South Tyrol & Trentino Food Tours: Speck, Canederli & Strudel
South Tyrol and Trentino food tours: speck, canederli, schlutzkrapfen, apple strudel and TrentoDoc, Bolzano's Piazza delle Erbe market, and how to book.
The short version: the food of South Tyrol and Trentino is Alpine Italy at its heartiest: smoked speck, canederli bread dumplings, schlutzkrapfen (spinach-filled half-moons), spätzle, apple strudel and Kaiserschmarrn, with Trentino adding polenta, mountain cheeses and TrentoDoc sparkling wine. Bolzano is the base for food tours, which start at the Piazza delle Erbe market. Here is what to taste and how to book.
At a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Base | Bolzano (Piazza delle Erbe market); Trento for Trentino |
| Must-taste | Speck, canederli, schlutzkrapfen, spätzle, Bauernschinken |
| Sweet | Apple strudel, Kaiserschmarrn, krapfen |
| Drink | Lagrein, Gewürztraminer, local beer, TrentoDoc, grappa |
| Season tip | Törggelen in autumn; Christmas markets in December |
What you taste
The star is Südtiroler Speck, a juniper-scented, lightly smoked ham with protected status. Then canederli (Knödel), bread dumplings with speck or cheese, served in broth or with butter; schlutzkrapfen, rye pasta filled with spinach and topped with brown butter and Parmesan; spätzle; and for dessert apple strudel and fluffy Kaiserschmarrn. Trentino adds polenta, mountain cheeses such as Puzzone di Moena, TrentoDoc traditional-method sparkling wine and plenty of grappa.
How a South Tyrol food tour works
Tours in Bolzano usually begin at the Piazza delle Erbe fruit and vegetable market, then visit delis, a traditional inn for canederli and a local beer, and finish with a strudel or other dessert. In autumn, combine it with Törggelen and the wine road; see Alto Adige wine tours.
Our pick: the Bolzano Guided Traditional Food Tour visits the Piazza delle Erbe market and tastes speck, canederli, spätzle and a traditional dessert with a local beer.
Compare every city: the best food tours in Italy.
Frequently asked questions
What food is South Tyrol known for?
Speck, canederli, schlutzkrapfen, spätzle, apple strudel and Kaiserschmarrn, a blend of Alpine and Italian cooking.
What are canederli?
Bread dumplings, called Knödel in German, made with stale bread, milk, egg and often speck or cheese, served in broth or with melted butter.
What is TrentoDoc?
Traditional-method sparkling wine from Trentino, made the same way as Champagne in mountain vineyards.
Book a South Tyrol food tour
Compare Trentino-Alto Adige food tours, or add the South Tyrol Wine Road.
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