Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, and its food culture reflects centuries of preserving its unique flavours. It is bordered in the north by Germany and the Czech Republic, in the east by Slovakia and Hungary, in the west by Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and in the south by Slovenia and Italy.
Austria's location has influenced its food culture. We see the likes of food like Austrian Gewürzgurken (spiced pickles), which is the same German word used, apricot jam made from the famous Wachau Marille, hearty beer, and distinctive wines are all major Austrian foods, mostly stored or served in glass jars and bottles.
This article shows how Austria's Gewürzgurken, apricot jam, beer, wine, and spices, glass jars and bottles, plus Indigenous Austrian recipes you can store in glass jars, and how you, who is in the UK, can prepare and store these foods and drinks using the right containers.
Austria's Food Culture and the Glass-Container Industry
Gewürzgurken are Austria's special pickle, and the original recipe dates to the 1970s and uses small gherkins packed into glass jars with dill, onion, mustard seeds, and pepper, then gently pasteurised by hand.
The Austrian apricot jam or Marille jam is one of the country’s special jams made from Wachau Marille, grown in the Wachau Valley along the Danube. The fruit is regarded as one of Austria's most protected agricultural products, with an intensely sweet and floral flavour that mass-produced apricots simply cannot compare to.
Another unique food in Austria is the bread and butter pickles, popularly known as Burgergurkerl. It is a sweet-sour, crispy sliced pickle that is made specifically for burgers and hot dogs, and packed into glass jars. It is said to represent the more playful side of Austrian pickling tradition.
At the industrial level, Austria's glass-packaging industry is known to be innovative. The country's major glass container manufacturers are Vetropack and GLASPACK, which produce billions of bottles and jars for beer, wine, spirits, and food product packaging.
In Austria, one of the most popular glass jars known is the Mäser Gothika jar, which features a unique square shape with a white rubber ring that creates a 100% airtight seal with no plasticisers, a glass jar design similar to clip top storage jars.
Gewürzgurken, Apricot Jam, Spices, Beer and Wine in Glass Bottles in Glass Jars & Bottles
Gewürzgurken (Austrian Spiced Pickles) Recipe in Glass Jars
Ingredients
● 800g small gherkins or pickling cucumbers, scrubbed clean
● 500ml white wine vinegar
● 250ml water
● 2 tbsp sugar
● 1 tbsp coarse salt
● 4 sprigs fresh dill
● 1 small onion, thinly sliced
● 1 tsp mustard seeds
● 1 tsp black peppercorns
● 2 bay leaves
● ½ tsp coriander seeds (optional)
Method
● Rinse the gherkins thoroughly and trim both ends to help the brine penetrate evenly.
● Place the gherkins in a large glass bowl, then add 1-2 tablespoons of salt. Cover and let them steep in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours (or overnight) to draw out excess water so the pickles stay firm and don't become mushy.
● Combine the vinegar, water, sugar, and salt in a saucepan and boil gently, stirring until the sugar and salt dissolve completely.
● Pack the gherkins tightly into sterilised pickle glass jars, layering with the dill sprigs, sliced onion, mustard seeds, peppercorns, bay leaves, and coriander seeds.
● Pour the hot brine over the gherkins, filling to within 1cm of the rim and ensuring all the vegetables are fully covered.
● Seal the jars with airtight lids and place them upside down to cool.
● Leave to cool completely, then rest for 1-2 weeks before opening to allow the flavours to fully develop.
● The pickles can last for up to 12 months if unopened. Once opened, you should refrigerate it and use it within 2 weeks.
Wachau Marille Apricot Jam in Glass Jars
Ingredients
● 800g fresh Wachau Marille apricots, halved and stoned
● 400g caster sugar
● Juice of 1 lemon
● 1 tsp apple pectin
Method
● Halve the apricots along their natural seam and twist apart to remove the stones. Do not peel them, because the skins contain natural pectin. Cut large fruits into quarters so they cook evenly.
● Place them in a saucepan over medium-low heat, crushing lightly with a wooden spoon to release the juice.
● Add the sugar, lemon juice, and apple pectin, and stir over low heat until the sugar dissolves completely.
● Increase the heat and bring to a rolling boil, stirring frequently, for 10-15 minutes until the jam sets.
● Test the set by placing a small amount on a cold plate, it should wrinkle when pushed.
● Pour immediately into sterilised glass jam jars like those available in our collection and seal with lids, then leave to cool completely. The jam will set further as it cools.
● The jam can last for up to 12 months if unopened. Once it’s opened, refrigerate it.
Austrian Spices in Glass jars
When it comes to spices, Austrians are not left out. When you visit any Austrian home, be sure to find spices like caraway, marjoram, lovage, and paprika stored in glass jars to spice up meals daily.
Homeowners and spice traders have used glass jars instead of plastic for centuries because it protects the aroma, keep it away from possible contact with moisture, and let you see at a glance what you have.
● Paprika: It is mostly used to flavour traditional foods like Gulasch and Paprikash.
● Caraway Seeds (Kümmel): Used to flavour cabbage, roasted pork (Schweinsbraten), and rye breads.
● Marjoram: Used in flavouring dumplings, stews, and liver dishes.
● Juniper Berries: It is mostly found in Austria's Alpine regions, and it gives a sharp, piney aroma to food, and it’s used primarily for game meats and sauerkraut
● Coriander: It is often ground alongside garlic and caraway in spice blends for roasted meats and rich stews.
