Pumpkin season highlights Hokkaido, Butternut, and Muskat varieties

The pumpkin season in Germany and Austria typically runs from late August through November, peaking in September and October. Popular varieties include the Hokkaido, Butternut, and Muskat pumpkins, each with distinct harvest timings and characteristics. The Hokkaido, originally from Japan, features firm flesh and an edible thin skin. The pear-shaped Butternut offers a buttery-nutty flavor, while the flat, round Muskat pumpkin is ideal for soups and baking.

To ensure quality when purchasing, consumers can use a knock test—a hollow sound indicates ripeness—and check for a hard, woody stem. It is also recommended to select specimens with undamaged skins and no pressure marks. For culinary application, a recipe for a pumpkin-mango strudel is available, utilizing grated Hokkaido pumpkin, leeks, sage, goat cheese, and mango wrapped in pastry.