Steinhagen

Often classified as a type of gin, Steinhäger is a juniper-flavored spirit produced in Westaphalian Steinhagen municipality. It is produced from grain spirit, juniper berries, and wacholderlutter—fermented mash made from juniper berries. This spirit is clear and color... Read more

This heavy and slightly sweet rye bread is made from a sourdough starter and coarsely ground rye with whole rye berries as its base. Its name comes from the German pumpern, a synonym for being flatulent, and the male given name Nickel—a form of the name Nicholas—which was com... Read more

This is a special variety of brown, firm gingerbread that has been baked in Aachen since the 1820s. The term printe refers to the use of carved wooden molds into which the dough is pressed during production. Having been regionally protected, the Aachener Printen may only be produced in A... Read more

Pickert is a German dish originating from Westphalia. It can best be described as a combination of a fritter, a potato pancake, and a waffle. The key ingredients include flour, grated potatoes, eggs, milk, yeast, salt, sugar, oil, and raisins. When the batter is prepared, pickert can be fried or ... Read more

Halve hahn is a Rhenish sandwich consisting of a split rye roll (röggelchen) that is typically buttered and topped with a thick slice of medium-ripe gouda cheese, pickles, and raw onions. Mustard is commonly added as well. It is popular throughout the Rhineland, especially in the ci... Read more

First described in 1450 as the black bread of Westphalia, the famous Westfälischer Pumpernickel is a traditional all-rye bread made with either coarsely ground rye meal or a combination of rye flour and whole rye kernels. It can also be flavored with malt or sugar beet syrup. The lo... Read more

Pfefferpotthast is a traditional meat stew hailing from Westphalia. It consists of pieces of beef that are simmered in a seasoned broth along with onions, soup vegetables, spices, and herbs. The meat is typically first browned in a little oil or lard before it's cooked with the other ingredients,... Read more

Westfälische quarkspeise is a trifle dessert with layers of creamy German quark and whipped cream, tart cherries (such as morello cherries), and crumbled pumpernickel (slightly sweet dark rye bread). Typically flavored with kirsch, amaretto, or rum and vanilla sugar, the dessert is usually a... Read more

Bergische waffles are traditional German waffles originating from the Bergisches Land area. They’re usually made with a combination of flour, sugar, butter, vanilla, eggs, baking powder, and milk. What differentiates these waffles is that they are always heart-shaped but also more crisp and... Read more

Siegerländer Krüstche is a traditional dish originating from Siegen. The dish is usually made with a combination of a pork cutlet, flour, eggs, breadcrumbs, bread, butter, salt, pepper, and oil. The pork cutlet is seasoned with salt and pepper, rolled in flour, dipped in egg wash, dredg... Read more

Potthucke is a traditional potato cake originating from the Sauerland region in Westphalia. It's made with a combination of potatoes, eggs, milk, sour cream, butter, salt, and pepper. Half of the potatoes are boiled and grated, and the remaining half is boiled and mashed. The two are mixed togeth... Read more

Röggelchen is a traditional bread roll, particularly popular in the Rhineland region. It is made from a mix of rye and wheat flour, giving it a dense, hearty texture and a slightly sour flavor due to the rye content. The rolls are typically small, oval-shaped, and often baked in pairs, where... Read more

Stippgrütze is a Westphalian specialty made from barley groats cooked in sausage broth, and combined with fat, pork offal, and spices like pepper or thyme. The mix is then minced and shaped into a cylindrical form. The most common way to prepare the stippgrütze is to fry it, which resul... Read more

This delicate smoked blood sausage from the Rhineland region consists of lean meat and small pieces of fat. Flönz has been popular in Cologne for a hundred years, and it is the least expensive local sausage. It is a firm blood sausage made from various parts of the pig, including the rinds, ... Read more

Also known as ABB mustard, this is a specialty from Düsseldorf that has been produced since the early 18th century. The name 'ABB' derives from the initials of company founder Adam Bernhard Bergrath, who also invented the mustard. This malty brown mustard is made with brown and yell... Read more

The pork used to make this ham originates from the region of Westphalia, which is known for its traditional pig farming. The recipe is guarded as a trade secret, and every step in the production process is carried out entirely by hand. The process begins by rubbing salt of a special consistency w... Read more

This cheese from Nieheim in Ostwestfalen-Lippe is made from low-fat sour cow's milk quark using a traditional recipe. After ripening for a few days, the cheese is rubbed with a mixture of salt, cumin, and water. Nieheim cheese tends to become stronger and harder over time, which makes it perfect ... Read more

The production of this variety of asparagus, from growing to picking, must take place in a defined geographical area in the region of North Rhine-Westphalia along the Dutch-German border. The region's sandy soils were once considered by local farmers to be a major disadvantage, but when Major Wal... Read more

It is believed that the Romans brought the asparagus to Bornheim, and for a long time, the high price of this vegetable made it available only to the nobility and bourgeoisie. Today, the healthy Bornheimer Spargel is widely available, and with the high average temperatures and sufficient... Read more

One of the oldest plum varieties, the 'Golden Blue', as the Stromberg locals lovingly call it, was brought into the region from southern France and Spain by clerk and traveler Louis Niedieck in 1790. Today, the Stromberger plum variety includes about 15,000 plum and damson trees which decorate t... Read more

Kölsch (the Low German name for Cologne) is a specialty beer brewed only in Cologne. A document known as the Kölsch Convention was signed in 1986 by the directors of two dozen Kölsch breweries, ensuring that Kölsch beer can only be brewed in Cologne and its surrounding area, a... Read more

Altbier, meaning old beer, is a German beer style which originated in Düsseldorf. The style falls somewhere between a lager and an ale—the beers are fermented warm like ales but are then aged cool like lagers. The name altbier, which originated in the 1880s, refers to the trad... Read more

Dortmunder Export is a German beer style that was first brewed in the late 19th century. Named after the city where it originated, this beer style was modeled on pilsners, and it was primarily invented as a thirst-quenching brew for local industrial workers. Dortmunder is a pale... Read more

This German herbal liqueur is produced with the aromatic extraction of 43 herbs that results in an amber-colored, herbal drink, with notes of spices and licorice. The base is then aged in oak casks before it is adjusted with fresh spring water to reach the 44% ABV. Underberg is still pro... Read more

Bärenjäger is a honey liqueur that hails from Germany. The recipe, which remains secret, is based on an old formula dating back to the 18th century. The liqueur is made with a combination of grain spirit and honey, with additional secret ingredients. The resulting drink is gold... Read more

Killepitsch is a German herbal liqueur (kräuterlikör) that is made with 98 different herbs and spices. The drink has been produced since 1858 by the Busch family from Düsseldorf, and the original recipe is still kept secret. Killepitsch is a rich and smooth dark r... Read more

This beer is a symbol of Dortmund and has always been made from carefully selected ingredients. The beginning of brewing in Dortmund dates back to 1293, and throughout history, these beers were exported around the world. Dortmund beer is now produced by Dortmunder Actien Brauerei (DAB), which was... Read more

Altbierbowle is a beer-based mixed drink that hails from Germany. The drink combines beer, fruit syrup, and fruit. Although it resembles a punch bowl, this German specialty is made with altbier—a traditional German beer style from Düsseldorf that falls somewhere between a lage... Read more