Summerberries by Alpe Pragas with Elderflower
Summerberries by Alpe Pragas is a South Tyrolean fruit spread made with equal parts raspberry and strawberry, plus an infusion of elderflower. The blossoms cast a light, floral scent over the red base, making this a variety for the summer.
Summerberries is the summery variety from Alpe Pragas in the Prags Valley of South Tyrol, listed by the manufacturer as raspberry, strawberry, and elderflower. It is thickened solely with apple pectin and sparingly sweetened, while the flowers are added as an infusion of water, sugar, and flower heads.
Red in the jar, light in fragrance
When you unscrew the lid, the first thing you notice is the rich aroma of red summer fruits, overlaid with something light and floral.
On bread, the two berries take the lead: the raspberry with its acidity, the strawberry with its fullness. The elderflower follows only afterward, remaining as a light, almost cool note. Fine seeds and soft pieces are present in the jar, and the color is an open, clear red.
Two fruits in equal parts
In this variety, raspberry and strawberry sit side-by-side in equal proportions; neither dominates.
This is a deliberate choice you can taste, as the more robust raspberry would otherwise overpower the milder strawberry. This way, the spread stays balanced between the two, with an acidity that carries and a sweetness that supports. Alpe Pragas cooks the fruits briefly to ensure the red colors remain clear.
Why the blossom is added as an infusion
Elderflowers release their scent into water and sugar, and that is exactly what is called an infusion.
The flower heads are harvested in full bloom because their fragrance is fleeting and significantly weaker just two days later. If boiled in the kettle, nothing of the scent would remain; as an infusion, however, the floral note makes it into the jar unscathed. That is why it is listed third in the ingredients and not as an herb mixed in with the fruits.
A variety that captures summer
Summerberries is one of Alpe Pragas’ seasonal varieties and is not on the shelf all year round.
Both fruits ripen in June and July, the elderberry blooms before that, and everything must come together before summer moves on. Those who like this variety buy it while it is available and stock their pantry accordingly.
From the breakfast jar to an aperitif
On fresh white bread and in a bowl of plain yogurt, Summerberries shows what it’s made of in the morning.
Layered with a bit of mint and granola, it becomes a cool breakfast; over a panna cotta, a quick dessert. Two spoonfuls in a glass of cold sparkling wine create an aperitif where the blossom suddenly takes center stage.
The flower also shines when paired with young cream cheese on light bread, as the mild cheese lets it step to the fore. Stirred into a lemonade, one spoonful is enough for an entire pitcher, and drizzled over fresh strawberries, it becomes a sauce. Once opened, the jar belongs in the refrigerator, and the spoon should stay clean.
The individual fruits in the assortment
If you prefer one of the two berries on its own, you can also find them separately preserved by the producer.
The seedy variety can be found under Raspberry Fruit Spread, and everything else that Alpe Pragas preserves can be found in the assortment from the Dolomites.