Austrian Bread Spice Blend (Brotgewürz) Recipe in Glass Jars
The bread spice blend (Brotgewürz) is one of the most traditional Austrian spice blends, used to flavour the country's famous dark rye breads. The spice blend is the combination of caraway, fennel, anise, and coriander, which adds flavour to the bread and also aids digestion.
Ingredients
● Caraway seeds 2½ tsp
● Fennel seeds 2tsp
● Anise seeds 1tsp
● Coriander seeds ½tsp
This quantity of ingredients suits 1 loaf of bread.
Method
● Combine all seeds in a coffee/spice grinder or use a pestle and mortar.
● Grind or crush to your preferred consistency. The finer you grind, the subtler the flavour.
● Use immediately, or store in an airtight glass jar.
● Add approximately 2 tablespoons of the bread spice blend per 1kg of flour, ideally in dark breads made with 50-70% rye flour.
Burgergurkerl (Austrian Bread and Butter Pickles) Recipe in Glass Jars
Ingredients
● 600g cucumbers, thinly sliced into rounds
● 1 small white onion, thinly sliced
● 1 tbsp coarse salt
● 300ml white wine vinegar
● 150g caster sugar
● 1 tsp mustard seeds
● ½ tsp turmeric
● ½ tsp celery seeds
Method
● Wash and slice the cucumbers and onions. Add the sliced cucumbers and onions with salt in a large bowl, cover, and leave for 2-4 hours to draw out excess moisture. Rinse thoroughly and drain well.
● Combine the vinegar, sugar, mustard seeds, turmeric, and celery seeds in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely.
● Gently boil the brine, then add the drained cucumbers and onions and stir to coat evenly. Cook for 2-3 minutes, and the cucumbers should soften very slightly.
● turn immediately into sterilised glass jars, pressing down gently to submerge the vegetables in the brine and filling to within 1cm of the rim.
● Seal with airtight lids and leave to cool completely at room temperature.
● Refrigerate once cooled. These pickles are often ready to be eaten after 24 hours and improve over the first few days. Burgergurkerl can last for up to 3 months refrigerated in a sealed glass jar.
Austrian Beer and Wine in Glass Bottles
Austrian wine is bottled almost exclusively in 750ml glass bottles. Amber glass bottles are used for reds and fuller whites, which need protection from UV rays; clearer glass is used where the wine's colour is part of its visual appeal.
The Austrian wine regions include Wachau, Kamptal, and Burgenland, and each have their own signature to stand out among others, and the glass bottle.
|
Food/Dish |
Glass Jars and Bottles |
|
Gewürzgurken (spiced pickles) |
Pickle jars, storage glass jars, wide-mouth jars |
|
Apricot jam (Marille) |
Jam jars, glass jars |
|
Bread and butter pickles (Burgergurkerl) |
Pickle jars, storage glass jars, wide-mouth jars |
|
Spices |
Glass jars |
|
Pickled mixed vegetables |
Pickle jars, storage glass jars, wide-mouth jars |
|
Austrian beer |
Beer bottles, alcohol bottles |
|
Austrian wine |
Wine bottles, alcohol bottles |
Wide-mouth pickle jars are the ideal choice for Gewürzgurken and Burgergurkerl because the opening needs to be wide enough to pack whole or sliced cucumbers and to retrieve them easily at the table.
5 Interesting Things About Austria's Food and Jar Culture
1. Gewürzgurken are the traditional Austrian pickle, made to an original 1970s recipe in glass jars with dill, onion, mustard seeds, and pepper.
2. Vetropack's 0.33L lightweight returnable beer bottle won the Austrian State Prize for Smart Packaging in 2024. It is thermally tempered and 30% lighter than standard equivalent bottles; it is designed for multiple return cycles and is already in use across several of Austria's most popular beer brands.
3. The Wachau Marille apricot is one of Austria's most geographically protected ingredients, grown in the Wachau Valley along the Danube and turned into an intensely flavourful jam jarred by brands like Darbo and Tirol Geniessen.
4. Mäser Gothika jars are an original Austrian glass jar design that is considered a modern design due to their square shape, and with the white rubber ring that creates a 100% airtight seal without plasticisers, making them one of the most food-safe preserving jars available in the Austrian market.
5. Bread and Butter Pickles are called Burgergurkerl in Austria, and are made specifically for burgers and hot dogs, which is considered to represent the lighter, more playful side of Austrian pickling culture.
Using the Right Glass Container in the UK for Austrian Food & Drinks
If you are in the UK and would love to try making and storing these Gewürzgurken, apricot jam, or Austrian beer? You'll find everything you need in our wide collection of food-grade glass containers.
● For pickles and relishes: Wide-mouth pickle jars are essential for packing chunky gherkins, onions, and spices into a vinegar brine. Look for heat-resistant jars.
● For jams: Jam jars with tight-fitting lids are ideal for apricot jam and fruit preserves.
● For beer and wine: Beer bottles and wine bottles with secure closures.
● For spices: Airtight glass storage jars keep.
When choosing glass containers, consider:
● Food-grade glass, which is essential for all food products
● It has a reliable seal to maintain the food’s freshness and prevent spoilage
● Sterilizability (can the glass withstand heat without degrading?)
● Colours such as amber or green glass protect light-sensitive contents
You can find a full range of glass jars, jam jars, pickle jars, beer bottles, and wine bottles in our collection as a trusted 30+ years glass jars and bottles supplier in the UK.