Culture: German Pretzel (Bretzel) Love

German Pretzel Love: This Boy Couldn't Get Enough! (by Wanderlust Designer)
German Pretzel Love: This Boy Couldn’t Get Enough! (by Wanderlust Designer)

And they say it’s just a snack. I’m here to say they are quite wrong. German pretzels (called bretzel in Germany) are definitely a meal. Trust me. There is one in my family who survived several days on bretzels alone while in Munich, Germany. And, who could blame him, they are quite tasty!

More German Pretzel Love by Wanderlust Designer
More German Pretzel Love by Wanderlust Designer

As in most of my vacations, mealtime usually happens at odd times. My husband and I have been known to skip breakfast, forget about lunch and finally break down in utter hunger and grab the closest food available when exploring. In Munich, although we kept well fed, there were just too many pretzel vendors tempting us as we wandered through the city center. Our first pretzel stop was at the Viktualienmarkt, the lively daily farmers market just a stones throw from the famous Marienplatz square and Old Town Hall.

Pretzels as big as your Head, Augustiner Keller Beer Garden, Munich, Germany
Pretzels as big as your Head, Augustiner Keller Beer Garden, Munich, Germany

Next up were pretzels near the Hofbräuhaus, and finally a pretzel as big as your head at Augustiner Keller Beer Garden in the afternoon. We were served pretzels with sausage, pretzels with cheese dip and pretzels with mustard, although I read mustard was more of an American pretzel condiment, not German.

Beer and Bretzel at Augustiner Keller Beer Garden, Munich, Germany
Beer and Bretzel at Augustiner Keller Beer Garden, Munich, Germany

When we headed to the train station to leave, we dutifully bought pretzels for the road, sad that they were going to be our last given we were leaving Germany. Although there are plenty of large pretzels sold in America, I would definitely argue that something tasted better about the pretzels we ate in Germany. Perhaps it’s because it’s part of their history, and has been for centuries.

Now back at home, I’ve been craving those tasty treats and found a few pretzel or real German bretzel recipes online to give a try. I expect my pretzel boy will be quite happy to have his favorite food back on the menu!

German Pretzel or Bretzel Recipes

More Resources

Viktualienmarkt, Munich, Germany

Augustiner Keller Beer Garden, Munich, Germany

2 Comments

  • Amanda

    Wow that’s a huge pretzel! I have family in Germany but have yet to get there, hopefully some day soon! Thanks for sharing the link to my recipe, I hope you like them!

    • bbeier

      Hi Amanda, Thank you so much for your great recipe! You must get to Germany one day– it’s quite a treat (and the pretzels are great too, obviously! 🙂 )

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