“Spätbraune of Purbach” is the name of a juicy medium-sized cherry variety with semi-firm flesh harvested in the town of Purbach, located in Burgenland, Austria. The skin and flesh have a dark red color.
Pressing the fruit yields a reddish-brown juice, and the pit separates easily from the flesh. The flavor is aromatic and sweet, with very low acidity. This variety is particularly well-suited for making jams and preserves.
The Purbach Spätbraune originates from Purbach, one of the five municipalities in the Leithaberg region, renowned for its cherries. In this area, cherry cultivation (Prunus avium) dates back to the 18th century. Typically, the tree is grown tall and planted in vineyards or on farmland.
This form of mixed cultivation, with no other examples in Austria, is typical of northern Burgenland. The Genuss-Region (culinary region) of Leithaberg cherries is part of the Fertö/Neusiedlersee cultural landscape, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.
The territory is particularly well-suited to cherry growing, and cherries ripen earlier here than in any other part of Austria. These natural advantages have been fully utilized by planting mostly early-ripening varieties, ready for consumption between the end of May and mid-June.
The annual harvest of the Purbach Spätbraune amounts to a few hundred kilograms. Most of the crop is sold as juice, often blended with juice from other cherry varieties. Demand is low, and cultivation is labor-intensive.
In the past, cherries from the Leithaberg region were primarily sold on Viennese markets. Between the two World Wars and in the post-war period, cherry cultivation experienced a time of economic prosperity in the region.
Each community could boast between 10,000 and 15,000 cherry trees, a number that has now dwindled to a total of 5,000 trees. The number of growers has also sharply declined, and today there is only one specialized business remaining.
If this last operation were to cease its activities, there is a real risk that the Purbach Spätbraune could disappear in a short time.
Source: Slow Food Ark of Taste
03 Oct 2023
Compared to the above-average result for 2022 of 48,700 tonnes, this is about 8,500 tonnes or 17.5% fewer cherries. Compared to the average of 47,100 tonnes for the years 2013 to 2022, this year's harvest was 14.7% lower.
01 Aug 2024
Researchers from the Laboratory of Phytovirology at the University of Chile have developed a new molecular detection method using genomic information available in the gene bank and generated by sequencing the genomes of bacterial strains present in Chile.
11 Jul 2025
Germany’s 2025 cherry harvest is projected at 49,900 tons, marking a 41% increase from 2024 and 10.4% above the 10-year average. Sweet cherries (Süßkirschen) show strong growth, while sour cherries (Sauerkirschen) also rebound. Favorable spring conditions boosted yields.
11 Jul 2025
Ganaspis kimorum, a parasitoid wasp, demonstrates strong overwintering ability in Michigan cherry and blueberry orchards. This finding supports its potential as a reliable biocontrol agent against Drosophila suzukii and for establishing stable populations across growing regions.
