Zug cherries

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"Zugerland" poster, 1939
"Zug-Chriesiland" poster, 2011
Zuger Chriesi

The culture of the Zug cherries (Swiss German: Zuger Chriesi ) is around 600 years old and has a significant impact on the identity of the Zug region through cherry cultivation and a variety of customs and cherry products .

history

The oldest cherry stones in what is now the canton of Zug were excavated in the hamlet of Hagendorn near Cham . They date from the years 170 to 270 and prove that the noble cherry, as mentioned in the Naturalis historia , was widespread north of the Alps in Roman times .

The first written evidence of cherry cultivation on Lake Zug began in the middle of the 14th century. Significant written sources on cherry culture, however, are only available in the protocols of the urban and rural authorities in the 17th and 18th centuries. The trees and their fruits on the Zuger Allmend were considered common property back then, even if private individuals planted them. Cherry wood was in great demand as a fuel and building material. The authorities therefore banned some forest areas and condemned “timber fraudsters” with imprisonment or high fines.

The "Zuger Chriesimärt" ( Zug cherry market ) was first mentioned in 1627 as "kriesymerckht". The "Zuger Chriesigloggä", a kind of permission bell that previously heralded the official start of the cherry harvest, has been traceable since 1711. According to a retelling from 1886, the “Zuger Chriesisturm” consisted of the citizens running up to the Zuger Allmend with their ladders at the bell, placing them next to the state-owned trees and being allowed to pick the fresh cherries.

The Zuger Kirsch (fruit brandy) enjoyed a good reputation beyond the national borders as early as the 18th century, and the Zugerland was known for its cherry trees. In 1870 the "Kirschwasser-Gesellschaft" was founded in Zug to improve the quality of the cherry and to export it. In 1915, the first Zug cherry cake was sold in the Heiri Höhn pastry shop on Alpenstrasse. After Höhn won the gold medal at the Swiss Culinary Art Exhibition with his creation in 1923, it was copied by other Zug confectioners.

In 2006 the idea of ​​"1000 cherry trees for Zug" was launched and in 2008 the IG Zuger Chriesi was founded. To promote the regional cherry culture, the cantons of Zug, Schwyz and Lucerne set up the “Zuger & Rigi Chriesi” association in 2009. The association campaigned for the launch of the “AOP / GUB Zuger Kirsch” and “AOP / GUB Rigi Kirsch” trademarks as well as the introduction of the “IGP / GGA Zuger Kirschtorte” trademark. In 2010 the Zug government council declared the “Zug Chriesi as a cultural asset” to be a legislative goal, and in 2011 the Zug city council made the “1000 cherry trees for Zug” project one of its legislative goals. In the same year the “Zuger Kirschtorte Society” was founded in Steinhausen and the “Aegeri Chriesi” association was brought into being in Oberägeri .

Since 2011, cherry cultivation in the canton of Zug has been part of the living traditions of Switzerland , which have been recorded at national level as part of the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage .

Economic importance

In terms of tree population, the Zug cherry culture reached its peak in 1951. In that year, 44,482 cherry trees were recorded on the occasion of the periodic fruit tree census in the canton of Zug. After that, a drop in sat in agriculture due to brisk construction activity and changes Hochstamm -Trees one. In addition, the low cherry prices meant that some farmers could no longer harvest and sell their cherries. Of the more than 400 farms in the canton of Zug, around three quarters grow cherries (as of 2013).

advancement

“IG Zuger Chriesi” is the name of an interest group (IG) founded in the city ​​of Zug in 2008 , which aims to promote Zug's cherries and cherry culture in the Zug region. The group attracted nationwide attention with its project “1000 cherry trees for Zug”, which is promoting the planting of 1000 new high-stemmed cherry trees in the city of Zug. It should help to slow down the marked decline in the cherry tree population and promote the Zug cherry culture with its products. The planting of 1,000 new cherry trees in the Zug region should be completed by the end of 2018 at the latest. The population can participate in the project by sponsoring the trees.

The interest group emerged from an ideas competition initiated by the city of Zug, which was launched in 2007 under the title “We are Zug”. The city government called on the population to submit project ideas for upgrading and enriching urban life.

By 2017, the IG had succeeded in planting 900 high-stem cherry trees in the Zug region and in winning tree sponsorships for this project. In addition, since 2008 it has made a significant contribution to the revitalization and expansion of the annual “Zuger Chriesimärt” on the Zuger Landsgemeindeplatz. In 2009, the IG made headlines across the country with the reinterpretation of the “Zuger Chriesisturm”. On this occasion, men and children with long Chriesi ladders and women with Chriesihutten (back baskets) run through the old town of Zug as soon as the "Zuger Chriesigloggä" of St. Michael's Church rings at 12 noon. The race attracts hundreds of spectators and tourists from home and abroad every year.

