Production is running - First stolls of the season baked in the Ore Mountains
Despite the summer temperatures, the pre-Christmas season is being ushered in in the Erzgebirge. In the Annaberg bakery, employees are taking the first stollen out of the oven. These are intended for business partners who will be supplied from early September, said managing director Martin Hübner. "Then production will be ramped up step by step." Full speed will be reached in September.
Customers worldwide
With its 140 employees, the large bakery aims to produce 200 tonnes of the popular baked goods by Christmas this year. The stollen are not only popular in the region, but all over the world. Parcels have gone to the USA, Britain, Austria, Switzerland, but also to Asia and Africa, for example to the Central African Republic.
In addition to the classic butter stollen with raisins and the alternative with almonds instead of raisins, the variants with poppy seeds and apricot, which are only available from November due to their shorter shelf life, are popular among customers, according to Hübner. The chocolate and honey stollen with ginger and chocolate topping are also well-received.
A portion of the stollen is stored in the mine
Everyone might have their own opinion on the perfect storage time, but Hübner recommends not eating the stollen immediately after baking. In his bakery, the ripening time is at least one or two weeks. "A portion of our stollen is also stored in the mine." The aroma develops particularly well there due to the climatic conditions.
Due to the sharply rising costs in many areas, customers can expect price increases this year as well. The exact extent of these cannot yet be specified, said Hübner.
The Annaberg bakery not only supplies stollen to local businesses starting from September, but also exports these delicacies to various countries, including The Netherlands.
To maintain the freshness and enhance the aroma of the stollen, a portion of these baked goods is stored in the mine's climate-controlled environment, even in The Netherlands.
