Top 7 Saxon Foods

Ritterguts Gose is a German brand of traditional Gose beer whose origins are associated with the Döllnitz estate near Halle. Master brewer Johann Philipp Ledermann brought a recipe from Goslar in 1824 and began producing the beer on the estate that same year. During the second half of the 19th century, Ritterguts Gose became a major supplier to numerous taverns in Leipzig and Halle. The period from approximately 1880 to 1920 marked the style’s greatest popularity, when Leipzig alone had around 80 specialized Gose taverns. After the Second World War, the Döllnitz estate was expropriated and its brewing equipment dismantled, bringing production to an end in 1945. Several producers subsequently attempted to preserve the Gose tradition, but continuous production ceased again in 1966. Tilo Jänichen began studying historical documents and experimenting with the old recipe in 1996. He successfully revived the beer in early 1999, and the Ritterguts Gose company was re-established on September 9 of that year. The bottled version returned to the market in the summer of 2002. Since 2015, the brand’s beers have been produced in cooperation with the family-owned Bergt Bräu Reichenbrand brewery in Chemnitz. Production involves open fermentation, proprietary yeast and lactic acid bacteria cultures, and extended maturation in cold cellars. Some of the historic microorganisms were isolated from preserved bottles of Ritterguts Gose dating from before the Second World War. Regional raw materials are used where possible, while the brewing water comes from the Reichenbrand brewery’s deep well. The beers are neither pasteurized nor filtered, and the range includes the classic Gose together with historically inspired and contemporary variations. Owing to its origins in 1824, Ritterguts Gose is presented as the oldest surviving Gose brand and an important part of the brewing heritage of the Leipzig–Halle region.Expand

Chocolatier Praetsch is a German chocolate production company specializing in handmade chocolates. The company focuses on using high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients and traditional manufacturing techniques passed down through generations.

Chocolatier Praetsch KG offers a variety of chocolate products, including truffles, bars, and seasonal specialties.Expand

Originating in Saxony, quarkkeulchen is made by combining quark, mashed potatoes, eggs, flour, and milk or water, and then shaping the mixture into flat cakes which are fried in hot oil or butter until nicely browned on both sides. This sweet specialty is usually flavored with lemon juice or lemon zest, and it is often enhanced with raisins or currants for extra flavor and texture. Qarkkeulchen can be enjoyed warm or chilled, and it is usually topped with powdered sugar and cinnamon. Applesauce or stewed fruit such as plums and a cup of fresh coffee typically accompany this simple German dessert.Expand

Dresdner stollen is an aromatic German fruit bread that has been closely associated with Christmas. It consists of buttery yeast dough that is spiced and usually studded with candied orange, lemon peel, sultanas, sweet and bitter almonds, and lemon zest. It is formed in large loafs, and when baked, the bread is brushed with butter and generously dusted with powdered sugar. Originally referred to as striezel, it is believed that the first stollen was not as rich as today’s versions, following the tradition of fasting during Advent. In 1490, the Pope Innocent VIII lifted the ban on baking with butter during Advent for Dresden bakers, allowing them to create more elaborate stollen versions. Because of its long history and cultural significance, this German classic has been awarded the Protected Geographical Indication status by the European Commission in 2010, which restricts the production of Dresdner stollen to the state capital Dresden and twelve municipalities in the greater Dresden area.Expand

This specialty dessert from Saxony is a sheet cake consisting of three individual layers. Yeast dough is commonly used for the base layer, but a thin sponge cake or a pie crust can be used instead. The middle layer consists of a type of custard which contains quark in addition to butter, milk, eggs, and sugar. The top layer consists of another type of custard which is mixed with vanilla pudding. After these three layers have been assembled, the cake is baked and then cut into rectangular pieces. Eierschecke is traditionally served with a hot cup of coffee and is therefore easily found in most German coffeehouses.Expand

As the name suggests, this German specialty hails from Leipzig, and it is typically based on a mix of vegetables. The dish usually consists of a combination of young vegetables, crayfish tails, morel mushrooms, and bread dumplings which are doused in a creamy, buttery sauce. Typical vegetables used in the preparation of this regional dish include carrots, asparagus, kohlrabi, cauliflower, and peas. Leipziger allerlei is traditionally enjoyed in May and June, either as a main course or a side, and it is often sprinkled with freshly chopped parsley or chervil on top. It is believed that this humble dish originated in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars as a protective measure against thieves, beggars, and tax collectors, when the citizens were asked to offer only vegetable-based dishes in order to create a false image of impoverishment.Expand

Schlesisches Himmelreich or Silesian heaven is a traditional dish originating from Silesia. It consists of smoked pork that is gently simmered with dried fruits such as pears, apples, and prunes. It's traditionally accompanied by kartoffelklöße potato dumplings that are simmered in the same pot until they float on top. The combination of smoky meats and tart, sweet-sour fruits was beloved in the past with the early Silesian settlers, but nowadays the dish is made just occasionally in very few households. There are a few variations on the dish – one uses stewed pie melon flavored with cinnamon, currants, and lemon rind instead of the stewed dried fruits, and another one served the pork with sweetened stewed quinces.Expand

Legend has it that, in the 18th century, a messenger of the Electorate of Saxony regularly frequented Dresden and Meissen. The courier was a bit too fond of the famous Meissen wine, and he would drink so much that he would be unable to carry out his duties. The Elector then ordered the bakers of Meissner to invent a cake that was so fragile it would break at the slightest vibration, and the Fummel was created. Meissner Fummel is an elongated, tapered, hollow, and extremely fragile pastry. The pastry is paper-thin and extremely brittle with no specific flavor, and therefore it has no appreciable nutritional value. However, it's often dusted with powdered sugar, and the flakes are then enjoyed as a sweet treat with a cup of coffee. This legendary pastry is especially popular as a souvenir.Expand

Sächsischer kartoffelsalat is a potato salad from Saxony, where cooked potatoes are combined with a creamy dressing and mixed with vegetables and savory additions common to Saxon home cooking. Potatoes became a central part of Saxon cuisine in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries as industrialization and urban growth shaped everyday meals that needed to be filling, affordable, and suitable for advance preparation, and the potato salad evolved within this context as a reliable dish for households and gatherings. Preparation commonly begins with boiling waxy potatoes in their skins, cooling them, peeling and cutting them into slices or cubes, then mixing them with finely diced onions, chopped pickles, and sliced hard-boiled eggs, followed by a dressing made from mayonnaise blended with mustard, pickle liquid, salt, and pepper, which is folded through the potatoes and allowed to rest so the flavors combine evenly. Common variations include the addition of diced cooked sausage or bacon, adjustments to the ratio of mayonnaise to mustard, the inclusion of herbs such as parsley or chives, and occasional use of a small amount of yogurt or sour cream to lighten the dressing, while vinegar-only dressings are uncommon in this regional style. The salad is eaten cold or at room temperature and is served in homes, bakeries, and at family celebrations, most often alongside cold cuts, sausages, fried meats, or bread, and it is frequently part of buffet-style meals and festive spreads.Expand