Germany and Bread: What's with Germans and Bread? | Why Germany ?

Ask a german what a they proud of all of them will most likely say our bread. I head to a small town called Memmingen to meet with a Master Backer Christian Maier at Bäckerei Maier. In which to find out what makes german bread so special. Then back to Ulm to get answers why the south is know for the best bread in Germany and why bread is so important in Germany.

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[the_tux]

Did you know that Christopher Walken‘s father was from a famous bakery dynasty in West Germany and moved to America later on becoming president of the bakery guild in North America? The word “walken” is an ancient German word for kneading.

[berndreddemann]

In Germany we germans take the "Graubrot" (sourdough bread) as a given. But we start to appreciate it when we are abroad and don't get it. My parents used to live in Asia for 7 years and they would miss the bread so much, that my mother started baking her own bread. There is nothing better than a freshly baked bread with a cracky crust, half way cooled down, with just butter and a pinch of salt ☺ yummy! 😋

[fingerdreck]

I moved abroad for university and after one year I started baking my own German bread because I missed it so much. And I need it daily of course

[gingerglue]

actually in the last days there are more and more Bäckereien as well as other small business are closing because they cannot deal with the raising gas and electricity prices. I loved to eat bread as well, my mother did make Sauerteig it herself when I was a child (there was a full grain movement in the 80s). Now I'm gluten intolerant and without that it's hard to make tasting bread and I miss it sometimes – but there is a great bakery in Berlin that is specialised in it. Sometimes I go there and treat myself.
edit: and awesome you are back, love your videos!

[CHarlotte-royi]

The guy at 1:26 is giving me « it’s corn » vibes and honestly I am all here for it!

Edit: I got mad respect for your German skills! It’s really impressive and I think it’s amazing that you make the effort to speak it, that’s the only way to learn and improve.

[DavidGrasekamp]

Nobodys talking about quality, variety ( of grains & ingredients ) taste, smell, texture, aromatics, aethetics, form, size and ... quality ( again ! ) That's the secrets :)

[I_am_Raziel]

First thing I missed in Florida when I was over there was bread.
The stuff they call bread... oh boy.

[atdynax]

I learned baking. That meant waking up at midnight and driving to the bakery at 2:15. It was a low paying job and the bakery doesn't exist anymore. That was 17 years ago. Also i don't eat German bread, only toast. Oh my goodness, as i see this bakery i remember all these machines and techniques. Like the Pretzel making.

[chinguchimp]

Who'd have thought, I, as a german, would learn so much from a brit about german bread culture! Well done! 😄

[MrOrmanley]

German bread culture is the result of many factors, I believe
1) As mentioned, before there was germany as a country, many, many principalities, kingdoms, duchies, counties etc where in its place. These different regions had all their own regional pride, including their own german language and dialects, habits and traditions, beers, sausages, wines, vegetables, dishes and of course; bread. One region would develop a new bread and other, neighboring regions, in the spirit of rivalry, would then improve their own repertoire. You could call it bread wars, I guess ( 😠🍞🥨😠). And during war, innovation is cranked up to 11 as we know.
2) It became custom in german regions as an apprentice baker to travel the different german regions and steal their secrets, to further ones' own skills and knowledge. After german unification by bismark and reunification in the early 90s, that knowledge was much more freely shared within the country, and with european peace following the tragedy of wwII, germany benefitted from accessability to other countries bread culture (like france and italy) as well, expanding germanys' bread culture further still.
3) With bread being the heart of our evening meals (abendbrot) or lunches (pausenbrot) as well as frühstück (breakfast) being accompanied by sausage, cheese, butter, vegetables and other ingredients, sandwiches, pizza-esque breads and many other types joined the mix.
4) As mentioned germany, despite being only roughly the size of texas, has many different climate, soil and altitude differences, making for different grains used for flours, adding to diversity.
5) It even has deep religious roots. Jesus broke the bread. Jesus multiplied bread and fish. Gives us today our daily bread (lord's prayer).
There's probably more factors still, but that's what comes to mind.

[justwatchZET]

your baker friend is extremely friendly

[dan-white]

Nice video mate. I really enjoyed it. Definite improvements in your editing skills too 👍

[bearenkindercool]

such a brilliant video. thank you for all the background knowledge, most of the germans are aware, but no tourist would never think about.

[peterc.]

I'm german and i like german bread in all kinds. But prices for handmade bread are rising so much. That's why I started baking my own bread ervery day. But I'm also in the Philippines a few months a year. There they have rice for breakfast. This is very difficult for me. My Filippino wife sometimes says "I need rice" "I say in the Philippines "I need bread" We always find a way. :)

[hypatian]

Ich glaube, wir essen heute noch so viel Brot, weil es ein einfaches, schnelles und doch abwechslungsreiches Essen ist: Keine Lust, etwas zu kochen? Brot auf den Tisch und dann schauen, was in Kühlschrank + Speisekammer vorhanden ist. Klassisch Butter und Wurst/Käse oder etwas schicker als Sandwich mit Salatblatt drunter und Tomate drauf. Oder ein Spiegelei braten und als Strammer Max aufs Brot. Oder mit allen möglichen Brotaufstrichen. Und mit den unterschiedlichen Brotsorten - es wird nicht eintönig :)

[Tommusix]

I don't get it. Where do you put your "Aufschnitt" on if not on bread? ^^ The smells from bakeries are outstanding. I love that. Maybe because I'm a German. I can't imagine a life without bread and I'm not kidding.

[DomiTravels]

The thing i miss the most while traveling ! Lets Gooo!

[Harzer-Nedersasse]

Es geht nichts über ein Sauerteigbrot mit hohem Roggenanteil. 70:30 😋

[TonyRedgrave]

I grew up in Germany and spent most of my life here and I actually don't eat bread at all since 4 years. I rather eat oatmeal. It's healthier and it's filling for like 5 hours. And it's like that one guy said most of the bakerys are industrial nowadays so you get highly additive stuff in there. Same goes for bread from the supermarket.

[axelk]

German bread is as diverse as our language and different cultures. As an example, look at a map of the "Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation"....
Each "colored" dot on such a map is a "own country" headed by emperors, kings, counts, dukes, archbishoprics, etc.
Pumpernickel for example (black bread) a story says that the poor people could not afford ground rye flour and therefore used the whole ground rye grain to bake bread. So each type of bread has its own history of origin, in one part of the country spelled grew better, so they made spelled bread there and so on.... and trade between individual countries at that time was not so pronounced, for a variety of reasons (religion, politics, language )

fun fact: do you know that the "name" Baxter in Old English is the feminine form for the bakery profession?!
"Baker" male
"Baxter" Female