intensive as the berries do not fall off by themselves.
Ladders have to be used to manually harvest the berries and their twigs, often at a height of 10 m. Twigs and their berries are kept in airy places to allow for further maturing. After that the berries are removed from the twigs (“abrebeln” is an Austrian term for removing berries from their stalks) and mashed.
 
- Marketing:
The berries are sold directly by farmers, by street sale or via gastronomy.
 
Connection with the geographical area and Traditional Knowledge
- Specific soil and climate conditions provide ideal conditions for the cultivation of Wild Service Trees
  of premium quality.
- Due to the cultivation method and the specific geographic situation berries can be produced with
  specific characteristics in terms of taste.
- The unique taste and aroma of the Wiesenwienerwald Elsbeeren are directly linked to the moderate,
  humid climate.
- The production of Wiesenwienerwald Elsbeeren is the result of Traditional Knowledge passed down
  to those active in the sector: the Traditional Knowledge and expertise of fruit growers (adaptation
  of the cultivation method to the environmental conditions, selection of local cultivars, genetic
  improvement, know-how on optimised harvesting) and the expertise of wholesale buyers and retail
  sellers in marketing.
 
- Utilization:
Chequer berries are above all used as snacks or as ingredients in muesli. Moreover, the chocolate manufactory Hagman in the municipality Krems produces chequer berry chocolate.
Further specialities are chequer berry honey, chequer berry cake, chequer berry noodles, chequer berry camembert filled with chequer berry fresh cheese.
Traditional specialities are chequer berry spirit and chequer berry liqueur.
 
- Protection:
-
 
Key Words
Lebensmittel und Landwirtschaft, Traditionelles Wissen, Österreich, Niederösterreich, Region, Wienerwald, Wiesenwienerwald, Mehlbeere, Elsbeere, Sorbus torminalis L, Ruhrbirne, Atlasbaum, Adlitzbeere, Arlsbeere Arisbeere, Elsbeere, Elzbeere, Schweizer Birnbaum, Wilder Sperberbaum, Wiesenwienerwald Elsbeere
 
Bibliography / References
- Alternative Obstsorten
  http://www.schreiber-baum.at/alternativ.htm
- Biosphärenpark Wienerwald
  http://www.biosphaerenparks.at/bsr/deutsch/wienerwald/wienerwald_klima.html
- Eignung des Wienerwaldes für einen Nationalpark oder Biosphärenpark
  http://content.naturfreunde.at/medien/direktmedien/6427.pdf
- Elsbeere
  http://aeiou.iicm.tugraz.at/aeiou.encyclop.e/e511627.htm
- Elsbeere
  http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsbeere
- Elsbeere
  http://www.tomshardware.de/lexikon/Elsbeere
- Elsbeere – die Königin der Obstbrände
  http://www.landfuergeniesser.at/geniesser/default_main.asp?medium=GENIESSER&sprache=d&id=14494&tt=GENIESSER_R4
- Elsbeere - Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz
  http://www.seba.ethz.ch/pdfs/ebe.pdf 
- Klima
  http://www.salamandra.at/wienerwald/html/ww_allgemein/klima.html
- Obstbrände
  http://www.schnapsnase.at/lexikon/lexikonobst.html
- Slow Food Presidia- Wiesenwienerwald Chequer Tree Austria
  http://www.slowfoodfoundation.org/eng/presidi/dettaglio.lasso?cod=396
- SOMMER E. Zur Bedeutung von Traditionellem Wissen bei traditionellen, regionalen
  Spirituosenspezialitäten. Diplomarbeit zur Erlangung des Mag. rer. nat., Wien 2007.
- Sorbus (Eberesche, Süeierling, Mehlbeere, Elsbeere)
  http://www.garteninfos.de/wildobst/Dipl2-6.html
- Wienerwald
  http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wienerwald
- Wienerwald
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wienerwald
- Wienerwald 
  http://www.wien.gv.at/umwelt/wald/erholung/wienerwald.html  
- Wienerwald
  http://wikitravel.org/de/Wienerwald
- Wiesenwienerwald Elsbeere
  www.genuss-region.at
- Wild Service Tree
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Service_Tree
 
All internet references last accessed on 20 January 2009.
 
Language Code
German
 
Product of www.genuss-region.at
Yes
 
Regional contact
Verein zur Erhaltung, Pflege und Vermarktung der Elsbeere
(Association for the preservation, cultivation and marketing of Wild Service Trees)
Representative Ing. Norbert Mayer
Mayerhöfen 1
3074 Michelbach
E-mail: edelbrand@elsbeere.at  
Phone: 02744/8256
 
Authors: Mag. Eva Sommer, Dr. Erhard Höbaus
 

11.11.2011, Lebensministerium III/4