Regional products from Styria

With its intense flavour, soothing effect and antibacterial properties, the stone pine is an extremely multifaceted tree. Styrian carpenters carefully turn stone pine wood into precious natural furniture that is said to have beneficial effects on your health and well-being. Stone pine wood is also an important part of the “Grünkraft Steiermark” initiative. For instance, its natural healing powers are used during special body peelings. What’s more, walks through stone pine forests have a particularly invigorating effect.

The fruit of this special tree is also used in manifold ways. For instance, the red cones are traditionally used to make a famous Styrian herb schnapps, the “Zirberl”. The shimmering red spirit is best enjoyed together with a snack platter at a mountain hut.

Stone pine to go: Thanks to the products of Pflanzenhof Frewein, you can enjoy the beneficial effects of the stone pine at home.

Puntigamer beer from the provincial capital of Graz, Murauer beer from the Murau region, Gösser beer from the region Erzberg Leoben and Schladmiger beer from the region Schladming-Dachstein: Styria’s best-known beer brands are famous beyond the borders of Styria. The province’s brewing tradition is kept alive by several bigger and smaller local breweries.

If you are interested in finding out how hops and malt are made into beer, many breweries offer exclusive glances behind the scenes. For instance, visitors learn about the ancient tradition of Styrian beer brewing at Gösser brewery museum or at the centuries-old vaulted cellars of Murau brewery. One of the province‘s specialties is the “Mariazell Christmas celebration beer” that has come to be a fixture on the Mariazellerland region’s pre-Christmas menus.

Small and charming: Leutschach in the south of Styria has its own small private brewery. It is located in the province’s only (and Austria’s largest) hop-growing region.

Chocolate lovers find their money’s worth in Styria. After all, you can savour mouth-watering chocolate all across the green heart of Austria.

Talking about being green: Zotter chocolate manufactory is one of few chocolate producers that are focused on sustainability from bean to bar. The company is also known for their extravagant chocolate creations such as “Pink coconut and fish marshmallow”.

Another producer of handmade Styrian chocolate is Felber Schokoladenmanufaktur in Birkfeld in East Styria. The manufactory also produces bespoke chocolate bars with a customised packaging for special occasions.

Talking about chocolate and Styria, we should also mention the delicious heart-shaped Steiermark cake. The irresistible treat is available from Bäckerei Sorger and is the perfect way to experience the green heart of Austria with all senses.

Styria is not just famous for its apples, but also for the Pöllauer Hirschbirne pear, the Upper Styrian mixed orchards, the Hitzendorfer cherries, the Styrian vineyard peaches and fruity berries. All of them flourish in Styria’s favourable climate.

The Hirschbirne pear has traditionally been used to make cider, fine spirits and vinegar. Dried pears (“Kletzen”) are also used to make the famous, fluffy Joglland Gugelhupf.

In Upper Styria’s Mürztal mixed fruit region, mixed fruit and wild berries are harvested in colourful autumn and processed into regional delicacies.

The year’s first summer sunrays make the Hitzendorf cherries glisten in shades of ruby and reddish black. They are used to make liqueurs, jams and strudel.

The hilly wine-growing regions of southern and western Styria are home to the juicy Styrian vineyard peaches.

Well over 3,000 beekeepers in Styria have taken on the task of looking after our busy bees. Therefore, it's no surprise that there are many, many different types of honey for you to try. From blossom honey to forest and chestnut honey to cream honey, there is something for every sweet taste.

If you want to know more, you can take a guided tour of Claudia Schellnegger's apiary in Passail, for example, and learn all about the world of our little helpers. Countless charming farm-gate shops throughout Styria also sell their honey products directly on site. This way, you can rest assured that you are getting only the best local honey.

But the liquid gold is not only a culinary all-rounder: honeycomb products such as propolis, royal jelly or beeswax are also very trendy and delight us with their wonderful scent. They are also an environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative to many cosmetic products.