Photo: BMLFUW/Rita Newman
Mittelburgenländische Kaesten und Nuss
Record Number: 115
Disclosure Date
It is presumed that the Romans spread walnuts and chestnuts throughout the entire Roman Empire including the region of Central Burgenland, through which the Roman Amber Road passed.
Photo: BMLFUW/A...
Mittelburgenländische Kaesten und Nuss
(Central Burgenland chestnuts and walnuts)
Abstract or claim
Traditional cultivation, processing and marketing of walnuts (Juglans regia) and European chestnuts (Castanae sativa) in the region of Central Burgenland, Burgenland.
Numerous regional and local walnut and chestnut varieties have evolved due to soils rich in nutrients and the ideal climatic conditions.
Name of product, Product class
Sweet chestnut, nuts
Walnut, nuts
Name of region
Central Burgenland, Burgenland, Austria
Field of search
Food and agriculture
Name of information provider
Johann Pfneiszl
Chairman of the association Region of Delight Mittelburgenländische Kaesten und Nuss
Name of applicant for title
---
Holder of knowledge or associated resources
Numerous walnut and chestnut tree owners and numerous producers from Central Burgenland
Grantee(s), holder(s), assignee(s) or owner(s) of title, if any
---
Descriptors
- History:
The walnut is thought to be the oldest tree fruit. It originated in Persia, where findings of the remains of fossilised shells verify that it was already in use there in 7000 BC.
From Persia, it spread to Central Asia, China and Greece via trade routes. Roman legionaries brought the walnut to the Roman Empire as well as to the lands on the other side of the Alps.
The first mention of the walnut was by Columella (4 - 70 AD) in his book about arboriculture (De re rustica, 60 - 65 AD) and by Pliny the Elder (23 - 79 AD) in his Naturalis historia (79 AD.) in which he reports that the Greeks brought the walnut tree to Europe from Asia between the 7th and th century BC.
It is also assumed that the sweet chestnut was cultivated at this time in the area between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea.
The sweet chestnut spread and started to be cultivated during the time of Ancient Greece. It was mentioned in the works of famous Greeks (e.g. Homer).
Around 800 AD, the walnut was planted in Central Europe on the recommendation of Charlemagne.
At first, the tree was known in German as Walschbaum, which is derived from the word Walsch or Welsch, the original Germanic term for Celts or the inhabitants of Italy. It was only in the 18th century that the name Walnussbaum came into use. Occasionally the walnut is called “Persian walnut” due to its origin.
Photo: BMLFUW/Rita Newman
It can be assumed that walnut and chestnut trees started to be planted in Central Burgenland around 200 AD.
It is presumed that the Romans spread walnuts and chestnuts throughout the entire Roman Empire including the region of Central Burgenland. An important travel and trade route, the Roman Amber Road passed through this area.
More and more walnut and chestnut trees were planted in zones with a favourable climate, specifically from Styria to Burgenland.
In medieval times, Charlemagne (747 - 814 A.D.) promoted the cultivation of walnut and chestnut trees through his enactment “Capitulare de villis vel curtis imperii” of 802.
Hildegard von Bingen (1098 - 1179) recommended the sweet chestnut to strengthen the heart, liver, spleen, brain and nerves. It was also said to have a positive influence on the mind.
Regarded as the first group people to clear and farm the land in Central Burgenland, the Cistercians arranged for the planting of sweet chestnuts in the region.
Sopron County (administrative unit of the Kingdom of Hungary – until 1921 the Austro-Hungarian monarchy) already had an important chestnut culture in the 19th century.
The start of systematic arboriculture in the region dates back to the early 19th century and was influenced by the nearby Wölfel tree nursery, which was founded around 1800 by Josef Wölfel (1773 - 1812) in Güns (Hungary).
Chestnut and walnut trees that are up to 350 years old characterise the landscape today.
In 2006 the association D'Kästnklauba was founded in the area of the Güns mountains. Its goal is to maintain and promote the sweet chestnut.
With support from the EU, chestnut trees were planted in the region by Naturschutzbund Burgenland (Burgenland Nature Conservancy Association). To this end, young trees from Austria were bought.
The association Region of Delight Mittelburgenländische Kaesten und Nuss was founded in 2008.
- Region:
Central Burgenland (political district Oberpullendorf) is an undulating region in the east of Austria.
