There are many similarities between food and drink in Germany and in Canada but the longer I stay in Germany, the more subtle differences I notice. Here are my top ten food and drink differences that I’ve noticed after living in Germany for just over six months:
1. Potato salad in Germany is really good. In Canada, I could take it or leave it, but in Germany I’ve been known to eat half a plate of it at a time.
2. A combination of Coke and Orange Fanta is a popular drink in Germany and even has a name “Spezi.” I was so excited to hear this as it’s my favorite soda and I always get weird looks when I order it in Canada.
3. Germans eat bread everyday, and delicious homemade cakes frequently and still manage to weigh less on average than an average person living in North America. So much for the low carb theory of weight loss.
4. Hard ice cream is really hard to come by in ice cream shops in Germany. Delicious Italian gelato can be found everywhere, but I really miss tiger icecream, and have yet to meet anyone in Germany who has heard of it. Hard ice cream is available in the grocery store but only comes in a few flavors and besides, we don’t have a freezer.
5. Normally in restaurants in Germany there is only one type of salad dressing – a yogurt type which I have yet to acquire a taste for. I miss the days of being offered a variety of options, but as I’m not much of a salad person anyway, I’m sure I will survive.
6. Germany has a much smaller selection of chocolate bars than found in North America. No Caramel, Mirage, EatMore…I’m not much of a chocolate eater so this doesn’t bother me but I have some friends who really miss this type of chocolate. In fairness to Germany though, they do have a lot of very high quality chocolate that most Germans choose to eat over the cheap chocolate bars.
7. Snacking while watching t.v. is not popular in Germany. In over 6 months of living with J.P. I have yet to see him snack while watching t.v. The first time he saw me eating popcorn while watching t.v. he was truly confused and still shakes his head every time I do it. Perhaps the absence of mindless snacking is how Germans eat so much bread without getting fat.
8. A combination of apple juice and mineral water (“Apfelschorle”in German) is a popular drink in Germany, much more so than soda. I frequently see my German friends ordering this for their children and themselves alike – so much healthier than soda and completely acceptable to do so even at dinner in a fancy restaurant. Something you wouldn’t likely see in North America.
9. People in Germany eat much more in season than we do in North America. When I first moved here I was shocked that I couldn’t readily find produce such as spinach that I eat regularly in Canada. It’s being generous to say that my cooking certainly wouldn’t have won any awards my first few months of living in Germany as I got creative with substitutes - green beans for broccoli or cabbage for spinach….you get the idea. But I am slowly learning to eat more in season and am finding that by doing so the produce tastes so much better and it’s much better for the planet. I’m not sure how excited J.P. was when in October we ate squash and pumpkin something or other for two weeks straight, but then again I’m sure it was an improvement over my previous improvisations.
10. Beer and wine is available in movie theaters in Germany! I love going to movies anyway, but this gives me another incentive – too bad the English movie theater in Stuttgart doesn’t have butter for its popcorn.
What food and drink differences surprised you when traveling?
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Canadian Habits in Germany
I'm Laurel, a former Program Director from Canada now living in Munich, Germany. I love traveling, diving, and hiking. I'm also an animal enthusiast with a special affinity for monkeys, cats and sharks.
Please note this post had numerous comments that were lost in the transition from Blogger to this post. My apologies for the omission, transferring the comments from Intense Debate to WP turned out to be beyond my technical capabilities.
Jen commented on Food And Drink in Germany Vs. Canada – http://lr-expatgermany.blogspot.com/:
I hear you about the potato salad. Back home…eh. But a few weeks ago The Mann made it fresh and it was SO good! I also love the seasonal eating here – it’s sometimes an adjustment when I can’t get strawberries in January, but overall it makes more sense to me.
