Black Walnuts

Black Walnuts by Königskind, the almost forgotten delicacy

Königskind Black Walnuts are the specialty of the small gourmet manufacturer from the Oberbergisches region – made from unripe, green-harvested walnuts, preserved in a spicy cinnamon-orange syrup and aged in a jar for several months. An almost forgotten, tart-aromatic delicacy for cheese boards, game, pâtés, and desserts. Handmade by Uwe and Sabine König, in two sizes – generous for fine dining, small for gifting and trying.

The Black Walnuts from Königskind are Uwe König's signature specialty from the Oberbergisches region. An almost forgotten delicacy: In early summer, shortly before St. John's Day in June, green, unripe walnuts are harvested, pierced with wooden skewers, and soaked in water changed daily for several weeks until they develop their deep black color. They are then cooked in a syrup of inverted sugar, orange, lemon, and spices and aged in a jar for several months. Without artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, or flavor enhancers.

Deep black, tart-aromatic, and with a velvety bite

Once opened, the full aroma of the syrup rises – warm and spicy, with distinct notes of cinnamon, clove, and orange. The walnuts themselves are deep black, glossy, almost like small plums in shape and size, and rest in a dark, amber-colored syrup with golden-yellow reflections. The aroma immediately evokes the expectation of a special delicacy.

On the tongue, the Black Walnuts are soft, juicy, and surprisingly tender – the long aging makes them supple and yielding. The taste begins sweet and fruity from the orange syrup, then becomes deep and complex with warm cinnamon and clove notes, and ends with the distinctive, tart-aromatic walnut note, reminiscent of gingerbread and aged Christmas spices. A harmonious interplay of fruit, spice, and nut that surprises on the first spoonful and has long held its firm place in connoisseur kitchens.

They convince us with cheese, game, and on tarte flambée

The Black Walnuts are a versatile accompaniment to gourmet cuisine. Particularly good: thinly sliced on a cheese board with mature mountain cheese, Stilton, or goat cheese – the spicy-sweet depth of the walnuts elevates the cheese and provides a dark, elegant counterpoint. Also on a warm tarte flambée with goat cream cheese and honey, with a piece of game pâté or terrine, or with a venison steak, they provide a fruit sweetness and spice that classic cranberries cannot.

We also recommend them in creative recipes: purée two walnuts and stir into a dark game sauce, finely chopped into a salad with rocket and pears, on pizza with goat cheese and bacon, or as a signature ingredient in the Königskind Tomato Pesto, to which they lend their characteristic depth. Classically preferred: half a jar as an amuse-bouche with dessert. The small jar is suitable as a thoughtful gift and first encounter with the delicacy, the large jar for your own stock and regular fine dining. Anyone who doesn't know Black Walnuts should try them. They are a truly royal treat!

Our favorite product from the Königskind kitchen

The gourmet manufacturer Königskind is the family-run passion project of Uwe König and his wife Sabine. What began as a hobby in their home kitchen in 2005 became a manufactory in Wiehl in the Bergisches Land, between Gummersbach and Nümbrecht, in 2014 due to growing demand. To this day, all Königskind products are cooked there in the idyllic kitchen under the goat bush – by hand, in manageable quantities, using traditional methods with the care that distinguishes a small family manufactory.

The Black Walnuts are the favorite child of the house. Uwe König masters the centuries-old, elaborate process, which he has continuously refined since its founding, thus keeping an almost forgotten specialty alive. The unripe, green walnuts come from the Oberbergisches region right outside his door, and the syrup is prepared in small batches. From the same kitchen come pestos, chutneys, fruit spreads, the Plum Punch with Pinot Noir and many other delicacies.

You can find more Königskind classics in processed form in the Tomato Pesto with Black Walnuts or in our Königskind collection. For anyone who wants to discover the Black Walnuts specialty for the first time, the small jar is the ideal introduction.

Available in two sizes.
Large jar: filling quantity 280 g – drained weight 160 g.
Small jar: filling quantity 115 g – drained weight 45 g.