Central Burgenland is bordered to the north by the Sopron mountains, to the east by Hungary, to the south by the Güns mountains and to the west by the Bucklige Welt hills.
The highest peaks are Geschriebenstein (884 m), which is the highest mountain in Burgenland, and Große Hirschenstein (862 m).
The main areas of cultivation of chestnuts are the municipalities Stoob and Mannersdorf with the villages of Ratterdorf, Liebing and Klostermarienberg. Walnut trees are found regularly distributed across the entire region of Central Burgenland.
The Region of Delight Mitteburgenländische Kaesten und Nuss includes the municipalities Draßmarkt, Stoob, Oberpullendorf, Raiding, Ritzing, Großwarasdorf, Frankenau-Unterpullendorf, Lutzmannsburg, Nikitsch, Horitschon and Mannersdorf.
Soils and climatic conditions:
Deep, heavy clay and sandy soils with a good water storage capacity predominate in Central Burgenland.
The climate in this area is Pannonian.
As Central Burgenland is open to the east, the climate is subject to continental influences.
Summers are warm and dry, winters short with little snowfall. Autumn is sunny with mild temperatures and lasts until late October and sometimes even until November.
Spring begins earlier than in other regions of Austria and is characterised by mild temperatures.
Average temperatures are between -1 and 1 °C in winter and between 18 and 20 °C in summer. The average yearly temperature is 10 °C.
Also called Sonnenland (sun land), Central Burgenland is the area with the most sunshine in all of Central Europe (around 300 days a year).
The average yearly precipitation is 620 mm.
The range of hills to the north, south and west shield the region from cold winds.
The areas of cultivation of Mittelburgenländische Kaesten und Nuss are located 250 to 500 metres above sea level.
- Walnuts and sweet chestnuts:
Walnuts (Juglans regia) belong to the Juglandaceae family, genus Juglans.
Photo: BMLFUW/Rita Newman
European sweet chestnuts are also called Maroni or Esskastanien in German. The sweet chestnut is not to be confused with the hardy horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), whose fruits are inedible.
Both walnuts and European sweet chestnuts are nut fruits. Nut fruits are indehiscent fruits in which the seed is surrounded by a hard, mostly woody shell or the seed is firmly enclosed. Walnuts are thus nuts.
The chestnut tree is a tree of great importance for cultural history, landscape design, economics and ecology.
Sweet chestnut trees and walnut trees reach a height of up to 30 m and have a broad crown.
Chestnuts are also called Kaesten in dialect.
- Mittelburgenländische Kaesten und Nuss:
Mittelburgenländische Kaesten und Nuss are harvested and processed exclusively in Central Burgenland.
The walnut tree that grows in Central Burgenland is a tree found by houses and on farms and traditionally grows in rows on the edge of vineyards; the sweet chestnut is often a wild forest tree.
The chestnut tree grows both alone and in groups.
Photo: BMLFUW/Rita Newman
The Mittelburgenländische Nuss is an English walnut variety (Juglans regia L.) as well as random seedlings that have not yet been identified.
Depending on the variety, the skin surrounding the seed of the Mittelburgenländische Nuss is reddish, green or beige. Characteristic of the Mittelburgenländische Nuss is its particularly intense walnut flavour.
Description of the chestnut variety:
The Mittelburgenländische Kaesten is one of a number of unidentified sweet chestnut varieties of various sizes and shades of colours.
Planting trees and propagation:
Walnut and chestnut trees are propagated naturally from fruits remaining on the ground. In addition, chestnut trees are planted intentionally.
Watering:
Trees are not irrigated.
Fertilizing and pest control measures:
Fertilisers and pesticides are not used.
Harvest and storage:
Walnuts:
The harvesting of walnuts is called Nussspossen (= beating walnuts) and begins in September. The ripe fruits either fall from the tree by themselves or wooden sticks are used to beat the branches so that the ripe fruits fall down. Afterwards the walnuts are gathered by hand from the ground.
The farmers harvest and hull the walnuts by hand. They are either processed directly by the farmers or are sold to regional producers for processing.
After the harvest, the walnuts are dried in the sun briefly in order to prevent mould and to make it easier to remove the green husk later.
The walnuts are then stored in the attics of the producers in well-ventilated sacks or boxes.
The walnuts can be stored in this way for up to a year.
