Exploring German Cuisine Introduction to Germany and It’s Cuisine
Feb 24, 2016
Exploring German Cuisine
Introduction to Germany and It’s Cuisine
What do you know?
• What do you know about Germany?
• Travel?• Classes?• Food?
German Geography
• Germany is bordered by:– Two bodies of water– Nine different countries
Image retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications//the-world-factbook/geos/gm.html
German Topography
• Mountains!• Rivers!• Lush Valleys!• Northern Climate!– As far north as Canada
• Coastline!
Image retrieved from: http://www.amslshop.com/topografische-Karten/digital/Deutschland.php
What about the United States?• What are some
geographic and topographic features of the United States?
• How do these features influence American cuisine?
Image retrieved from: http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/us.htm
What about you?
• Where are you from? • Can you give some examples of how where you grew up impacts what you eat?
What about Germany’s location and features might influence its cuisine?
• Bodies of water– Seas– Rivers
• Neighboring countries (all 9 of them!)
• Topography– Mountains vs river
valleys
Image retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications//the-world-factbook/geos/gm.html
Regional Cuisine
• Northern Regions– Bordered by two Seas– Rivers– Lush valleys
• Northern specialties– Fish
• Eel Soup (Aalsuppe)– Berries
• Summer Berry Pudding (Rote Grutze)
– Cabbage• Sauerkraut
– Marzipan• Almond Paste used in desserts with
spices– Trade Routes
– Potatoes• Potato pancakes with Bacon and
Pear Sauce! (Himmel und Erde – Erdapfel)
Image retrieved from: http://www.amslshop.com/topografische-Karten/digital/Deutschland.php
Regional Cuisine
• Eastern Regions– Prior Soviet Block– Cosmopolitan Berlin– Lush River Valleys
• Grain cultivation• Vegetable cultivation
• Eastern Specialties– Currywurst– Kaffee und Kuchen!!
• Dresdener Stollen– Pickled vegetables
• Gherkins– Breads
• Burger Knaeckebrot (Multigrain flatbread)
– Havelberger Bierfleisch• Stew made with fish,
potatoes, bacon, dark beer and gingerbread
Image retrieved from: http://www.amslshop.com/topografische-Karten/digital/Deutschland.php
Regional Cuisine
• Southern Regions– Mountains
• Hunting– Cold Climate– Pig Farming
• Southern Specialties– Noodles
• Spaetzle• Maultaschen
– Dumplings• Knoedel or Kloesse
– Gingerbread• Lebkuchen
– Pretzels (Brezeln)– Schnitzel
• Pork or veal cutlets– Ham (Black Forest Ham)
Image retrieved from: http://www.amslshop.com/topografische-Karten/digital/Deutschland.php
Regional Cuisine
• Western Regions– Shares borders
with• France• Belgium• Luxembourg• Netherlands
– Lush river valleys• Grain cultivation• Potato
cultivation
• Western Specialties– Potatoes
• Kartoffelknoedel– Beef stews (Sauerbraten)– Bread
• Pumpernickel– Mustards (Senf)– Sauces
• Gruene Sosse
Image retrieved from: http://www.amslshop.com/topografische-Karten/digital/Deutschland.php
Bring it on home!• Why do different food habits develop in different parts of the
same country?– Ability to produce certain foods in certain areas– Neighboring countries– Topography
• How is German cuisine similar to and different from American cuisine?– Regional specialties are impacted by geography and topography– Same ingredients may exist throughout a country, but are treated or
prepared differently in different regions– Different influences
• Mexico vs France• Immigration
DANKE SCHÖN!
References
Central Intelligence Agency. (2012). The world factbook. Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications//the-world-
factbook/geos/gm.html
GermanFoods.org. (n.d.). Germany’s states and regional food specialties. Retrieved from
http://www.germanfoods.org/consumer/facts/foodregions.cfm