Pick Szeged facts for kids
Pick Szeged is a famous Hungarian company. It makes many different meat products, but it's most known for its special Winter Salami. The company started way back in 1869. It is still based in the city of Szeged, Hungary.
Pick Szeged also supports sports! The company is a sponsor for the Hungarian handball team called SC Pick Szeged.
Contents
What is Winter Salami?
Winter Salami, also known as Pick Salami, is a very special type of sausage. It's made from a mix of lean pork and fatty pork belly. These meats are seasoned with a secret blend of spices.
After mixing, the meat is put into special casings. Then, it goes through a process of cold smoking, drying, and aging. During the aging process, a special kind of good mold grows on the outside of the salami. This mold helps give the salami its unique and delicious flavor.
Why Szeged is Special for Salami
Szeged is a city located right next to the Tisza River. This area is great for farming and raising animals. The land and the knowledge of the people there make it perfect for raising high-quality pigs. These healthy, grown-up pigs are very important for making the famous salami in Szeged.
History of Pick Salami
How the Factory Started
The idea of making winter salami in Hungary was brought by a skilled butcher named Mark Pick. In 1869, Mr. Pick settled in Szeged and opened his salami factory. He worked hard to make his business better and better.
In 1883, he brought workers from Italy to help make more salami. By 1885, they were making salami on a large scale. After Mark Pick passed away in 1892, his wife and her brother took over the factory.
Mark's oldest son, Jenő Pick, joined the company in 1906. This started a new and exciting time for the factory. Jenő bought another salami factory nearby that had gone out of business. This meant the Pick family owned all the land near the Tisza River. Jenő Pick wanted to use modern tools and ideas to improve things. He also understood how important advertising was.
In the early 1900s, salami became the main product of the company. Between World War I and World War II, the Pick factory became one of the most important food companies in Hungary. Pick Salami became famous all around the world. Jenő Pick managed the factory by himself until it became a state-owned company.
The Salami's Special Qualities
The original recipe for winter salami actually used donkey meat! But after a while, there weren't enough donkeys in Hungary. So, they found a new solution: they started using meat from older female pigs (sows), which has a similar taste.
One of the most important things about Pick Salami is the special mold that grows on it while it dries and ages. This mold needs cool temperatures and the right amount of moisture to grow. That's why the original Pick Salami factory was built right by the Tisza River, where conditions were perfect.
Making top-quality salami also needs modern technology. In the late 1950s, new cooling technology was introduced. This helped the salami stay good for a long time. After this, winter salami kept its name, but it could be made and enjoyed all year round, not just in winter.
The special features of the Szeged area give Pick Salami its unique and wonderful smell and taste. Today, winter salami from Szeged is known all over the world. This is thanks to the original ingredients, traditional ways of making it, the local weather, the special mold, and the knowledge passed down through generations.
