How German Food Has Evolved Over Time (2024)

FAQs

What influenced German food? ›

German cuisine has a deep-rooted history shaped by various influences. The country's location in Central Europe has exposed it to diverse cultural and culinary exchanges. German cuisine draws inspiration from neighboring countries such as Austria, Switzerland, France, and the Czech Republic.

The earliest spices in German cuisine were parsley, celery, and dill, which are still used today. The Romans introduced fruit tree cultivation and grapevines. Oats and rye were also added as agricultural methods became more sophisticated.

Meals in Germany often last for hours.

Even at a sit-down restaurant, Americans don't often stay for longer than an hour.

The culture of Germany has been shaped by major intellectual and popular currents in Europe, both religious and secular. German culture originated with the Germanic tribes, the earliest evidence of Germanic culture dates to the Jastorf culture in Northern Germany and Denmark.

Sauerbraten (pronounced [ˈzaʊ̯ɐˌbʁaːtn̩]) is a traditional German roast of heavily marinated meat. It is regarded as a national dish of Germany, and is frequently served in German-style restaurants internationally.

February 2nd 962 AD - the date Germany was first recognised as a region. January 18th, 1871 - the date where Germany became a unified state. October 3rd, 1990 - the date when East and West Germany were united to form the current Federal Republic of Germany.

Lunch is commonly the biggest meal of the day. Normally, a meal will include a type of meat served with vegetables or salad and noodles, rice, potatoes, or bread rolls. Some common home-cooked meals that Germans enjoy for lunch include Schnitzel or Wurst.

The German diet

Despite the popular notion that Germany is run predominantly on bratwursts, schnitzels, baked goods and beer, Germans have a long tradition of consuming locally produced healthy foods purchased at farmers' markets, along with a passion for eating fresh seasonal produce.

What are the three main meals in Germany? ›

First of all, we'll take a look at Germany's three main meals in the day: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Whilst there are regional variations in food culture, most German recipes focus heavily on bread, potatoes, and meat, especially pork, as well as plenty of greens such as types of cabbage and kale. Cake, coffee, and beer are all highly popular elements of German cuisine too - which will be good news to most!

But in Germany, the traditional dinner time is much earlier: you'll find many German households having their evening meal between 5 and 7 pm.

German clothing styles follow international fashion trends of other first-world nations. For example, jeans are still popular for casual wear and you will see a lot of track suits.

In 2021, the top partner countries from which Germany Imports Food Products include Netherlands, Italy, Poland, France and Austria.

These German recipes celebrate some of the dishes Germany is most known for: crispy fried schnitzel, robust sausages, chewy pretzels, and all manner of mustard-tinged delights. We've even included a handful of items on the sweeter side, too, like a tangy apricot kuchen and a berry-studded German pancake. Guten appetit!

The Germans' diet became more monotonous, with lots of bread, potatoes and preserves. There were meat shortages due to lack of imports from the USA. Meat rations dropped from 750 grams per week in 1939 to 250 grams per week in 1945.

According to Julius Caesar, the Germans were pastoralists, and the bulk of their foodstuffs—milk, cheese, and meat—came from their flocks and herds. Some farming was also carried out, the main crops being grain, root crops, and vegetables.