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Austrian dairy startup pays back investors with cheese

If you love cheese you might want to think about investing in a small Austrian company called Kaslab'n Nockberge - because it pays back interest in the form of cheese.

Published: 20 May 2016 12:24 CEST

Austrian dairy startup pays back investors with cheese

An artist's sketch of the dairy.

Kaslab'n Nockberge is Carinthia’s first organic hay-milk cooperative dairy and it’s currently being built in Radenthein. The project founders are looking for investors – who will accept being paid in cheese instead of interest.

15 farmers are involved in the cooperative, which is run by chairman Michael Kerschbaumer. The project is expected to cost €2.5 million. Hay-milk cheese will be sold at the farm shop in Radenthein, which is scheduled to open in September.

The dairy herd graze on hay pastures in the summer and are fed hay and cereals in the winter – never silage. This is said to produce a superior tasting milk and cheese.

To finance the project the cooperative has chosen a citizen participation model. Investors can request to get any money they put in back as a lump sum, if they wish.

The borrowed capital will attract interest of up to two percent, which will be paid out once a year in the form of “cheese units”. Investors will receive vouchers that can be cashed in at the farm shop.

Kerschbaumer says the model has had success elsewhere in the region. “We’ve heard from other people that small construction companies have used this model, and it works!”

He added that investors will not be asked to put in a minimum amount, and that every €100 will make a difference.

He said many prospective investors have promised to contribute amounts from €500 to €1,000, and that so far the average investment is between €3,000 and €5,000.

Kerschbaumer is confident the project will succeed, as it has the right aims: “We produce healthy food, create jobs and provide a future for mountain farmers.”

Find out more about the project here: http://www.kaslabn.at/

Seven 'weird' foods in Austria you need to try at least once

Austrian cuisine holds many interesting typical dishes worth experiencing. Here, we list seven of those that may seem strange to foreigners.

Schmalz

Austria is not the only country to serve rendered animal fat as a snack at events, but the small appetizer is quite popular here.

Schmalz is a paste made from rendered pig, chicken, or other animal fat and is used in multiple ways in the Austrian kitchen. When cooking, you can easily create schmalz from the fat leftovers from frying, a smart way to avoid wasting resources.

Although schmalz is mainly used as a cooking fat, it is also a common spread for bread and crackers. In fact, it is a popular treat during events, such as wine cellar openings, where it is believed to help visitors absorb alcohol more slowly.

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Egg with brain

Egg with brain, or in German “Hirn mit Ei,” is a traditional Austrian (Viennese) dish that consists of a breaded or fried calf’s brain served with a poached or fried egg on top.

The brain is usually seasoned with different spices and cooked until tender, and the dish is famous for its creamy texture.

Hirn mit Ei used to be a very common dish among Austrians in the past when it was essential not to waste any food and eat what was possible from tail to nose. Today, the dish is less common in Austria but is still eaten and seen as an important and traditional part of Austrian cuisine.

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Germknödel

Germknödel is a dessert that will make your head turn the first time you catch sight of it. It looks like a massive ball of dough, and that is more and less exactly what it is.

The dessert is a fluffy dumpling made mainly from yeast, flour, and sugar. Inside the fluffiness, you normally find a bit of plum jam, and the outside of the dumpling is often covered with poppy seeds and melted butter.

Although it is a dessert, many people eat it as the main and only course, which seems rather logical given its size and weight.

Germknödel is a common dish in the mountains. It is associated with social gatherings in winter, celebrations, and après-ski activities, where it is enjoyed as a comforting and very filling treat.

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Leberkäse

Leberkäse is something that evokes childhood memories for many Austrians, perhaps because it was and still is a convenient and readily available cheap snack found almost everywhere.

Leberkäse is one of Austria’s most common food dishes. Despite its name containing the word “liver” (Leber), it normally does not contain liver, which is a common misunderstanding, especially among foreigners.

To make Leberkäse, finely ground meat (usually pork or beef) is mixed with bacon, onions, salt, pepper, and other spices. The mixture is then packed into loaf pans and baked until cooked through. Once baked, Leberkäse is served sliced and is a great option if you are hungry at festivals, markets, or simply while on the go in a city.

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Pancake soup

In Austria, it is almost more common to slice up a pancake and put it in a soup than it is to actually eat a pancake on its own. Pancake soup, or in German, Frittatensuppe, is a very popular dish in Austrian cuisine.

The soup consists of a clear beef broth served with thinly sliced pancake strips, known as “Frittaten,” which float around in it.

Frittatensuppe is often served as a comforting meal and is very popular during the winter months. It is commonly eaten as a starter before a main course, but it is also enjoyed on its own as a lighter snack, often together with a slice of bread.

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READ MORE: Is it OK to ask for a doggy bag in an Austrian restaurant?

Salzburg Nockerl

This is one of Austria’s most popular desserts, which often looks like a piece of art. It is also not something you eat every day, as it takes time to make and always needs to be prepared fresh.

Salzburger Nockerl is named after the three most notorious mountain peaks in the Salzburg skyline, and the dessert is shaped like them.

The mountain-shaped dessert is seen as a good source of protein – at least for a dessert. Its main ingredients are eggs, sugar, flour, and vanilla. It is made by whipping egg whites to stiff peaks and then combining them with sugar, flour, and vanilla. This mixture is then spooned into peaks and baked until puffed and golden.

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Buttermilch

Many Austrians love to drink Buttermilch, especially during warmer months. Buttermilch is the liquid that remains after butter has been churned from cream.

The drink has a slightly sour and tangy flavour, and you can sometimes see people walking around with big glasses of it while visiting an Austrian sauna or spa establishment.

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READ NEXT: Is the Wiener Schnitzel really from Vienna?

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