In late summer, the pumpkin fields paint bright yellow and green blotches on the hilly forest and meadow land. There are around 800 varieties. What does the Styrian pumpkin have over all the others as a source of oil? At the end of the 19th century, the oil pumpkin made itself at home in Styria. Its seeds are embedded in a wafer-thin skin, so they did not have to be peeled in laborious manual work. Moreover, these soft-skinned seeds are blessed with an oil content of more than 50 percent. Ideal for growth are the loamy sandy soil and the Pannonian climate, a favourable mixture of sunny days and rain. The pumpkin also feels at home in Schilcherland. Grinding, kneading, roasting, pressing. In principle, not much has changed in the treatment of pumpkins, but a few steps, such as separating the seeds from the flesh, are now done by machine. After the seeds have been ground, salt and water are added and the mass is thoroughly kneaded. Step by step, the kneading mass is now heated to a maximum of 120°C. This is exactly the time when the decisive aromas are created. The precious oil is extracted by gentle pressing at up to 300 bar. In the past, the pulp was very laboriously pressed out with the oil cow, a wooden device that was operated by beating it by hand with a wooden hammer on a wedge. NUT AND CARAMEL All over the world, gourmets have discovered pumpkin seed oil for themselves, even top chefs like to refine their dishes with the green (soil) treasure. What do they love about it? Pumpkin seed oil flows creamy and dark green, the aroma is beguiling with delicate caramel and nuttiness, and the flavours continue on the palate with fresh bread crust and fine roasted aromas. Pumpkin seeds not only provide excellent oil, they also rejuvenate the cells. How does this work? Pumpkin seeds contain spermidine, which helps neutralise the effects of cell ageing. As 11 studies in accredited laboratories have shown, pumpkin seeds are a spermidine-rich "superfood". A small handful of pumpkin seeds is sufficient for daily needs. You can experience first-hand how pumpkin seed oil is produced on guided tours of five oil mills. The pumpkin seed oil from the Hamlitsch oil mill in Deutschlandsberg has been awarded a Gault Millau prize for the 21st time in a row. The Leopold oil mill in the same town was able to win for the product "Styrian pumpkin seed oil" at the 2020 agricultural fair in Wieselburg. The Herbersdorf oil mill in Stainz with its 600-year-old vaulted cellar exudes particular flair. The Ölmühle Lorenz in St. Martin im Sulmtal is also recommended. The mill museum in the Hartlieb oil mill in Heimschuh has been lovingly preserved. Marvel, smell, taste - all senses are stimulated during the guided tours. To prolong the enjoyment, you can buy the delicious pumpkin products in the mill shops to take home. DID YOU KNOW? 2.5 kg (over 11,000 pieces) of dried pumpkin seeds from around 30 to 35 pumpkins are needed for 1 litre of pumpkin seed.l. THE STYRIAN OIL TRAIL UNITES IN SCHILCHERLAND 15 oil trail communities 23 oil-trail innkeepers 25 oil-trail farmers 9 oil-trail mills and also 2 oil trail ambassadors UNDER ONE BRAND. OIL TRACK MUNICIPALITIES Market Town of BAD SCHWANBERG Municipality DEUTSCHLANDSBERG Market Town EIBISWALD Market Township FRAUENTAL Market Town GROSS ST. FLORIAN Market Town of LANNACH Market Town PÖLFING-BRUNN Market Town of PREDING Market Town STAINZ Community of ST. JOSEF Community of ST. MARTIN IN THE SULM VALLEY Community of ST. PETER IN THE SULM VALLEY Parish of ST. STEFAN OB STAINZ Market Township WETTMANNSTÄTTEN Market community WIES