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expatgermany commented on Food And Drink in Germany Vs. Canada – http://lr-expatgermany.blogspot.com/:
So good that the Mann cooks, J.P.’s idea of cooking is having bread for dinner
, but he’s good at the laundry. I agree the seasonal eating does make more sense, but I’m cursing the bad spinach crop since I really miss spinach and can’t find it anywhere. Oh well, guess it will taste so much better once I have it again 
Sabrina replied to your comment on Food And Drink in Germany Vs. Canada / http://lr-expatgermany.blogspot.com/:
Have you tried Rucola/Rukola salat? It’s easier to find in Germany and might a good substitute for spinach… not the same, but quite good
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Sabrina commented on Food And Drink in Germany Vs. Canada – http://lr-expatgermany.blogspot.com/:
Have you tried Rucola/Rukola salat? It’s easier to find in Germany and might a good substitute for spinach… not the same, but quite good
Site/Blog URL: http://countryskipper.com/
Sabrina commented on Food And Drink in Germany Vs. Canada – http://lr-expatgermany.blogspot.com/:
I agree. Comfort foods are the ones we grow up with. I like the ripple chips and I love Lays BBQ (which we never had in Germany), but if I could I’d always get the Ungarische version
Site/Blog URL: http://countryskipper.com/
My husband Mark and I (Terry) spent 2 weeks in Hamburg about 5 years ago. We were staying in a small hotel near the harbour. We would start our day at the bakery where my favourite was a dark nutty bread. Mmmmmm!
Terry Kruse
I love the salad dressing here! I have yet to figure out the ingredients. Also, I had the opposite thoughts on chocolate- I think there’s lots more choices than in the US (not sure about Canada though- even though I grew up close, Lake Superior has prevented me from visiting, haha). Milcha brand is the common brand around where I’m at.
I’m spoiled though, I get to shop at the US grocery store on the US military base, although I like to challenge myself and stay away from the Lays chips and Tostidos, which is a good thing anyway!.
Glad you love the salad dressing, I can’t stand it. To each their own. I haven’t heard of Milcha, we have a lot of Ritter since the chocolate factory is near Stuttgart. Being able to shop ath the US grocery store, would really be the best of both worlds. I really miss rootbeer and am going to have to find a way to track some down one of these days
Opps, I had the name wrong, it’s: http://www.milka.com/
I consider it to be the “Herseys” of the groceries stores here, but a bit better. Ya know, not the really good stuff, but something you can enjoy every day (if you want, lol).
A German man told me you can get Dr. Pepper at the German grocery stores, but I looked and looked and didn’t find any! I’ve heard of people making their own root beer, but ya know, sounds like a lot of work
@Laurie – thanks for letting me know, I’ll definitely have to check Milka out, sounds good! I’ve seen Dr. Pepper in the grocery stores, but it’s really root beer I’m craving, making your own root beer sounds interesting, but a lot of work. Sigh, maybe I’ll just wait until I go back to Canada
A suggestion for a German salad dressing:
4 tablespoon plain yoghurt
1 tablespoon vinegar (white wine) – or lemon juice
1 teaspoon mustard
1 some horseradish (like this: http://www.edeka24.de/out/1/html/0/dyn_images/1/ZwimyDQniD1tqbiGWBzBEd-30.jpg) – or Sahnemeerrettich
salt, pepper, nutmeg (fresh ground)
rosemary, ground
Some seasoning like this: http://www.purvital.de/bilder/produkte/gross/Cenovis-Cenofix-universell.jpg – available in the “Reformhaus”
or any substitute, but this is the best and also glutenfree!
Mix these ingrediences well with a whisk.
Add some sunflower (or corn) oil and mix until you get proper emulsion.
You can also add some finely chopped herbs like chives, parsley, shallots, basil – whatever you like and whatever comes out best!
Goes with beans for a very tasty bean salad,
with iceberg lettuce,
with cole-slaw,
eggs,
tomatoes
with a mixed salad of radiccio, lettuce, cheese, eggs, crab meat, boiled ham, mushrooms, sweet corn, tomatoes, pepers, etc.
Endless variations.
There really are a lot of ready-made dressings and sauces here in Germany but this is my favorite. You can also keep it in the fridge – put it in a jar with a cap – and it’ll be fresh for even 2 – 3 days.
And if it’s not enough then, just add some more of the basic ingrediences.
To prepare a quite good potato salad you need to add just a little miracle whip or the German pendant “Salat-Mayonnaise” like this http://genusstest.mampfologie.de/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/mayo.jpg…
But that’s just a pale imitation of my favorite potato salad – in this area every family has their own specialty…
Let me know if you want to have the recipe.
Enjoy and “Guten Appetit”!
