Horseradish around the world

Horseradish is native to Southeast Europe and neighboring West Asian areas, and it is thought to have spread throughout Europe as a result of Slavic migration. Aside from Hungary, Germany is a significant producer of horseradish, where it is grown in industrial quantities in the Bavarian countryside, and Styria in Austria is the home of horseradish. Horseradish from Hajdúság is in a better position than the other countries mentioned in terms of farmland quality and favorable climatic conditions. Planting technology is also different outside of our borders: they plant at an angle and horizontally, and most work processes, such as planting and picking, are mechanized. In the United States, horseradish cultivation is completely mechanized.

Hungary

Horseradish is a superpower

Horseradish from Hajdúság is a globally recognized regional export product, with major buyers including Germany, Poland, Austria, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the Czech Republic. Approximately 90% of our production, which includes approximately 1200 hectares of production area in Hajdúság, is typically sold for export, and this quantity covers nearly 40% of European consumption, making our country the continent's largest horseradish producer.

Hungarian production at the European level

Export ratio of domestic production

Our strength

Hungarian values, premium quality

Protected destination of origin

Hungarian values

The unique production technology used in Hajdúság, the world's only buckthorn planting, is the result of straight-stemmed horseradish with bone-white flesh that is not woody but pleasantly pungent. Premium quality horseradish shavings do not require the addition of water during processing due to their high dry matter content. These characteristics elevated the horseradish from the region to protected origin status, establishing it as a unique national value in our country.

Fields of usage

Horseradish from Hajdúság is more than just a culinary delight; it also serves as raw material for the pharmaceutical industry and an important ingredient in nutritional supplements. It contains numerous beneficial components that help our immune system function normally. It protects against respiratory diseases, colds, asthma, tonsillitis, and other cough-related diseases. It is an effective treatment for hypothyroidism, and regular consumption lowers blood cholesterol and cleans the vascular system, playing an important role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Horseradish is also a natural medicine for disease detection!

Medicine

Chemical industry

Food industry

The gastronomic role of horseradish

Matthiolus (Pietro Andrea Gregorio Mattioli, 1501 – 1577) already noted in 1571 that Hungarians use horseradish to season their food! For centuries, horseradish has been an essential companion to our meat dishes; at Easter, we serve it alongside our hams, and beef cooked in Tafelspitz soup would be unimaginable without apple horseradish sauce. Crispy butcher's counter loops and fried salmon steaks taste even better when served with vinegared horseradish. Cook your own horseradish delicacies by visiting our recipe page!