Germany

What to eat in Germany: top 10 dishes

Traveling to Germany? These are the ten dishes it is best known for, from everyday staples to festive classics, with a short background and a tip on where and when to eat each one. Ranked by how widely they are known around the world.

01
Marzipan
Marzipan is a confection consisting primarily of sugar and almond meal (ground almonds), sometimes augmented with almond oil or extract. Variants can be made from other nuts, or apricot or peach kernels, instead of almonds.
Travel tip Sold as sweets and as filling in baked goods, especially around Christmas. Gift shops and confectioners often sell it in fun shapes.
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02
Pretzel
A pretzel is a type of baked pastry made from dough that is commonly shaped into a knot.
Travel tip Sold fresh at bakeries and street stands, often eaten for breakfast or as a snack. In Bavaria it is a classic with beer or with sausages.
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03
Currywurst
Currywurst is a fast food dish of German origin consisting of sausage (usually pork) with curry ketchup. It was invented in 1949 by Herta Heuwer, who began selling it at a food stand in West Berlin.
Travel tip A quick snack at street stands, especially popular in Berlin, usually served with fries or a bread roll. It is typically eaten standing up, using a small fork.
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04
Black Forest cake
Black Forest gateau, or Black Forest cake, is a layer cake made out of sponge cake flavoured with cocoa powder, cherries, Kirsch, and whipped cream, with dark chocolate as a decoration. The origins of the cake and its name are disputed.
Travel tip Found in cafés and bakeries as a slice with coffee in the afternoon. It is especially associated with the Black Forest region in the southwest.
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05
Spätzle
Spätzle, Spätzla Knöpfle or Spatzen, also called nokedli, are a type of egg pasta typically served as a side for meat dishes with sauce.
Travel tip A common side dish in southwestern Germany, found in traditional inns. It is often served with gravy, or topped with cheese and onions as a main dish.
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06
Stollen
Stollen or stol is a fruit bread of nuts, spices, and dried or candied fruit, often coated with powdered sugar or icing sugar and often containing marzipan or almond paste.
Travel tip A Christmas bread sold at holiday markets and bakeries from late autumn. It is traditionally sliced thin and eaten during the Advent season.
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07
Berliner
A Berliner or Krapfen is a German jam doughnut with no central hole, made from sweet yeast dough fried in lard or cooking oil, with a jam filling, and usually covered in powdered sugar or glazed.
Travel tip Sold at bakeries year-round, and especially popular at carnival time before Lent. Check the filling, since some are filled with jam and others with something else.
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08
Gummy bear
Gummy bears (German: Gummibärchen) are small, fruit gum candies, similar to a jelly baby in some English-speaking countries. The candy is roughly 2 cm (0.8 in) long and shaped in the form of a bear.
Travel tip Sold in supermarkets, candy shops and kiosks, usually by the bag. Many shops sell them by weight and in a wide range of flavors.
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09
Weisswurst
Weißwurst is a traditional Bavarian sausage made from minced veal and pork fatback. It is usually flavored with parsley, lemon, mace, onions, ginger and cardamom, although there are some variations.
Travel tip A Bavarian specialty traditionally eaten in the morning, with sweet mustard and a pretzel. It is usually served in hot water, and the skin is typically not eaten.
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10
Baumkuchen
Baumkuchen is a kind of spit cake from German cuisine. It is also a popular dessert in Japan.
Travel tip Sold at bakeries and confectioners, often as a gift or for special occasions. Look for the layered rings when it is sliced.
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Description: Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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