Chestnuts:
The chestnuts are gathered by hand between mid-September and mid-October by the farmers.
Only those chestnuts that are completely ripe and have already fallen to the ground are harvested.
Chestnuts must be harvested within a week of when they fall to avoid insect infestation and spoilage. After warm or cold water method treatment, the chestnuts can be stored for around two months in a regional refrigerated storage facility.
In the main area of cultivation, around 4.000 kg of chestnuts are harvested each year.
Processing:
Mittelburgenländische Kaesten und Nuss are processed directly in the region.
Walnuts:
The walnuts are not shelled until shortly before being processed.
Fresh walnuts are marketed immediately or are ground and frozen or processed into various specialities.
During processing, the walnuts are ground or chopped using hand-operated machines or kitchen appliances. Walnuts from which oil is pressed are processed in oil mills in South Burgenland.
Central Burgenland walnuts are processed by the producers themselves as well as by regional processing facilities.
Chestnuts:
Chestnut purée is the basic ingredient of different products. To make purée, the chestnuts are first freed from their hard outer shell and then boiled and pressed through a sieve so that the soft inner shell can also be removed. Alternately, they are only cooked briefly and then are ground in a nut mill.
Depending on the end product, sugar is added or not, after which the mixture is either processed immediately or frozen.
Around 50 % of the harvest is frozen in the form of chestnut purée by the producers themselves.
In addition, the chestnuts are either sold directly after the harvest or are processed into regional specialities.
Central Burgenland chestnuts are processed by the producers or in cooperation with the regional association D'Kästnklauba. The association buys up the harvested chestnuts in order to create new products and to organise their joint processing.
Quality Control:
Mittelburgenländische Kaesten and Nuss must comply with the minimum quality standards stipulated in Chapter 4 (Fruit) of the Austrian food code.
In addition, it is in the interest of the producers to check their goods regularly by sorting and taking out anything conspicuous in terms of appearance, hardness of the shell, kernel and taste.
- Marketing:
Mittelburgenländische Kaesten and Nuss are predominantly marketed directly by the producers and by the association Region of Delight Mittelburgenländische Kaesten and Nuss.
The walnuts are available whole or ground or in regional specialities.
The chestnuts are predominantly on offer in various regional specialities.
Walnuts are available all year long, chestnuts from September to December, frozen chestnut purée as the basic ingredient for various products the whole year.
Various walnut and chestnut specialities are on offer in bakeries, cake shops and wine taverns and at farmers’ markets, in wine bars and at food retailers in the region, throughout Austria and in parts of Germany.
Producers sell their products using their own brand, logo or individual corporate design. Every product made of Mittelburgenländische Kaesten und Nuss features a Region of Delight Austria logo.
Every year on October 26 a chestnut festival takes place in the Marienberg monastery.
Connection with the geographical area and traditional knowledge
- Soils particularly rich in nutrients and the Pannonic climate provide the
ideal conditions for the cultivation of different walnut and chestnut
varieties.
- Mittelburgenländische Kaesten und Nuss include different varieties and
local cultivars which have been developed over centuries and have been
optimally adapted to the local conditions in the region.
- Thanks to the cultivation method and the specific geographic situation,
nuts can be produced that have a special taste.
- The unique taste and aroma of the Mittelburgenländische Kaesten und
Nuss are directly linked to the high number of sun hours and to the
humid, mild climate.
- The production of Mittelburgenländische Kaesten und Nuss is the result
of the 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
rootstocks, varieties and local cultivars, genetic improvement, know-how
in the fields of tree tending and optimised harvesting) and the experience
of food processers and marketers.
- Utilisation:
Mittelburgenländische Kaesten und Nüsse are used for numerous products and dishes.
Chestnuts:
Chestnut purée, chestnut soup, dumplings, pancakes, croissants, cakes, strudel and chestnut rice, flour, beer, liqueur (from the fruit or the blossom) and schnapps.
Though fresh chestnuts may be eaten raw, the fruits are generally roasted or cooked before they are eaten to develop their flavour. It is recommended to cut into the fruits before they are roasted or cooked because they contain up to 70 % water in their raw state, which can cause their shell to break open when cooked.
Walnuts:
Photo: BMLFUW/Rita Newman
A further use is to harvest half-ripe green walnuts in June to make a fruit with a high amount of vitamin C, which is also called Schwarze Nüsse (black nuts) when candied.
