How the Oil Gets into the Bottle
How is Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil PGI made – the oil that adds the finishing touch to your salads, your scrambled eggs, and so much more? Why does your favourite pumpkin seed oil carry the title PGI? We’ll take you along on its journey – from the Styrian oil pumpkin all the way to the bottle.
The Beginnings of Our Pumpkin Seed Oil
The story of the pumpkin goes back a long way: it’s one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world. After spreading from the Americas to Europe, the Styrian oil pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo var. styriaca), with its hull-less seeds, emerged in Styria towards the end of the 19th century. This unique feature makes oil extraction easier and, to this day, remains the sole reason it’s the only pumpkin variety used for our Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil PGI.
Tradition with a Protected Origin
As early as the 18th century, pumpkin seed oil was already being pressed in Styria from the seeds of the oil pumpkin. Today, the PGI seal (“Protected Geographical Indication”) safeguards the product’s verified origin. It guarantees that the pumpkin seeds come from the defined growing region and are processed according to strict standards.
The Secret Behind Exceptional Seed Quality
Alongside the soil composition, it’s above all our region’s sun-drenched climate that shapes the quality of this special oil. Warm days, cool nights, and a sunny autumn create ideal conditions for the Styrian oil pumpkin. This is what produces the plump, dark green seeds that give our Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil PGI its delicately nutty flavour and its characteristic deep green colour with reddish reflections.
The Journey of Our Little Wonder
1. Cultivation & Harvest
Together with our contract farmers, we grow Styrian oil pumpkins on local fields. In summer, the plants blossom; in autumn, the ripe pumpkins are harvested using modern harvesting technology, and the valuable seeds are separated from the flesh.
The Journey of Our Little Wonder
2. Cleaning & Drying
In autumn, the ripe pumpkins are harvested. The valuable seeds are separated from the flesh, washed, and dried.
The Journey of Our Little Wonder
3. Quality Control
Our quality management team checks the pumpkin seeds against strict criteria and keeps the raw material chilled at all times. This is how we ensure the high quality of our natural products.
The Journey of Our Little Wonder
4. Grinding, Roasting & Pressing
The dried seeds are ground and mixed with water and salt. Roasting brings out their characteristic aroma, before the oil is extracted using the traditional stamp-press method.
The Journey of Our Little Wonder
5. Sedimentation
After pressing, the oil rests for around seven days in stainless steel tanks. During this time, suspended particles and fibre residues settle at the bottom naturally. The oil is not filtered – it clarifies through this natural sedimentation alone.
The Journey of Our Little Wonder
6. Bottling & Packaging
Finally, the Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil PGI is bottled, packaged, and prepared to be enjoyed at home.
Styrian Quality in Numbers
Did you know...
Numbers tell stories. The following facts give you a glimpse into the world of Steirerkraft:
- 520 ha of growing area
- 120 contract farmers
- 10 million bottles per year
- 15 awards
And did you know that around 11,300 pumpkin seeds are needed to produce one litre of Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil PGI? That’s the equivalent of about 30 to 40 Styrian oil pumpkins – a testament to just how much nature and care go into every single bottle.
The Skilled Touch of Our Oil Millers
Behind every bottle of Steirerkraft pumpkin seed oil lies traditional craftsmanship. Our oil millers rely on experience and sensory judgement to determine the perfect moment for pressing. Regular training sessions with Dr. Franz Siegfried Wagner from the Institute Dr. Wagner Lebensmittelanalytik GmbH help them continuously assess flavour and quality.
Because alongside carefully selected raw materials, one thing matters most of all: the right instinct for the perfect moment to press.
Our Tip
How to Recognise a Good Pumpkin Seed Oil
You can identify a high-quality Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil PGI by five characteristics:
- its typical two-tone appearance – a deep green with a reddish shimmer
- a nutty, fresh aroma
- a flavour combining a roasted note with a clear seed character
- a pleasant, full-bodied mouthfeel
- the PGI seal as proof of origin
Award-Winning: What's Behind Our Seals
PGI – Protected Geographical Indication
Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil PGI is bound by EU origin protection to clearly defined areas. The oil pumpkins may only be grown in specified districts of Styria, southern Burgenland and Lower Austria. The oil is pressed exclusively in Styria and southern Burgenland.
Our oil carries this seal, which means you get genuine oil with a verified origin.
Award-Winning: What's Behind Our Seals
Gault&Millau
The renowned gourmet guide recommends not only top chefs but also outstanding products. Our pumpkin seed oil regularly ranks among its top recommendations.
Award-Winning: What's Behind Our Seals
Styrian Regional Award
At the regional award, expert juries assess the pumpkin seed oils of the province. Ours has been honoured there more than 20 times, most recently with the Gold Plaque as an award-winning Styrian pumpkin seed oil producer.
Award-Winning: What's Behind Our Seals
DLG Gold Medal
The German Agricultural Society independently tests food products on flavour, aroma, appearance, and consistency. Gold is awarded only for a flawless assessment. Our Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil PGI BIO Premium has received this gold medal – along with an additional honour for long-standing product quality.
These accolades reflect what matters most to us: careful production, carefully selected raw materials, and a flavour that speaks for itself.
Favourite Pumpkin Seed Oil Recipes
More Than Just a Salad Oil
Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil PGI can do so much more than dress a salad. With its nutty, aromatic flavour, it enhances soups, spreads, and countless other dishes. Even sweet creations like vanilla ice cream, curd cheese cream, or apple crumble get a special touch from just a few drops of pumpkin seed oil. Let yourself be inspired by the versatility of this Styrian classic.
Snacks Vegetarian
Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil and Curd Cheese Spread
5 min
Main Courses with pumpkin seed oil
Rice Sandwich with Pumpkin Seed Oil Mayo
40 min
with pumpkin seed oil with pumpkin seeds
French Toast with Pumpkin Seed Butter and Apple Sauce
30 min
Main Courses with pumpkin seed oil
Pasta Rose with Scarlet Runner Bean Filling and Pumpkin Seed Oil Hollandaise
1 h
with pumpkin seed oil with pumpkin seeds
Halloumi Salad with Figs and Pumpkin Seed Oil Dressing
20 min
Dessert with pumpkin seed oil
Styrian Macarons
1 h
Pumpkin Seed Oil FAQ
How is pumpkin seed oil made?
The pumpkin seeds are washed, dried, finely ground, kneaded with water and salt into a paste, and roasted. The oil is then extracted using the traditional stamp-press method and left to rest for at least seven days.
Why are the pumpkin seeds roasted before pressing?
Roasting brings out the pumpkin seeds’ characteristic, delicately nutty aroma. This processing step is what gives Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil PGI its distinctive flavour.
When does the pumpkin harvest begin?
Depending on the weather, the harvest of Styrian oil pumpkins usually begins in late August to early September and continues into autumn.
Why does Styrian pumpkin seed oil carry the PGI seal?
The “Protected Geographical Indication” seal guarantees that the pumpkin seeds come from the defined growing region and that the oil was produced according to set quality standards.
Where does Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil PGI come from?
Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil PGI comes from two separately defined areas. The pumpkin seeds are grown in specified districts of Styria, southern Burgenland and Lower Austria. The oil may only be pressed in certain districts of Styria and southern Burgenland. EU origin protection therefore ties both the raw material and the production process to clearly defined regions.
That's Where Steirerkraft Comes From