Oma’s Regional Traditional German Food: Bremen

by: Gerhild Fulson  /  Cookbook Author, Blogger, German Oma!

Town Musicians and the Drop Tower

Founded in 1947 as a federal state, the two-city state of Bremen is the smallest among the 16 German states. It lies within Lower Saxony and consists of Bremen and Bremerhaven.

1,200 years ago, this was the center of Christian missions in northern Europe and had a major role among the Hanseatic cities.

These cities were a group of guilds (Hanse) established to promote and control trade. Now three cities are part of the Hanseatic Free Cities: Bremen, Hamburg, and Lübeck.

The ports of Bremen and Bremerhaven have the largest enclosed container handling facilities in the world and are an important hub to the Far East.

The Drop Tower at the Centre of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity at the University of Bremen is a 146-meter high drop tube that provides 9.3 seconds of weightlessness in an earthbound laboratory.

Along with other high-tech industries in aviation, space, electronics, and shipbuilding, these industries are the major contributors to the economy of the region.

A tour of Bremen includes stopping at the monument of the Bremen Town Musicians to rub the nose of the donkey. The large bronze sculpture of a donkey, dog, cat, and rooster standing on top of each other is taken from the fairy tale by the brothers Grimm and makes an interesting photo opportunity.

Tour the "old city" and the harbor facilities, and then stop by one of the many restaurants to sample the local wares.

The proximity to water (the North Sea and the Weser River) and access to foreign markets has greatly influenced the cooking for this region. Sweet, spicy, and exotic. Curry, coffee, and chocolate. Tempting fish specialties and traditional Kale and Pinkel (smoked sausage). Bremen has is all.

Celebrate Oktoberfest right at home with these German recipes found right here in Oma's Oktoberfest e-Cookbook.  

Take a peek at all Oma's eCookbooks. They make sharing your German heritage a delicious adventure!

Bremen's Favorite Foods

• Curry dishes, such as Curryhuhn (Curried Chicken)
• Matje Herring and Rollmops (Fish Rollups)
  
• Flounder, eel, halibut, herring, cod, shrimp 
  
• Cabbage, rutabaga, and potatoes
  
• Beef and pork
• Coffee - the major coffee companies are in Bremen: Jacobs, Eduscho, and Melitta
  
• Labskaus - Seaman's Hash, a mixture of potatoes, corned beef and beets served with a fried egg, herring, pickles, and beets
  
• Rote Grütze Germany's national dessert!

My Favorite Recipe from Bremen

Herring Salad

Go to recipe >

This is the recipe I grew up with. My Mutti made this frequently for an easy supper and I carry on that tradition! You'll find the recipe for this dish  by checking out Herring Salad. 

More Recipes from Bremen ...

Potato and Cabbage Soup

Rote Grütze

Herring Salad

Potato and Herring Salad

Kale

Poached Cod with Mustard Sauce

Visit more of Germany's Regions  and States ...

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Meet with us around Oma's table, pull up a chair, grab a coffee and a piece of Apfelstrudel, and enjoy the visit.

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More about me >

Hi, I'm Oma Gerhild! As a food writer and cookbook author, I'm always looking to find ways to pass on my German heritage using local ingredients. Quick and easy. That's my goal. Wunderbar food. That's the result.