Food you must try at the German Christmas markets

Christmas markets are a centuries-old tradition in Germany that were originally created as a simple gathering that lasted only a couple of days. Now it’s an international event that’s held around the country at Christmas time, each with it’s own distinct regional culture on show. If you do find yourself visiting Christmas markets in Germany, and want to sample as much of the traditional foods as possible, then these are some of the most delicious food and drinks to try while you’re there.

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1. Glühwein

Mulled wine, or Glühwein, is the drink of choice at a German Christmas market. You can order one of these in a beautiful cup, which you pay a deposit for before returning it to the stall you purchased it from. The heated wine filled with sugar and spice, and everything nice, is sure to put some colour in your cheeks during a cold German winter.

2. Lebkuchen

This traditional baked Christmas treat can be found throughout Germany during Christmas, not just at the markets. They were first created by 14th-century German monks. They’ve come a long way since then, though, and now there are a whole bunch of different varieties including Lebkuchen hearts which are sold at a variety of fairs and events including Oktoberfest.

3. Chiststollen

Stollen cake, or Christstollen, is a fruit loaf that is particularly popular in the Dresden region. There are a couple of different ideas about what the cake is supposed to represent, some say it’s supposed to symbolise baby Jesus, while other think it represents a mouth of a tunnel that miners once worked in the area centuries ago.

4. Brätwurst

You simply cannot visit Germany or a German Christmas market without having at least one (or seven) brätwurst sausages. Made from either veal, beef or pork these are a Christmas market favourite.

5. Heiße schokolade

For those who aren’t a fan of alcohol, because Germans really do love their beer and mulled wine  during winter, you might prefer the heiße schokolade, or hot chocolate. Don’t forget to ask for marshmallows!

6. Pfannkuchen

A crowd favourite, the pfannkuchen, is a traditional pancake that is served with powdered sugared. A great snack to share while walking through the market, unless you can’t help but eat them all yourself.

7. Feuerzangenbowle

Getting back to the alcoholic beverage, this time we have a flaming glass of punch called, Feuerzangenbowle. It’s made using spiced wine, and then a rum-soaked chunk of sugar is set on fire for added drama.

Have you been to a German Christmas festival? What delicious foods did you try? Share your favourites with us in the comments section below.