Brotzeit (bread time) is a snack meal consisting of fresh bread and a variety of cold toppings, and often beer, the other bread of Bavaria. Brotzeit takes place mid-morning. Construction workers in particular are known to drop the hammer at 9am sharp for their Brotzeit, no matter what. After that, the walls tend to be a bit off balance. But since German houses are build to last forever, it doesn't really matter. Brotzeit originated among laborers in Germany, who performed physically demanding work and regularly turned to quick, frequent meals. A cold snack was t ..read more

The Munich Oktoberfest, or "Wiesn" as it's called locally, is the world's largest beer fest, and probably the best beer party there is. The 16-day party attracts over 6 million people every year who consume 7 million liters of beer, 200,000 pairs of pork sausage, and 480,000 roasted chickens. If you take out children and adults who don’t drink beer, then we can safely conclude that those who do drink beer are having a lot of it. The minimum serving size is the 1 Liter Masskrug, which is about a quarter gallon. It's quite normal for a sturdy Bavarian to have 5 or 6 of those over the ..read more

German pretzel dough has a long history and interesting connections to chemistry, besides being one of the most popular snacks in the world. Pretzel dough travels through a lye bath before entering the oven. Lye, also known as caustic soda, is a mixture of sodium hydroxide and water. Regular lye is used for soap and cleaners. Food-grade lye is a milder version that is commonly used as a preservative and softening agent. Lye reacts with the starch on the surface of the dough, forming a gel. When baked, this gel transforms into a shiny brown sur ..read more

There are many fruit breads in the world, but there's one that stands out: the German Stollen! Fruitcake, panettone, julekake, you name it, are local versions of fruit bread. But for many, the German Stollen is the king. Stollen is a sweet bread stuffed with delicacies like dried fruits, nuts, candied citrus peel, marzipan, and then coated in powdery sugar. Stollen originates from Dresden, where it was first mentioned in 1474. Stollen was mostly enjoyed as an exclusive treat around Christmas, because the ingredients had to be imported at high costs. Stollens were baked to honor ..read more

Becoming a “Bäckermeister” is a big deal in Germany. It takes years of tough, formal training before a German baker is allowed to call himself "Meister" and sell bread to the public. Quite unlike the rest of the world, where random folks turn into "artisan bakers" literally overnight, only to harass customers with mediocre bread. Bread is considered cultural heritage in Germany, where being a Meister baker is a prerequisite to establishing a bakery business and selling to the public. The long process towards Meister begins with a 3-year a ..read more

Lebkuchen, also known historically as “Pfefferkuchen”, is an old German treat, and arguably Germany's favorite cookie. The main ingredients are: hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, orange & lemon peel, honey. Lebkuchen have a sweet, nutty taste, with a slight touch of spice. They are soft and moist inside, with a slight crunch at the crust. Usually, they are baked on a wafer (Oblate) and covered in sugar-glaze or chocolate. The most well-known Lebkuchen is the one from Nuernberg, distinguished by high nut content, which gives it better moisture and flavor than other versions. By definition ..read more

Bread is the most consumed food item in the world, and has been for thousands of years. Just check out the size of the bread isle in any grocery store, and you will see. Bread is an important source of carbohydrates and essential nutrients. Its compact portability makes it a very practicable meal. Bread is made from different ingredients in different places, but the purpose is always the same: Serve as a base for all kinds of nutritious meals and snacks. Humans have consumed bread for at least 30,000 years. There is archaeological evidence of flour from that time, which was likely processed ..read more

Rye sourdough is among the healthiest breads you can eat: High fiber content and long fermentation process come with many benefits. Keep reading to learn more. Control Blood Sugar Rye bread is high in soluble fiber, which helps slow the digestion and absorption of carbs and sugars through the digestive tract, leading to a more gradual rise in blood sugar levels. Rye’s high level of fiber gives the bread a lower glycemic index (GI) compared to other grain products. GI is a measurement of how much a set amount of food has the potential to raise your blood sugar. The lower the GI of a particu ..read more

Take a creative break from whatever your doing right now, and listen to the sound of REAL bread to lighten up your day ..read more

Give your ham sandwiches a spin with this easy-to-make tangy and sweet sandwich. Perfect for a summertime lunch, picnic, or beach trip. Ingredients: BreadVillage German Country Bread Any mustard Any jam Butter (or Olive Oil) Ham, thinly sliced Salad leaf Directions: In a bowl, mix mustard and jam in about 1:1 ratio with a fork. Set aside. Spread one slice of bread with cherry mustard and the other side with butter (or olive oil). Layer ham and top with salad leaf.  For a link to the Country Bread we used, click here ..read more