During summer 2013 the organization Steirisches Kürbiskernöl g.g.A. (Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil P.D.O.) offers a tasting for pumpkin seed oil in a traditional restaurant of Graz. Opposite to other tastings of products, this event doesn’t present different types of pumpkin seed oil for selling but explain the difference between Styrian pumpkin seed oil and other oils from abroad.
After a small presentation of the quality features of the Styrian pumpkin seed oil, all participants of the tasting got the chance to test three Styrian and two foreign oils without knowing their origins (blind taste testing). In the photo above I am checking the viscosity of the five oils.
Besides checking the viscosity, we also learned to check the colours of the different oils with special equipment depicted above and to taste the different intensities of the nutty aroma pumpkin seed oil is famous for.
I was especially impressed by how big the difference between Styrian pumpkin seed oil and foreign oils is. Even the seeds themselves tasted very different (left = foreign, right = local). After the tasting, we spent some time discussing our experiences. We also talked about general questions regarding the production of pumpkin seed oils.
The tasting took place at Gasthaus Stainzerbauer, a traditional restaurant in the centre of Graz. If you visit this restaurant, don’t forget to check the murals in the yard of the building. They show old views of Graz and several depictions of historical events.
Sources / More info
- Steirisches Kürbiskernöl g.g.A. (Website)
- Gasthaus Stainzerbauer (Website)