Written by The first meal of the day is regarded as breakfast. Not only is breakfast seen as a nutritious meal to prepare us for a day full of energy, it can also be a good time for communication with family members or close friends.
The traditional German breakfast has its own particularities. You might be surprised to learn that Germans enjoy a hearty meal in the morning. The traditional German breakfast includes a variety of dishes, from sweet to savoury. Between the various regions within Germany, the culinary differences are also present .
What foods are included in a traditional German breakfast?
1.Bread and rolls(Brot and Brötchen)
Germany is well known for its variety of bread, with more than 3,000 sorts! Bread is a staple of the German breakfast table and popular options include rye bread, wholegrain rolls, pretzel rolls and so on. The bread is always cut into slices and served with toppings such as the savory sausage, ham, cheese, or the sweet jam and honey.
2.German sausages(Würste)
German sausages are famous worldwide and are traditionally served with eggs or bread at breakfast. There are various kinds of sausages in Germany, such as Blutwurst(blood sausage), Bratwurst(finely chopped meat sausage), Frankfurter Würstchen(Frankfurter sausages) and Leberwurst(liver sausage), to name a few. To meet the needs of vegans, creative vegan sausages have been developed in modern society.
3.Eggs(Eier)
Eggs are a great source of protein and are perfect for breakfast. There are many ways to cook eggs, such as boiling or frying them. Interestingly, in Germany, boiled eggs are categorized as soft, soft-boiled or hard according to how soft they are. People select an egg of the right size and strictly adjust the cooking time according to the water temperature to get the perfect egg: whites firm and yolk runny; yolk slightly soft for a snack; or yolk hard and egg firm for cutting.
There are many interesting inventions in Germany, which people use to crack eggs. One of them is called the “Eierköpfe”(eggs heads), which allows people to easily remove the shell from one end of the egg.
4.Cheese(Käse)
Cheese is also an essential part of the traditional breakfast. Germany has over 300 types of cheese, including the hard, nutty Allgäuer Bergkäse; the mild, nutty Allgäuer Emmentaler with large holes; and the creamy, smooth Quark. A loaf of bread with a piece of the traditional hard cheese can be a quick breakfast to keep you full for a long time, and the creamy cheese can also used to make creative and tasty breakfast with some fresh fruit or sprouts.
5.Drinks
Most people enjoy a cup of coffee to start the day. Germans in the north often prefer a cup of warm tea at breakfast. Children usually drink warm cocoa or juice. These drinks make breakfast more diverse.
Breakfast adapts
Quick on Weekdays, Enjoyable on Weekends
The above-mentioned kinds of food are traditional German breakfast options. When people have little time to prepare a complex breakfast, they can have a bowl of muesli or just some slices of bread with a cup of coffee.
However, at the weekend, having a rich, long breakfast with family or friends is seen as an enjoyment. People decorate the table with colorful tablecloths and fresh flowers, and prepare all kinds of food, including bread and rolls, perfectly boiled eggs, sausages, cheeses, yoghurt, juice, jams and fresh fruit. They spend the whole weekend morning at the table enjoying delicious food and talking to each other.
Sweet or Savory? Both are probably!
In reality, breakfast varies from region to region in Germany. In southern Germany, bread rolls and pretzels, along with eggs and sausages, are an essential part of breakfast, while in some northern regions, breakfast tends to be sweeter, with jam, honey or breakfast cereals.
A typical Bavarian Weißwurst breakfast consists of Weißwurst (white sausage) with sweet mustard and Weizenbier (wheat beer). The traditional German breakfast is varied, including both sweet and savory dishes, so you’re sure to find your food!
Conclusion
Traditional German breakfasts reveal a lot about the country’s culinary culture. If you want to experience the real German culture, an authentic traditional German breakfast is a must.
