#Birnenbrot

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Food on Board

Switzerland has a strong and ancestral dairy farming and cheesemaking tradition. The breeding of cattle, sheep and goats for milk is attested in the Neolithic period and, since Antiquity, cheese has been exported from the Alpine regions. The rugged nature of the country makes approximately 80% of the agricultural land unsuitable for cultivation, which is therefore mainly exploited for cattle and sheep farming. This mode of exploitation has forged a large part of the Swiss landscape, in the Alps, the Jura and on the Swiss Plateau.

Today, cheese dairies and mountain pastures in Switzerland produce nearly 500 varieties of cheese, not counting fresh cheeses. Most of these, and all the ones very well known internationally, are semi-hard Alpine or Swiss-type cheeses such as Emmental and Gruyère. Dairy products in general are highly appreciated throughout the country, with butter and cream being classic ingredients of Swiss cuisine.

Cheese is a food of high nutritional value, composed of proteins, lipids, water and mineral salts, made from cow's milk (cattle), sheep's milk or goat's milk, to which has been added lactic ferments or rennet. In Switzerland, over 475 varieties of cheese are produced, in a wide variety of flavors, textures, and forms. Cow's milk is used in about 99 percent of the cheeses Switzerland produces. The remaining share is made up of sheep milk and goat milk.

Cheese is considered to be part of Switzerland's national heritage. It has become, together with chocolate, an archetypal Swiss food product. Swiss cheeses are known around the world for their flavour and authenticity. The export of these cheeses, some 40% of production in 2019, is also economically important for Switzerland. Each year, the Swiss themselves consume at least 22 kg of the dairy product per capita.

The best known Swiss cheeses are of the class known as Swiss-type cheeses, also known as Alpine cheeses, a group of hard or semi-hard cheeses with a distinct character. These notably include Emmental, Gruyère, Appenzeller and Sbrinz (the hardest), among many others. These are traditionally made in large rounds or "wheels" with a hard rind, to provide longevity to the shelf-life. They were also robust enough for transportation. Gruyère and Emmental are sometimes referred to as the "kings of cheeses".

Among notable hard but softer cheeses are Vacherin Fribourgeois and Raclette. A large number of other cheeses, called Mutschli are also made throughout Switzerland. In the same category is the Formaggella.

Soft cheeses notably include Vacherin Mont d'Or. Numerous local variants of Tommes are also made in western Switzerland.

Ziger or Sérac is the most notable example of fresh cheese. It is the by-product of the manufacture of cooked pressed cheeses, such as Gruyère or Emmental. It was also a staple food for mountain dwellers. Goat milk is often used for fresh cheeses, especially in southern Switzerland. Quark cheese is also very popular in Switzerland.

Cheese is commonly used in Swiss cuisine. Fondue and Raclette, which are melted cheese dishes, have become among the most popular dishes in the country.

Source: Wikipedia

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05 Christmas food traditions from around the world

The whole world sparkle with twinkling lights, endless Christmas markets and festive feasts. Are you looking for a destination to celebrate Christmas joyfully and try out Christmas specialities? But have you ever wondered how other countries celebrate Christmas and what can be their food traditions? Christmas is a festival celebrated across the globe. Since it varies from countries to continents exploring food traditions will be an exciting journey. I looked for different countries and found a set of surprising food traditions that you should try this December. Check out these top 05 traditional foods that served around the world during the festive period. We looked to different countries to discover their food traditions and found some surprising Christmas menus.

Canada

Canada being a culturally diverse country has lots of different Christmas traditions. Here a hearty Christmas meal should have a juicy roast turkey, boiled or baked vegetables served with creamy mashed potatoes.

Traditional Christmas desserts like plum puddings and mincemeat tarts are must-try desserts during the festive season. As a tradition Canadians host cookie-baking parties throughout the Christmas season. It’s a chance to bake and eat cookies together with locals which will be a completely new experience for you and trust me they’ve got plenty of mouth-watering cookie recipes to wow you.

USA

Americans enjoy cranberries a lot and they much like to have it as an essential part of the Christmas feast. The cranberry sauce is especially served along with baked Turkey. The sauce is mainly prepared for festivals like Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Sauce is made by spicing up cranberries with cinnamon and sweetened with orange juice which makes it a perfect combination of sweet and tart. Whether you are buying it from a shop in America or trying out the homemade cranberry sauce, make sure to taste it with a slice of baked Turkey to find out why Americans have it as a main dish on the Christmas dinner table.

Germany

German Stollen fruit cake has been nearly around 700 years throughout the world as one of the most famous and beloved of all Christmas pastries. It’s a flaky, moist, aromatic and divinely flavourful sweet dish to try during Christmas. It’s a sweet cake bread studded with candied fruits and nuts that inspire other countries to hallmark it as a Christmas fruitcake throughout the world, with different names – keks in Poland, julekake in Norway, bolo-rei in Portugal and birnenbrot in Switzerland. Though none are revered as high throughout the world as German Stollen.

Italy

Panettone is a thick slice of soft buttery Christmas treat to try in Italy. It’s a typical Christmas cake famous throughout Italy and around the world. It’s packed with candied peel, sultanas and raisins, this sweet bread is usually big and should roughly weigh about 1kg. It can be torn and shared to feast a whole family throughout the Christmas celebrations. Italian panettone would make a delicious treat on Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Greece

Baklava is well-known as one of the best Greek desserts in Greece. This sweet dish is widely consumed by Greeks it’s among the sweet treats that you find in a Christmas dinner at the table. Roast lamb or pork are often the main meats served at Christmas in Greece. This delicious bake combines chopped nuts with a sweet honey or syrup sauce – it’s a must-have in most Greek homes around the festive season.

These are the top 05 Christmas foods that you’re missing out on that you need to try. Call Travel Center and book your tickets for any of these destinations and let us know what meals inspire you to book a holiday? We’d love to hear about them in the comments.

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