At first glance, the greenish substance may look like an unlikely salad dressing. To connoisseurs, however, pumpkin-seed oil is a great delicacy, and Slovenia is now making a name for itself as an exporter of this one-of-a-kind condiment.

Pumpkin-seed oil is produced not from the orange Halloween pumpkin, but from a smaller, less common gourd specifically grown for this purpose -- cucurbita pepo var. Styriaca (or oleifera). The process involves the removal of the seeds, which are then roasted and pressed to extract the oil. The oil is used in everything from salads to sauces. Its distinctive dark-green color comes from the abundant chlorophyll in the seeds.

This method has a long tradition in the region that includes the Slovenian provinces of Prekmurje and Štajerska (Slovenian Styria), as well as Styria in Austria. The production of pumpkin-seed oil in the area dates back to at least the 17th century.

In recent years, pumpkin-seed oil enjoying unprecedented levels of popularity. Because it’s rich in vitamins and contains just the right proportion of fats, the oil is prized by health-conscious consumers. And at a time when new interpretations of traditional regional cuisine are the hot new culinary trend, the oil is seen as a fashionable ingredient in everything from simple family meals to exquisite creations at upscale restaurants.

For a time, Slovenia could not register the pumpkin-seen oil with the European Commission -- as a protected product with a designated origin -- because of objections from Austria. Slovenia’s northern neighbor had registered its own oil in 1996, and claimed that Slovenian-produced pumpkin-seed oil could mislead consumers. In the end, the European Commission ruled in Slovenia’s favor, and the oil was registered throughout the European as one of only several protected Slovenian products. Slovenian producers were quick to add that the Slovenian oil tastes better than its Austrian counterpart because it’s pressed at a lower temperature, thereby retaining more of its flavor.

Having already conquered the domestic market, Slovenian pumpkin-seed oil producers – mostly family-owned farms -- are already turning their gazes abroad. Already well-known in neighboring countries, the oil has also turned out to be very popular in Australia, and plans are underway to market this traditional Slovenian product in other overseas markets such as the United Arab Emirates.

This unusual type of oil long taken for granted in parts of rural Slovenia may yet play a role in promoting the country’s rich culinary tradition in various remote corners of the world.