von Tessa Mellinger
21 April 2021
TRUE LOCALS
Plateau Products: Regional Flavours from the Region Seefeld
Honey, syrups, handmade teas, tinctures and a wide variety of pasta creations: the Region Seefeld is home to numerous products with a strong connection to the Tyrolean plateau. Behind them are farmers, beekeepers and other producers who bring their knowledge, experience and passion to everything they make.
Many of these products are available from the regional products display. Here, we introduce some of the people and farms behind them.
More than just a trend: regionality and rethinking towards sustainability
Interest in food and products from the local area has grown considerably in recent years. Many people want to know where products come from, who makes them and the stories behind them.
The Region Seefeld is home to numerous farms, apiaries and small-scale producers. Drawing on experience, craftsmanship and creative ideas, they create products with a strong connection to the region. Leutasch in particular is shaped by its agricultural heritage, but dedicated producers can also be found in the other villages across the region.
Ferdis Beekeeping
The busy bees at Ferdi’s apiary are at home in the Tyrolean mountains. They fly at elevations of up to around 2,000 metres – you could say they are licensed for high-altitude flights. On the mountain and alpine meadows, they collect nectar and pollen from a wide variety of plants. With great dedication, Ferdi transforms the products of his bee colonies into honey, propolis products and other specialities from his apiary. He discovered his fascination for bees through a chef friend and has now been a qualified beekeeper for several years.
Together with his partner and their dog Audax, Ferdi looks after his bee colonies. His work also includes breeding queen bees and establishing new young colonies. Treating the bees and their habitats with care is especially important to him in his day-to-day work.
This is how Ferdi’s apiary creates a diverse range of products – from creamy spring honey and mead vinegar to skincare products made with propolis and honey.
Would you have known that?
- 1 bee would have to fly around the earth 7 times for 1 kg of honey
- For 1 kg must visit about 14,000,000 flowers
- The winter bee lives up to 8 months, the summer bee works itself to death in 6 weeks
- One queen can lay up to 2,500 eggs a day
You can find these products from Ferdi's Beekeeping, among others, on the Regions shelf:
Ferdi's spring cream honey, MET vinegar, propolis hand cream, honey shower gel (and much more).
Wirtseppelerhof
The Wirtseppelerhof is located at the entrance to the Gaistal valley, surrounded by meadows and Leutasch’s striking mountain scenery. Simone and Mathias Neuner run the organic farm as their main occupation. The farm includes suckler cow farming as well as potato and vegetable fields. The family manages the land in line with the principles of organic farming.
One of the farm’s special highlights is its herb garden. As a trained herbal educator, Simone has created her own little world here. She knows the properties and traditional uses of the various plants and processes the harvested herbs into handmade teas, herbal bitters, vinegars, spices and other products.
Her lovingly runfarm store, is open 24 hours a day and offers her herbal products alongside homemade farmhouse bread, meat from the farm, herbal cushions, greeting cards and much more.
Simone had never originally expected to become a farmer. A trained business IT specialist, she came to the farm by a fortunate coincidence. Together with Mathias, she eventually decided to run the organic farm as their main occupation. You can read their full story and discover Simone’s tips for creating your own herb gardenhere!
The Wirtseppelerhof in Leutasch:
- is a 3-generation farm and organic farm in full
- is home to 8 cows and their calves, a horse, rabbits, pigs, hens and cats, all of which enjoy plenty of freedom and exercise
- offers an organic herb garden
You will find these products from Wirtseppelerhof, among others, on the Regions shelf:
Different varieties of handmade organic tea, syrups, herbal salt and spices, herbal vinegar, bitter tinctures and much more.
Zottlhof
High above in Leutasch, at the foot of the striking Hohe Munde mountain, lies the Zottlhof, home to the animals that gave the farm its name: Highland cattle. Regina and Bernhard Wolf have been running the farm for more than ten years. It all began with three cattle, which gradually grew into a larger herd over the years. When breeding her own animals, Regina places particular emphasis on time, patience and calm. Life and work on the farm are closely shaped by the seasons and the needs of the animals.
The Zottl spend the summer on the alpine pastures and live in an open stable during winter. Thanks to their thick coats, the Highland cattle cope well with snow and low temperatures. One special moment each year is their first trip out to pasture in spring, when they leave the stable full of energy and leap joyfully onto the large meadow – a sight that never fails to move Regina.
At the Zottlhof, there are stable tours for anyone who wants to get to know the Zottl better. Regina also runs her own small but very fine farm store with the Zottl's own products.
The Zottl on the Zottlhof:
- owe their name to their fur: the "shaggy" fur is their trademark
- have horns that can span up to 1.60 m and help them forage in the snow in winter
- have a very gentle and good-natured character
- were bred in own breeding. Highland cattle are a breed that have not been further bred for either milk or meat performance
- are allowed to spend the summer on the mountain pasture from June to September
You will find these products from Zottlhof on the Regions shelf:
Hay-scented flower syrup, flower vinegar, and s'Kräuterle (flower liqueur)
Enjoyment tips for a hay-scented taste experience:
Flower vinegar: goes best with fresh salads & sour delicacies
Hay-scented flower syrup: infused with Prossecco as a refreshing aperitif
S'Kräuterle: for digestion for a good stomach feeling
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