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Local is best
Delicious south tyrolian products from local producers
Natural south tyrolian products, sustainability and regional provenance are some of the key values preserved in Brixen and the surrounding area. Buying produce directly from local farmers is a great opportunity to get personal recommendations as well as insights into the region’s agricultural practices and traditions. Sample a range of cheeses and bread varieties or tantalise your taste buds with an assortment of products made from local honey. There’s always something new to discover!
Local products for conscientious shoppers
Delicious flavours, traditional products and proven quality
Imagine biting into a crunchy apple, breathing in the heart-warming aroma of freshly roasted chestnuts or sampling a powerful, fruity white wine… A foray into South Tyrol’s culinary landscape allows you to try all these products and many more besides. Here, locals turn premium ingredients like fruit, vegetables, herbs and berries into high-quality products.
So what are you waiting for? Get to know Brixen’s passionate producers, their traditional techniques and their first-rate products today.
An energy booster
South Tyrol’s meadows and woodland are home to hundreds of thousands of bees, which spend their days busy collecting nectar and honey dew. From multi-flower honey and dandelion honey to forest honey, this precious product is aromatic, rich and above all healthy. 160,000 bees from four colonies can be found buzzing around Brixen Tourism Association’s roof terrace. These bees produce the town’s very first variety of urban honey.
Cheese variations from Brixen
Food lovers, beware! You will not want to miss this unique cheese shop run by award-winning chef Hansi Baumgartner and his family in Vahrn near Brixen. Hansi painstakingly selects and refines niche products of premium quality from small cheese dairies in South Tyrol, Italy and further afield. Tip: These innovative, experimental cheese creations are available to purchase from Hansi’s shop.
Treasures from the Eisacktal valley
Wide chestnut groves sweep across the landscape on one side of the valley on the Pfeffersberg mountain near Feldthurns. Numerous hiking trails run past these old chestnut trees, providing the perfect place to while away an autumn day. And the chestnuts themselves are a much-prized fruit – just as delicious roasted as they are in tempting dishes like chestnut soup, chestnut pasta and chestnut mousse.
From the forest and the hayfield
South Tyrol’s sunny, mild climate and clean mountain air are the ideal conditions for growing herbs and spices. Whether they are prepared fresh or gently dried, these flavoursome herbs make a delicious addition to a wide range of local products.
Crisp, juicy and sweet
Row upon row of apple trees can be found growing on the sunny slopes around Brixen. South Tyrol’s crunchy apples simply thrive here. Rich in vitamin C and minerals, these apples are the perfect pick-me-up or healthy snack. Plus in spring, the apple tree blossom transforms the orchards into a blooming pink paradise. To protect the flowers from frost during cold spring nights, they are often sprinkled with water overnight. The water then freezes to provide a protective covering over the blossom. And in the morning, hikers can marvel at the sparkling water crystals which remain. It really is spectacular. Come down to the orchards in autumn and you can sample a range of apple varieties and discover how nothing quite beats that first bite into a freshly harvested apple.
White gold
Natural, healthy and regional. The mostly small farms around Brixen supply fresh milk to the Brixen dairy farm every day. The focus is on the preservation of the South Tyrolean cultural landscape, short distances and regional cycles. Especially its cream cheese specialties around mozzarella and ricotta should be tried.
Did you already know? With the new "Mozzarella & Ricotta" cookbook, you can easily recreate the most delicious dishes at home.
Local products in Brixen
The farmers’ market and seasonal food markets bring regional producers directly into town. Depending on the date, stalls may offer vegetables, fruit, cheese, bread, honey, herbs, cured meats, wine and other specialities. Products and vendors change with the season and event, so check current market days, locations and times before planning your visit.
Typical products include bread and strudel, cheese and dairy products, honey, herbs, apples, chestnuts, Speck and Eisack Valley wine. The selection changes with the seasons and harvests. Many products reflect the altitude, climate and farming traditions of the area. For the most direct experience, buy from producers, farm shops and regional markets.
Farm shops and direct-sales outlets can be found in Brixen and the surrounding villages. Depending on the farm, they sell their own food, drinks, herbal products or crafts. Many are small and do not open every day, so check opening hours, payment options and availability before travelling. Some operate by appointment only.
South Tyrolean crafts are sold in selected specialist shops, studios, workshops and at some markets. The range includes woodwork, textiles, ceramics, jewellery and contemporary design. If genuine local production matters to you, ask where an item was made and which materials were used. Not every alpine-looking product is actually produced in South Tyrol.
Yes. Many restaurants, inns and mountain huts work with producers from Brixen and the Eisack Valley. Depending on the season, menus may feature local cheese, vegetables, meat, herbs, bread, chestnuts and wine. The origin and proportion of regional ingredients vary between businesses, so ask directly if short supply chains are particularly important to you.
That depends on the time of year and elevation. Spring brings fresh herbs and the first field produce, summer offers berries, vegetables and fruit, and autumn brings apples, grapes and chestnuts. In winter, longer-lasting specialities, bread, cheese, honey and preserved products come to the fore. Current farm and market selections are the best guide to actual availability.