So NOW I am hungry.
;-D
Thank you so much. This does sound good and I would love to have your favorite potato salad recipe if you’re willing to share it. I love potato salad in Germany, but mine is just so so. Now I’m hungry as well
Thanks again!
German potato salad is definitely fabulous. The little pieces of speck and all…mmmh. I mean my mom makes a mean potato salad that I love, but the German stuff is just SO good.
And although Germans aren’t really into their candy bars, they do make a mean bar of chocolate with all sorts of crazy stuff in it. Nothing compared to a Snickers and you have to get used to it (obviously you can get Snickers here) but still way better than a Hershey bar IMO.
@Tiffany – I know the speck makes it sooooo good! Agreed about German chocolate, it really is delicious, and I’m sure many Germans would be horrified to see the cheap chocolate, i.e. Snickers that we eat
Some other suggestions – if you don’t mind, but I like your blog and the discussions:
Have you heard about Zotter Schokolade?
It’s Austrian and quite “lecker”.
http://www.zotter.at/
You will find it in the “Hussel”Shops and “Süßes Kaufhaus”, and in the bigger department stores.
In Northern Germany we have the “Arko” Coffee Stores, they sell Coffee as well as chocolate, candies and other sweet stuff, like chocolate dragees. Yummie!
In the Hussels you will also find “Schokoladenbruch” – seasoned chocolate and you can fill your own bags with these big delicious chunks. Hmmmmm….
Have you heard about the Schokoladenmuseum in Cologne? It’s worth a visit.
http://www.chocolatemuseum-cologne.com/
Well, I really need to go and check the kitchen now…
Btw they sell Dr. Pepper in selected gas stations over here.
Good luck!
I haven’t heard about Zotter Schokolade so thanks for the suggestion.
A Chocolate Museum are you serious? That is almost if not a better reason to visit Cologne than the cathedral!
Thank you so much for all your wonderful tips, much appreciated!
… just let me talk about food and you will have a hard time stopping me…
Since I read your article I really pay much more attention while cruising through the veggie sections in the supermarkets!
As you mentioned above Germans do eat and cook more in season than North Americans. So maybe this list will help you find fresh seasonal products – as spinach in March:
http://www.essenmitfreude.info/board/kb.php?mode=article&k=62
Supermarket chains like Rewe and Edeka are pleased to help you ordering fresh stuff beyond their “normal” assortment.
If you’ll find a salesgirl, who is not into that “gehen Sie mal zum Kollegen”, they are really flexible.
I had somekind of a cookshow last year, needed to get some fresh herbs in February and they were so axious to get me anything I wanted!
Huge wholesales like Metro and some Delikatessengeschäfte offer superior quality all year long – with any product you can think of.
But is that so much desirable?
Btw have you been told about the “Gemüseabo”, “Abokiste”, “Biokiste” or “Gemüsekiste”?!
Maybe that could be something to discover:
fresh food – organic – from the farmer’s cooperatives or some organic unions.
I can highly recommend everything with the “demeter” sign.
http://www.demeter.de/
They deliver once a week and they really are in season, their quality is outstanding!
http://www.bioverzeichnis.de/biofachhandel.htm
http://www.biohof-braun.de/lieferservice_funktionierts.php
for example.
Could this be something for you? I’d really love to know!
Greetings!
@Stefan – Gluten free beer? Yeah!!!! Thanks so much for the link, I will definitely check it out, thank you!
I really miss EUROPEAN food! Never been a big fan of Apfelschorle but I can see how foreigners like it. I do have to say that popcorn is tons better over here, can’t stand that sweet sticky stuff in German theaters (completely overpriced, too haha).
And I think Germans do snack when watching TV. they don’t do it every day but they do it when having friends over on a tv night.
Laura4nyc recently posted..Tasty Delights: Italian Food in New York
Oh I love Hamburg as well. I’m amazed at how many times of bread there are in Germany, unfortunately I haven’t tried them as I have a gluten allergy, being allergic to bread and beer while living in Germany definitely makes life interesting
A friend of mine is also has a gluten allergy and he discovered this:
http://www.lammsbraeu.de/index.php?id=351&L=1
Its a gluten free beer, should be available also in the Stuttgart region…
Regards,
Stefan