Pumpkin Seed Oil is oil derived from cold-pressing roasted, hulled seeds of the certain varieties of pumpkins, most commonly the Styrian pumpkin. Pumpkin Seed Oil is a specialty of Styria, a region that encompasses southeast Austria and nearby regions of Slovenia, Croatia and Hungary. Cultivation of the Styrian pumpkin began in the late 1600s in Styria. Farmers found that the pumpkin wasn't edible, but they cultivated the pumpkin for its green seeds which were found to have incredible health benefits. In fact, having no other uses, its pulp was often used as a fertilizer. The seeds of Styrian pumpkins are manually harvested in autumn, and are washed, dried and roasted. The seeds are then cold-pressed under high pressure which results in a rich dark green oil that is ready to be bottled for consumption. As many as 30 to 40 Styrian pumpkins are needed to make 1 liter of Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil.
Pumpkin Seed Oil is a power packed food containing many vitamins, minerals and unsaturated fatty acids. Pumpkin Seed Oil contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C, D, E, and K, magnesium, iron, calcium, and Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Pumpkin Seed Oil has been found to be helpful in preventing bladder and prostrate problems as well as intestinal parasites. Pumpkin Seed Oil has also been used to maintain weight loss, help relieve muscle fatigue, arthritis, and help regulate cholesterol levels.
Pumpkin Seed Oil has a rich green color and an intensely nutty flavor. Pumpkin Seed Oil makes an excellent addition to salad dressing, especially the traditional Styrian salad dressing made with Pumpkin Seed Oil, cider vinegar and salt. A few drops of Pumpkin Seed Oil also impart a rich nutty flavor in desserts such as ice cream. When used as a cooking oil, Pumpkin Seed Oil imparts a strong nutty flavor but loses much of its nutritional value, so it is best to combine Pumpkin Seed Oil with other oils when using it as a cooking oil.
Our native extra virgin Pumpkin Seed Oil comes from 100% pure Styrian pumpkin seeds. The seeds are dried and then pressed to release a dark green oil with a rich, nutty flavor. Drizzle it over salads or potatoes or use it as a dip for bread. When searching for gourmet food online, look no further than igourmet.com.