Category: Austrian Culture & Food
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Austrian Coffee Orders Explained: How to Order Coffee in Austria
If you’ve ever sat down in an Austrian café and looked at the coffee menu, you might have wondered what on earth you were supposed to order. A Melange? A Verlängerter? A Kleiner Schwarzer? Austrian coffee orders have their own vocabulary, and if you’re not familiar with it, the menu can seem a little confusing.…
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What Is a Jause? Austria’s Favourite Snack
I’ve just come back from Austria, and one thing we seemed to have almost every day was a Jause. Sometimes it was something simple at the kitchen table with family. Sometimes it was bread, cheese and cold meats put out for everyone to help themselves. And sometimes it was just a few things from the…
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Birthday Traditions in Austria – Why Turning 35 Feels Special
As this post goes live, I’ll be celebrating my 35th birthday. Now, I have to admit, 35 isn’t usually the age people get overly excited about in the UK. It’s not one of those milestone birthdays that comes with big expectations or parties planned months in advance. But in Austria, birthdays ending in five have…
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Sportgummi | Yorkshire Kaiserschmarrn
Some sweets instantly take you back to childhood, and for me, Sportgummi is one of them. It wasn’t an everyday treat, but it was one of those things that always seemed to be around. I’d spot the familiar golden packet in the supermarket or at the kiosk, and it was often the sweet I chose…
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Austrian Summer Drinks: Hugo & Weißer Spritzer
When the weather gets warm in Austria, people spend as much time outside as possible. Long evenings in the garden, visits to a Heuriger, lakeside cafés, or relaxed dinners with family and friends are a huge part of Austrian summer culture — and there are two drinks you’ll see almost everywhere: Hugo and Weißer Spritzer.…
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Where to Buy Good Paprika in the UK
One of the ingredients I struggled with most after moving to the UK was paprika. Not because British supermarkets do not sell it — they absolutely do — but because it often tastes completely different from the paprika I grew up with in Austria. If you cook dishes like Paprikahendl, Gulasch, Letscho or even some…
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Austria’s National Holiday – 70 year jubilee
This year, Austria celebrates a very special National Holiday: 26 October marks 70 years since the country declared its permanent neutrality in 1955. It’s a day to reflect on Austria’s independence, history, and peaceful stance in Europe. While it’s not celebrated with the large festivities of Christmas or Easter, many Austrians take the day to…
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Sturm & Maroni – Austrian Autumn Traditions
Autumn in Austria is a season full of cozy traditions, and two seasonal treats stand out: Sturm and Maroni. These delights bring warmth, sweetness, and nostalgia to crisp autumn days. What is Sturm? Sturm is young, partially fermented grape juice—essentially the first taste of the new wine season. It’s lightly fizzy, sweet, and best enjoyed…
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Schultüte – A Sweet Start to School in Austria
With my children starting pre-school here in the UK this autumn, I’ve been busy crafting something a little unusual: a mini Schultüte. If you grew up in Austria or Germany, you’ll know exactly what I mean — the colourful cone filled with sweets, stationery, and little gifts that makes the first day of school feel…