A herb which might confuse

Masterwort is a wild-growing mountain plant of the family Umbelliferae. It is also referred to as Magistranz or Ostruz; popularly, it is called Haarstrang, Bergwurz and Kaiderwurz. Masterwort is found even in areas far above the timber line. Masterwort roots growing at altitudes between 1800 and 2200 meters above sea level are best suited for distillation. The plants prefer humid, shady habitats such as brooksides or sites where snow lasts long in spring. The perennials grow exuberantly and in dense groups of shrubs. Their hollow stalks grow up to 1.30 meters high. The leaves are rich in shape, the flowers are white to reddish and arranged in large 5-ray umbels.

The roots are dirty-yellow to brown in colour and show a milky fluid in their white inner parts. They have a strong odour and a pungent, aromatic taste which remains in the mouth for a long time. This complex and distinctive root aroma which, if anything, resembles celery and spices, is in its characteristic form also found in the spirit drink.
Active compounds contained in the roots include essential oils, cumarins (ostruthin, peucedanin, terpene etc.), resins and tannins. The aromatic root triggers warmth within the body and acts tonifying to the gastrointestinal tract. It is used in the treatment of indigestion and flatulence, asthma and bronchitis, gout and rheumatism.
Masterwort spirit drink is recommended in cases of stomach upset.

For the production of sprit drinks the roots are cleaned and finely chopped; after that, the dried or fresh roots are added to a mash of pome fruits and fermented. Depending on the desired intensity of Masterwort flavour, 5 -10 kilogrammes of roots are added to 100 litres of fruit mash. Masterwort spirit drink has a very delicate aroma.
 

"The whole root activates asleep love life "

 Articles and pictures taken from:
"Gustostückerln", issue November 2008.

Cows, sheep, hens, orchard, schnapsdistillery, pension, formerly ski-instructor, folk dancing. No, the multi-talented family Fankhauser is not from the "Piefkesaga", they are original and genuine entrepreneurs. In 2005 Martin Fankhauser together with his wife Kathrin took over the traditional Stiegenhaushof in Schwendau, a village in the Zillertal where the cows walk home alone from the meadow to the barn, from his father. Nowadays Martin is one of the best distillers of schnaps in Tirol. Apart from being champion sheep breeder in Tirol, Martin became 17 awards at The Tyrolean Spirits Awards Meeting. For example for Williams, Zwetschke, Obstler and - his delicacy - Meisterwurz. Every year, he digs up, at the nearby Ahornspitze, a basket full of vigorous roots and processes them into "Edelbrand". "The Meisterwurz is believed to have has a curative effect on the digestive and bronchitis. If you put a whole root under your pillow, it will activate your love life",  says Martin who is convinced of the effect of the herb.  If ypu enjoy a glass of schnaps the quality is essential. What's Martin's secret for a fine schnaps? First it needs fully riped and aromatic fruit which Martin also becomes from his own orchards. Than, the fermentation is important. "My father had the drums in the pig or cow stable, because the temperature was fine warm. The Schnaps accepted the smell of the stables however". Nowadays the fruit doesn't fermentate in the stable any longer. Also, the mash is stored cool, so that the flavors can develop more. The distillation takes place along with the crop cycle, first comes the apricot, than plum and pear. The marketing of its schnaps organizes Martin himself. His pure product with no sugar and flavoring addition, is only provided to first-class hotels in the Zillertal, in Tyrol and Bavaria. Also in the pension of his mother you can enjoy the spirits. The distilling rights for 300 liters of schnaps comes from the times of Empress Maria Theresa. It allowes Martin, to sell the schnaps directly from the farm. Regularly, Martin has a schnaps-tasting, included with a rustic snacks. Of course, Martin tells a lot about the effect of schnaps and not only about the aphrodisiac Meisterwurz ....

Meisterwurz Myth

The following story shows you how a myth is born.

"My son and I visited with 1976 a botanical course. We learned to know a root that only grows there and the locals in use as a potency tonic: the Meisterwurz. It is a sort of wild celery. My son, than a 15-year-old high school student dug out a large quantity of these roots, chopped them into pieces and than told his school of the rumor about a new miracle. He sold the roots for five marks apiece rapidly. On the question of whether the roots had helped, he used to reply: They helped me! I told the story in Burgenland and in 2 years time the price had increased from five Mark to five hundred Mark Schilling"