Ultner Brot Mini Cheese Grissini. Small organic spelt grissini – baked with Emmental, sesame, and herbs.

Ultner Brot Mini Cheese Grissini are short, crunchy organic breadsticks made from spelt flour and wholemeal spelt flour with 28% Emmental cheese, sesame, oregano, basil, and pepper. They come from the Ultner Brot bakery in St. Walburg in the Ulten Valley, South Tyrol. One bag contains 150 g.

Cheese Grissini from Ultner Brot are mini-sized breadsticks, made for snacking by hand. Instead of long sticks, you get short pieces that fit perfectly into your mouth. The dough contains a large proportion of cheese: 28% Emmental, along with spelt flour, wholemeal spelt flour, sesame, yeast, extra virgin olive oil, and sea salt. Oregano, basil, and pepper provide the seasoning. The manufacturer's catalog describes them as extra savory with cheese, intended for dipping and as an accompaniment to an aperitif. Except for the sea salt, all ingredients are from organic farming. For those who prefer a savory snack over something sweet, these offer a snack with a short, transparent list of ingredients.

Taste

The mini grissini taste first and foremost of baked cheese. The Emmental browns slightly in the oven, adding a nutty, slightly tangy note, like the edge of a baked lasagna. Behind that comes the spelt with its mild, grainy flavor.

Oregano and basil steer the flavor profile toward Italy, while the pepper provides a little kick of heat at the end. The sesame toasts during baking and enhances the nutty impression. Due to the cheese, the pieces are slightly softer than classic grissini; they snap without being hard. If you are expecting very mild, neutral breadsticks, you may find these too savory.

Usage

You will likely enjoy them best straight from the bag as a savory snack in the afternoon or on the sofa. For guests, pour them into a bowl and serve them alongside olives and a glass of white wine, beer, or a spritzer for an aperitif.

They are made for dipping. Tomato salsa, herb quark, or a red pepper cream go well with the cheese. On a cheese board, they provide a crunchy counterpoint to soft Brie or goat cheese. Sprinkled over tomato soup, they take on the role of croutons. Because of their small format, they are also practical for lunchboxes or hiking backpacks. And if friends drop by spontaneously, you’ll always have something savory on hand with a bag in the cupboard.

Store the bag in a cool, dry place and keep it well sealed after opening. According to the manufacturer's catalog, the mini grissini have a shelf life of six months.

Our tip: Place them on the table next to a bowl of tomato soup and let everyone dip them themselves. Cheese, herbs, and tomato together almost create a mini pizza.

Origin

At Ultner Brot, there is a simple rule, formulated by Hannes Schwienbacher himself: "If we don't leave anything out, we don't have to add anything either." For him, dough should consist of flour, water, salt, and possibly spices or seeds, as well as yeast or sourdough. He rejects enzymes and emulsifiers. For the mini grissini, cheese and herbs are added – nothing more is needed.

Hannes Schwienbacher runs the bakery in St. Walburg in the Ulten Valley as the great-grandson of the founder, who opened the first bakery in 1919. Baking takes place at an altitude of about 1,200 meters. Ultner Brot has been working with organic ingredients and its own mill since 1982; the organic inspection body is IT-BIO-013.

For whom

The cheese grissini are for everyone who wants something savory to snack on during a movie night, game night, or out on the patio. They are just as suitable for guests as they are for a lunchbox. For tomato paste and pizza seasoning, check out the pizza-flavored mini grissini. Long and rustic with sesame are the spelt grissini with sesame. All baked goods from the Ulten Valley can be found on our Ultner Brot page. The mini grissini contain gluten from spelt, milk from the Emmental cheese, and sesame. They are not suitable for a vegan diet or for those with a milk or sesame allergy.

Spelt, Emmental, and Italian herbs in small bites – the cheese grissini from the Ulten Valley for aperitifs and cozy evenings on the sofa.