(VOVworld) - Each region in Germany has its own specialties and variations. Some say that the cooking and eating habits there are greatly influenced by the French and has more of an Eastern European flavor. Today we talk to with Paula Fabricius, a volunteer at the Volunteer for Peace Vietnam who comes from Northern Germany, to learn more about general eating habits of German people.
Q: Hello Paula. Thank you for being with us on Culture Rendezvous. To me when talking about Germany, I would think of beer immediately. Is beer really that popular in your contry?
A: Of course we have different types of beer. But I don’t really drink beer even though Germany is famous for it, like the Oktoberfest - the beer festival. It happens only in the south, in the area of Munich. In the North, we never celebrate it. But everywhere in the world, if I say I’m from Germany, everyone would say: Oh Oktoberfest or Beer Fest. But no, I don’t know what they do there.
Q: You said that Germany has many different types of beer? Do you know the number exactly?
A: So I did a quiz, which tells which food has the most different types in Germany: sausage, bread or beer. And for beer there are more than 300 different types and for bread, there are more than 700 kinds of bread. Yes, that sounds really ridiculous!
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Sausage, beer and bread are typical foods of German cuisine (Photo: TripKen)
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Q: And sausages?
A: I think there are around 100.
Q: Wow, impressive. But what makes the sausage different though? Is it because of the food ingredients or the sausage’s shape?
A: In different part of Germany, people prepare sausages differently and it also depends on how small you mince the meat and the seasonings and the herbs. In the South there is one kind of sausage that looks white. The German name is translated as White Sausage. We also have sausages that are for BBQ’s. Then we have Currywust. They are also sausages but are chopped into small pieces and served with curry ketchup.
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Various sausages and cold cuts in Germany (Photo: Back Road Journal Wordpress)
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Q: Oh, and the last time I visited Germany, I tried one sausage that was made from blood.
A: Yeah, do you like it?
Q: Uhm, not really. I’m sorry but it’s not tempting to me.
A: No? I just turned vegetarian so I don’t eat them anymore but in the past, I used to like blood sausages very much.
Q: Can people make sausage at home?
A: I’ve never made sausage on my own because you need a long tube to stuff the sausage. I have not known anyone who makes it at home. I would go to the supermarket because it’s easier.
Q: Is sausage something you eat everyday?
A: I don't think there is any food we eat everyday. Because right now, German people are richer than before so we don’t have to eat one kind of food everyday. A few years ago, when Germany was still poorer, people ate potatoes everyday because they grow very fast and well in my country. But today I can choose whatever I want to eat.
Q: How about sweets and pastries? Is Germany famous for cakes?
A: Each city has its own cake and pastry. In my hometown, we have something called wuppi. The name was taken from my town’s name, which is Wuppertal. The pastry is triangular in shape and filled with chocolate bits or sweets. Well, it’s nothing special but it’s good. And in Berlin, we have a pastry, which looks like a donut but without the hole in the middle. And then the fillings can be jam or vanilla pudding. You can buy it in the bakery.
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| The triangular Wuppi can be filled with chocolate bits or other sweets. (Photo: la ménagère débutante) |
Q: That wuppi sounds delicious; can you make it at home?
A: Yes you can make it but usually it takes more time to make it at home than just go to the bakery and buy it. And it's not too expensive. In Germany, we have so many different types of dough. The dough can be dark brown. Or we have something, which is called pumpernickel, which is mainly made from corn so it’s not really fluffy. So I think there is no limit to how many dough types we have. And especially right now, there are so many people who want to be vegan so they don’t eat eggs or milk. And we have another types of dough for them. We have so many different type of dough that I don't even know the exact number.
Q: It seems that a lot of Germany and other Westerners are turning into vegans or vegetarians right now. Where did the trend start in your country?
A: I think the trend is starting right now and started in Berlin. Berlin is like a fashion city where a lot of people are living a healthy lifestyle. But the trend is getting more and more popular but it’s more common in bigger cities than in rural areas. So in big cities, people are eating vegan or vegetarian a lot.
A: It’s more open here so you can see how the animals are treated. But in Germany, it’s a controversial topic because we don't really see it. The meat is quite cheap sometimes so people don't really think about the meat they eat or about how the animals are treated. There are mass productions where the animals are kept in really small spaces. We have special laws for how much space animals need but it’s so small that it’s not enough.
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Magazines for vegans and vegetarians in Germany (Photo: Vegan Good Life)
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Q: So you don’t eat meat anymore just because it’s a trendy eating habit, or is there any other reason?
A:It’s more open here so you can see how the animals are treated. But in Germany, it’s a controversial topic because we don't really see it. The meat is quite cheap sometimes so people don't really think about the meat they eat or about how the animals are treated. There are mass productions where the animals are kept in really small spaces. We have special laws for how much space animals need but it’s so small that it’s not enough.
Q: Thank you Paula for sharing with us your stories.
And that has been this week’s Culture Rendezvous. Remember to tune in next time for more interesting cultural features around the world. I’m Dieu Ha and good bye!