Ultner Brot Spelt Grissini with Sesame. Organic spelt wholemeal grissini – rustic, nutty, and baked with olive oil.

Ultner Brot Spelt Grissini with Sesame are crunchy organic breadsticks made from wholemeal spelt flour, extra virgin olive oil, and sesame seeds. They are baked by the Ultner Brot bakery in St. Walburg in the Ultental valley, South Tyrol. One pack contains 200 g.

Sesame grissini from Ultner Brot are the rustic answer to the smooth white-flour breadstick. Grissini originally come from Piedmont: thin dough sticks, baked until crunchy, and a staple of the Italian aperitivo. Ultner Brot bakes them in South Tyrol using whole spelt grain. The ingredient list is short: wholemeal spelt flour, extra virgin olive oil, rock salt, barley malt flour, yeast, and sesame. Everything except the salt is organically grown. The manufacturer's catalog describes them as rustic grissini with nutty sesame, and that is exactly how they taste.

Taste

The spelt grissini have a hearty, nutty flavor with a slightly malty background. The whole spelt adds more flavor than white flour. It tastes warm and grainy, almost a little like toasted bread. The barley malt in the dough subtly emphasizes this toasted note.

The sesame intensifies this nutty profile. It roasts during the baking process and infuses its tone throughout the entire breadstick. The olive oil keeps the texture crumbly and balanced. The sticks break with a dry snap and crumble into firm, hearty pieces when chewed. Anyone expecting very thin, delicate grissini will find these too substantial. They are more like bread in stick form than a mere snack item.

Usage

The grissini look best in a glass on the table during an aperitif with olives and a glass of white wine. They pair well with young Pecorino, mozzarella, or a piece of mountain cheese. If you have guests, wrap paper-thin ham or bacon around the sticks.

They are particularly good with dips. Hummus is a natural fit because of the sesame, but herb quark, bell pepper cream, or avocado cream work well too. Instead of bread, serve them with minestrone, tomato soup, or a mixed salad. And for on the go, a handful of grissini is a snack that takes up almost no space.

Store the pack in a cool, dry place away from light. According to the manufacturer's catalog, the grissini have a shelf life of seven months; once opened, they stay crunchy if stored in a well-sealing tin.

Our tip: Place the grissini next to a bowl of hummus with a drizzle of olive oil. The sesame in the dough and the dip complement each other, while the spelt grain provides a good bite.

Origin

The fact that Ultner Brot takes whole grain so seriously has to do with family history. Richard Schwienbacher ran the bakery in St. Walburg as the third generation. His wife, Gerti, wanted wholemeal bread and persuaded him to purchase his own grain mill. In 1982, the large stone mill was installed in the bakery, and Richard baked his first organic breads.

Since then, the bakery has milled its own grain. Today, their son Hannes Schwienbacher runs the business under the motto "Full grain ahead." Ultner Brot has been a family business baking at around 1,200 meters in the Ultental valley near Meran since 1919. According to the bakery, all ingredients come from certified organic farming; the organic control body is IT-BIO-013.

For whom

These sesame grissini are for anyone who likes grissini with character and enjoys dipping. They are suitable for aperitifs, after-work snacks, and as a side dish for soup. Families also love them, as children prefer to snack on the sticks straight from the pack. And as a gift for a barbecue, they are lighter than any bottle. For those who like South Tyrolean bread spices and rye crumbs, there are the Spelt Grissini with Schüttelbrot. Small and baked with Emmental, we offer the Mini Grissini with Cheese. You can find all baked goods from the Ultental valley on our page for Ultner Brot. The grissini contain gluten from spelt and barley as well as sesame. Because they are fragile, a stick may occasionally break during shipping. They are not suitable for those with a sesame allergy or gluten intolerance.

Whole spelt grain, olive oil, and toasted sesame – the rustic organic grissini from the Ultental valley, perfect for aperitifs and dips.