Delight from South Tyrol: Altrei Coffee

To be precise, the Altrei "coffee bean" is neither a bean nor coffee, but a type of lupin that was mixed with wheat or barley. Until the rise of large companies like Tschibo or Meinl, lupin coffee was produced in Altrei; a few decades later, the local coffee drink was rediscovered.

Altrei coffee and other products

Altrei coffee is a combination of lupin, wheat, barley, or figs; in the past, lupin was also given to cows as tea when they suffered from bloating or digestive disorders. Another product made from lupin is Altrei beer, which is neither pasteurized nor filtered. Those who love high-proof beverages can try the schnapps made from lupin; a very special delicacy is the lupin cheese or the chocolate refined with Altrei lupin.

Sowing or Harvesting

The Altrei lupin is sown around mid-March, with the plants reaching a height of up to 1.20 meters. Their flower spikes are blue, and the leaves are silvery hairy. When the first seeds are ripe, they are harvested, then dried, roasted, and ground. The powder can then be poured over with hot water to enjoy the coffee alternative. Altrei coffee contains no caffeine but does contain important fatty acids and protein.