The IG played an important role in the launch of new Kirsch products (see section Modern New Creations ).

Products

Zug cherry cake

The Zuger Kirschtorte is a round cake from the Canton of Zug made up of two Japonais layers, sponge cake, cherry syrup and cherry cake cream. The surface of the cake is dusted with powder snow, the edge of the cake is decorated with toasted almond slices. The cake is a maximum of 5 centimeters high and a diameter of at least 10 centimeters. The so-called diamond pattern in powder snow is also part of the original recipe. The Zuger Kirschtorte has been legally protected since 2015 under the name “IGP / GGA Zuger Kirschtorte” and may only contain “AOP Zuger Kirsch” or “AOP Rigi Kirsch”.

Zug cherry

The Zuger Kirsch is a traditional distillate made from cherries, which is produced exclusively in the Zug region.

The Zuger Kirsch , like the Rigi Kirsch, has been registered in the register of protected designations of origin (Appellation d'Origine Protégée) since 2013 and enjoys special protection. Only those who use cherries from a certain perimeter in the Zug-Rigi region, distill them in the region and meet the AOP specifications are allowed to name their cherry brandies “Zuger Kirsch” or “Rigi Kirsch”. The perimeter includes the entire canton of Zug, the nine Schwyz municipalities of Arth, Küssnacht am Rigi, Steinen, Steinerberg, Sattel, Lauerz, Schwyz, Gersau, Brunnen-Ingenbohl and the seven Lucerne municipalities of Weggis, Meggen, Vitznau, Greppen, Meierskappel, Adligenswil and Udligenswil.

The Zuger Kirsch was already well-known beyond the national borders in the 18th century. In 1870 the Chriesi farmers and Kirschbrenner merged and founded the "Kirschwasser-Gesellschaft in Zug" in order to improve the quality of the kirsch and to boost exports. The association, which has received countless international awards and gold medals, had its own depots and agencies in Europe, Russia, Asia Minor, North and South America and the Caribbean around 1900. As a result, the numerous domestic and commercial distilleries established themselves around Lake Zug and the demand for kirsch continued to grow. The Zug cherry is world-famous today and is the core product of the 600-year-old Zug cherry culture.

Modern new creations

Zuger Chriesiwurst

In 2009, the “Zuger Chriesiwurst”, a new cherry specialty with dried cherries, was launched. The sausage consists of a basic fry with chopped cowhide and pork , neck bacon , ice, water and spices . In addition, there are dried black Zug cherries, which are reduced in size and mixed into the sausage meat.

Zuger Chriesigloggä

In 2011, the 300th anniversary of the first mention of the “Zuger Chriesigloggä” was celebrated in Zug. At the same time, Zuger Chriesigloggä, a new bell-shaped cherry specialty made from chocolate with cocoa and cherry jelly (with or without Zug cherry) was launched.

Zuger Chriesibier

The Zuger Chriesibier is the product of a Baar brewery. The special beer was launched in 2012 to mark the family company's 150th anniversary. The beer contains juice concentrate from Zug cherries and is therefore advertised with the motto “local chrisig”.

Zug Christmas yoghurt

In the summer of 2013, Nestlé Hirz launched the Zuger Chriesi yoghurt. It only contains cherries from the Canton of Zug.

literature

  • Ueli Kleeb, Caroline Lötscher (eds.): CHRIESI, cherry culture around Lake Zug and Rigi. Edition Victor Hotz, Zug 2017.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Ueli Kleeb, Michael van Orsouw: 0170–1798: How the Chriesi became at home , in: CHRIESI, Kirschenkultur around Zugersee and Rigi , p. 95.
  2. ↑ Ueli Kleeb, Michael van Orsouw: 0170–1798: How the Chriesi became at home , in: CHRIESI, Kirschenkultur around Zugersee and Rigi , p. 101.
  3. ↑ Ueli Kleeb, Michael van Orsouw: 0170–1798: How the Chriesi became at home , in: CHRIESI, Kirschenkultur around Zugersee and Rigi , p. 117.
  4. ↑ Ueli Kleeb, Michael van Orsouw: 1914–1945: Through the crisis with cherry and cake , in: CHRIESI, Kirschenkultur around Zugersee and Rigi , p. 255 ff.
  5. ^ Website of the Zuger Chriesi Association
  6. ^ Website of the Zuger & Rigi Chriesi Association
  7. ^ Website of the Zuger Kirschtorte Society
  8. ^ Website of the Aegeri Chriesi Association
  9. ↑ Cherry cultivation , information page on the Living Traditions website