A powdered seasoning with a light yellow color, Aromat has remained an iconic Swiss product. Have you tried it before?
Please keep reading if you would like to discover 10 facts about one of Switzerland’s most popular condiments:
1. First, most Aromat contains monosodium glutamate (MSG).
What other ingredients will you find in the “Original” version of Aromat?
Ingredients: iodized salt, flavor enhancer (monosodium glutamate), lactose, wheat starch, yeast extract, spices (onions, garlic, turmeric, celery seeds, cloves, bay leaves), vegetable oils (palm, sunflower), mushroom extract. May contain traces of: egg, mustard.
2. Aromat comes in four different flavors, including one made without MSG.
The four flavors are: Original, Aromat pour viande (for meat), Aromat aux herbes (with parsley, coriander, lovage, basil and bay leaves), Aromat sans naturellement (without MSG), and Aromare (made with herbs and sea salt).
Please note: In Spring 2018, Coop began offering an organic (bio) version of Aromat.
3. A man named Walter Obrist, who worked for Knorr, developed Aromat in 1952.
The Knorr company started in Germany. Then, it moved to Switzerland in 1907.
4. The Knorr factory in Thayngen, in the canton of Schaffhausen, produces Swiss Aromat.
Uniliver, a Dutch-British transnational company, owns the Knorr brand today.
5. Aromat was originally called “Pflanzenextract,” which means plant extract in German.
Knorr dropped this name in 1953, one year after the company initially introduced this product. At this time, the company also altered its form. More specifically, it changed from cubes to a powdered seasoning.
6. Swiss people commonly use Aromat on their eggs, but that’s not all…
I asked via Instagram about which foods people like to eat with Aromat. My informal poll indicates eggs as the most popular response, especially when hard-boiled. Here’s a summary of the other responses I received:
- A slice of buttered bread
- Cucumbers and other vegetables, like steamed green beans or raw tomatoes
- Potatoes
- Pasta
- Salads
- Sauces
7. The little man on the package is known as “Knorrli.”
In fact, he became the mascot for the Knorr brand in 1948.
8. Aromat appears in the directory of Swiss food products via Patrimoine Culinaire Suisse.
You’ll find Aromat throughout Switzerland. Although, according to this directory, it’s somewhat less popular in Ticino, the nation’s Italian-speaking canton.
9. A 90-gram container of Aromat costs CHF 2.90 (2017).
You can purchase Aromat at two of Switzerland’s major supermarkets – Coop and Migros.
10. Finally, while considered a condiment, like salt and pepper, you can also use Aromat for cooking.
If you would like some examples, the Knorr website has recipes for cooking with Aromat.
Sources:
- Aromat by Knorr (Official website)
- Aromat Knorr ®, Patrimoine Culinaire Suisse
Updated: May 9, 2022
Do you have a container of Aromat at home? For instance, how often do you use it? Please share your responses. Either leave a comment below or send me an email. Thanks!
Updated: January 1, 2023