There is a use not only for the fruit but also for the wood of walnut and chestnut trees.
Nutritional importance:
Because of their low water content and high percentage of fat (50 – 70 %), walnuts are very rich in energy with plenty of unsaturated fatty acids.
Walnuts are rich in vitamins (B vitamins, vitamins A and E), amino acids, carbohydrates, minerals and fat (50 – 70 %). Around 9 to 10 litres of valuable oil can be produced from 50 kg walnuts.
Chestnuts are rich in minerals and trace elements as well as starch, which is only released by roasting or cooking. Though chestnuts contain less fat and protein than walnuts, they have more starch.
- Protection:
-
Key Words
Food and agriculture, traditional knowledge, Austria, region, Burgenland, Central Burgenland, fruit, nuts, Kaesten, chestnuts, sweet chestnut, walnuts, Mittelburgenländische Kaesten und Nuss, Central Burgenland chestnuts and walnuts
Bibliography / References
- MAIER-BRUCK F. Vom Essen auf dem Lande. Verlag Kremayr & Scheriau,
Wien, 2003, S. 64f
- MAR et all. Lehrbuch der Bäckerei. Trauner Verlag, Linz, 2007, S. 147f
- Burgenland
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgenland
- Die Pflanze des Monats Oktober 01: die Walnuss
http://www.blumenboersen.ch/archiv/monatspflanze-walnuss.htm
- Die Walnuss
http://walnuss.info/Geschichte.shtml
- Das was 2006
http://www.papierkunst.at/rueckblicke.html
- Edelkastanie
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edelkastanie
- Edelkastanien
http://www.hildegardvonbingen.at/lebensmittel/maroni/index.php
- Fruchtsaft in NÖ
http://www.soschmecktnoe.at/pdf_files/noe_fruchtsaft.pdf (
- Mittelburgenländische Kaesten und Nuss: Produkt
http://www.genuss-region.at/article/archive/14438
- Genussregion Mittelburgenland
http://www.sonnenland.at/
- Gemeinde Mannersdorf a.d.R. - Ortsteil: Klostermarienberg
http://www.mannersdorf-adr.at/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=29
- Günser Gebirge
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%BCnser_Gebirge
- Landesamtsblatt für das Burgenland
www.e-government.bgld.gv.at/amtsblatt/default.aspx?amtsblatt&id=255&jahr=2005
- Lucius Columella
http://www.ernestopauli.ch/Wein/Columella.htm
- Mittelburgenland Dinkel: Region
http://www.genuss-region.at/article/archive/18922
- Mittelburgenländische Kaesten und Nuss
http://www.genuss-region.at/article/archive/14436 1
- Mittelburgenländische Kaesten und Nuss: Produkt
http://www.genuss-region.at/article/archive/14438
- Nussfrucht
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nussfrucht
- Orte im Bezirk Oberpullendorf
http://www.geomix.at/oesterreich/Burgenland/Oberpullendorf/bezirk.html
- Sonnenland Mittelburgenland
http://www.tiscover.at/at/guide/5,de,SCH1/objectId,RGN212026at,season,at2/home.html
- Sonnenland Burgenland: Wo der Genuss zu Hause ist
http://www.bs-eisenstadt.at/Projektpraktikum/3lg0607/PB3Lg0607.pdf
- Walnuss
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walnuss
- Weinbau im Mittelburgenland – Der Boden und das Klima für Wein
http://www.borg-op.asn-bgld.ac.at/haschendorf/geologweinbau.htm
- Weinbaugebiet Mittelburgenland
http://www.weine-oesterreich.at/weinanbaugebiete/burgenland/weinanbaugebiet-mittelburgenland.php
- Weninger
http://www.weninger.com
All internet references last accessed on 22nd September 2009.
Language Code
German
Product of www.genuss-region.at
Yes
Regional contact
Johann Pfneiszl
Chairman of the association Region of Delight Mittelburgenländische Kaesten und Nuss
7372 Draßmarkt, Am Anger 4
Phone: +43 2617/25746
Fax: +43 2682 2057700 7327
Mobil: +43 664/2838002
E-Mail: office@kico.at
http://www.ge-nuss-region.at
Authors: Daniela Trenker, Eva Sommer, Erhard Höbaus
08.11.2011, Lebensministerium III/4