German cuisine
home page

tips on German
food & beverages
 

What is
German cuisine?

The term
"German Cuisine"
is difficult to define
precisely because ...

Germany is a land of regional cuisines.
An increasing number of Germans prefer lighter over heavier traditional fare.
More Germans take vacations abroad. They bring home foreign culinary concepts and adopt them into their cooking and eating styles.
The influx of Turkish and other foreign workers has accelerated the introduction of new flavors and menu items.

Still, there remains today a German cuisine with a distinct, time-honored character. Click the links below to go to my four sections on this page - each helps reveal that character.

Meat & Seafood
Vegetables
Seasonings
Baking

Meat & seafood

Red meats

Pork is the favorite, though beef frequently appears on household tables.

Fowl

Chicken and duck are popular, but it is the goose (traditionally cooked and served with apples and prunes) that captures the fancy of most German diners.

Game

The country abounds with forests and, consequently, game like venison, wild boar, hare, pheasant, and river trout contribute to the national fine dining tradition.

Seafood

Northern Germany has lengthy Baltic and North Sea coastlines. The cool waters yield abundant and flavorful seafood.

Vegetables

Potatoes

They add to Germany's high carbohydrate count, appearing either boiled, or shredded for pancakes or dumplings. Interestingly, these tubers are a relatively recent (mid 18th century) addition to the historical German larder.

Other vegetables

Hearty vegetables such as red and green cabbage (fresh or fermented into sauerkraut), carrots, radishes, and turnips are popular, as is the delicate white asparagus for which Germany is famous.

Seasonings

Herbs such as dill, chervil, basil, and thyme are used; so are caraway seeds, juniper berries, and prepared mustard. A sweet sour flavor, obtained with vinegar and fresh or dried fruit, is highly prized.

Baking

Germany has some of the best bakers in the world. They create elaborate cakes and pastries. Their baking skills also extend into breads, including full flavored and textured pumpernickel as well as lighter rye and wheat breads.

Links to my other
German cuisine pages

Famous German dishes
Famous German beverages
German menu translator
Regional German cuisine

Test  yourself

sponsored ad 

Explore my
candid country, region
and other travel guides
Click links for tips & insights

©2010 HQP / Hillman Quality Publications