Cowberry jam: a versatile and traditional flavour
Whether sweet or savoury, South Tyrolean specialities such as Strauben or Wiener Schnitzel would only be half as good without cowberry jam. Thanks to its interplay of fruity sweetness, refreshing acidity and sour flavour, it goes perfectly with various traditional dishes and is an indispensable element of traditional South Tyrolean cuisine.
Cowberry are called 'Granten' or 'Grantn' in South Tyrolean dialect. Cowberry jam is in itself a visually stunning experience: its deep red colour gives golden and brown dishes a colourful burst of freshness. However, the real strength of cowberry jam lies in the exciting interplay of flavours, which is why it is simply part of South Tyrol's culinary tradition.
In South Tyrol, cowberries are called ‘Granten’ or ‘Grantn’.
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The "Melchermuas" is a South Tyrolean speciality. It is cooked over an open fire and served with cranberry jam.
Internet Consulting - Dorothea F.Jams are often sweet, but sometimes - like redcurrant jam (a redcurrant-based spread) - they also have a stimulating acidity. However, cowberry jam also has a subtle sour flavour that goes well with fried and aromatic game dishes, desserts and cakes.
In South Tyrol, Wiener schnitzel is usually served with roast potatoes and cowberry jam.
UnsplashTypical meat dishes served with cowberry jam
- Wiener Schnitzel: this classic of South Tyrolean cuisine is similar to the Milanese schnitzel, but instead of a 4 cm thick veal cutlet, a 4 mm thin veal cutlet is breaded.
- Game dishes: especially in autumn, the menus of South Tyrolean restaurants and inns feature many game dishes, such as venison goulash or venison saddle. In game dishes, cowberry jam is often served on a half pear.
The Kaiserschmarrn is a sweet dish served with cranberry jam. Ideal for a delicious afternoon snack!
Associazione Turistica Val Senales/Helmuth RierTraditional South Tyrolean desserts with cowberry jam
- Kaiserschmarrn: this classic dessert is a favourite with young and old throughout the year. Kaiserschmarrn (also known as Kaiserschmarren), which has its roots in the 19th century Austro-Hungarian monarchy, is served with cowberry jam in South Tyrol, while in Vienna it is usually served with plum jam.
- Melchermuas: this dish has similar ingredients to Kaiserschmarrn, but is prepared without eggs. From time to time, it is still possible to taste this traditional Alpine dish, which used to feed mainly cattle farmers, in rustic Alpine huts.
- Strauben: In the Alpine region from Bavaria to Austria and South Tyrol, this sumptuous speciality is a must at every Kirtag (festival) or village fair. The dough used for Strauben is similar to that used for pancakes.
- Niggilan and Kniekiechl(an): Like Strauben, these two varieties are also baked in fat, but Niggilan and Kniekiachl(an) are made with yeast dough. Kniekiachl(an) have an indentation at the top, which is usually filled with lingonberry jam.
- Buckwheat tart: the cake made of buckwheat flour, which does not contain gluten, and grated walnuts is cut horizontally once cooled, spread with lingonberry jam, and reassembled.
Homemade cowberry jam is sold at farmers' markets and farm shops.
UnsplashWhere can cowberry and cowberry jam be bought in South Tyrol?
In South Tyrol, cowberry grow in many forests and mountain pastures: these 'wild' cranberries are picked by landowners and tenants. There are also some farms that cultivate cowberry. The vitamin-rich red berries are harvested between August and October.
From late summer to autumn, you can buy fresh cowberry in selected shops, farms and farmers' markets and make your own jam. Cowberry jam and other delicious South Tyrolean fruit jams and marmalades can be bought all year round: homemade jams are available at farmers' markets and farms, gourmet markets and well-stocked shops.
Cranberry jam and other fruit spreads from South Tyrol are a delicious holiday souvenir.
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Stored in a cool, dry and dark place, cowberry jam will keep for one to two years. However, this only applies to unopened jars: cowberry are healthy thanks to their numerous vitamins and minerals. They also contain a high percentage of fruit acids, which is why cowberry jam has a longer shelf life than other fruit creams.
However, an opened jar should be stored in the refrigerator and consumed within a few months.
The unique flavour and long shelf life make cowberry jam a perfect culinary souvenir: if you want to prepare a typical South Tyrolean dessert or meat dish at home after your holiday in South Tyrol, cowberry jam is indispensable for an authentic taste experience.
Cranberries and cowberry, jam and marmalade
Finally, for those who want to know exactly what cowberry jam is, here are some definitions:
- 'Cranberry' is not the English name for cowberry. The cowberry is not a cranberry in the strict sense, but is closely related to it: Like the cranberry, it belongs to the blueberry genus and the ericaceae family. The English names for "Preiselbeeren" (DE) are 'cowberry' or 'lingonberry'.
- Both cranberries and lingonberries can be eaten raw. However, they are usually made into jam, syrup or liqueur, as the addition of sugar mitigates their acidity.
- For a long time, an EU directive (known as the jam or breakfast directive) restricted the use of the term 'jam' as a product name: 'marmalade' could only be used for citrus fruit spreads. A new version of the directive now allows individual states to generally authorise the term 'jam' as a designation for 'jams', again through national legal regulations.
- For 'jams' or 'marmalades', a certain minimum percentage of fruit is still required. Fruit spreads', on the other hand, do not have to contain a certain amount of fruit and may also contain sweeteners other than sugar. Always look at the label: there you can see how high the fruit content is and which ingredients are present in the jar.
Cranberries are larger than cowberries.
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