9 Worst Rated German Cured Meats

Entrepreneur Friedrich Heine made it big in 1896 when he introduced a national specialty known as Halberstädter Würstchen to the global market. His jarred, preserved sausages travelled well and were able to be distributed far and wide, and they quickly gained popularity far outside of Germany's borders. The company was expropriated by the East German government in 1948, and its name was changed to VEB Halberstadt Meats. The smoky flavor of these long and thin sausages in sheep's casings results from a patented, traditional method of smoking in a chimney over a beechwood fire, combined with long ripening times of 24 to 36 hours. Halberstadt's products have received many gold medal awards from the German Agricultural Society, the first of which was awarded in 1913. Chimney-smoked Halberstädter Würstchen are the only products from Halberstadt in Saxony-Anhalt that can bear the official local denomination Halberstädter.Expand

Bierschinken Wurst (lit. beer ham sausage) is a variety of parboiled German sausage with chunks of pickled pork meat or cooked ham. It typically consists of finely ground pork, bacon, water or ice, salt, and spices such as mace, ginger, cardamom, coriander, and white pepper. After it is combined with the meat pieces, the sausage mixture is typically filled into natural or artificial casings, and it sometimes gets smoked before cooking. Although it is mostly prepared with pork, the sausage can also be made with beef or poultry, or any combination of pork, beef, and poultry. The bier part (meaning beer in German) in the sausage’s name does not refer to its composition but rather to the tradition of enjoying slices of this sausage alongside a cold beer. Also known as Schinkenwurst, this sausage is usually eaten sliced as a cold cut atop fresh bread rolls or slices of wood-fired bread along with gherkins and eggs. It's also an excellent accompaniment to beer. Even though its exact origin is unknown, it is generally believed that this sausage variety originates from Bavaria.Expand

Teewurst is an air-dried German sausage that consists of pork (or pork and beef) and bacon. The finely ground sausage mixture is typically seasoned, stuffed in casings, and cold-smoked over beechwood. Once smoked, the sausage is left to ferment, a process which allows it to be safe for consumption without cooking. Mild and slightly sour, the sausage has a soft and spreadable texture which is why it’s typically enjoyed atop of crackers or open-faced sandwiches. In Germany, this type of sausage was reserved for tea time, hence the tee in its name, meaning tea in German. The creation of this sausage has been attributed to Karoline Ulrike Rudolph, who is also credited for the sausage’s name.Expand

In the world of salami connoisseurs, Greußener salami has been a well-known name for almost 100 years. The Greußener Salami Company was founded in 1864 by master butcher Carl Auene from the town of Greußen in Thuringia, and word of this excellent salami soon spread throughout the region. The salami has a coarse grain dotted with coarse black pepper, and its hearty flavor is accentuated with garlic. In addition to Greußener salami, which is made from pork, the same company also produces salamis made with wild boar, venison, and poultry. They are seasoned with black pepper, garlic, paprika, chili, or juniper. Individual versions include salamis with a coating of herbs or pepper, mold-ripened salamis, and salamis in parmesan crust.Expand

This delicate smoked blood sausage from the Rhineland region consists of lean meat and small pieces of fat. Flönz has been popular in Cologne for a hundred years, and it is the least expensive local sausage. It is a firm blood sausage made from various parts of the pig, including the rinds, head, and blood combined with salt and spices. The use of spice extracts and flavorings is prohibited. The visible fat consists of pieces measuring between 5 and 10 mm. Flönz is an ingredient in various kölsche specialties like Himmel und Eerde, while flönz served with buns and onion rings is affectionately known as Kölsche caviar.Expand

The pork used to make this ham originates from the region of Westphalia, which is known for its traditional pig farming. The recipe is guarded as a trade secret, and every step in the production process is carried out entirely by hand. The process begins by rubbing salt of a special consistency with added herbs or spices into the ham and bone, which is then left to cure and dry in aging rooms for an extended period of time. To produce the smoked version, the hams are left in a smoking chamber over a beech and juniper wood fire. This process may take time, but it results in a characteristic dark red meat, golden-yellow rind, and a particularly mild and nutty flavor. To enjoy this delicacy, slice it thinly and serve it as an appetizer with pretzels and cheese.Expand

Landjäger is a semi-dried sausage popular throughout Switzerland, Germany, France, and Austria. It is typically prepared with a combination of pork, beef, lard, red wine, sugar, and selected spices. The sausage is first pressed in order to obtain its typical rectangular cross-section, and it is then smoked and dried. The name landjäger means land hunter, referring to the fact that these sausages are especially convenient and popular among back-packers and hunters, who carry them while traveling.Expand

Pfefferbeißer is a traditional salami. It's usually made with a combination of pork (shoulder and back fat), salt, black pepper, white pepper, garlic powder, mace, and paprika powder. The meat is ground, mixed with the spices, and the mixture is then stuffed into natural casings. The sausages are shaped into moderately thin and elongated forms that are hung and left to ferment for 24 hours before they're cold-smoked until nicely colored. For firmer Pfefferbeißer salami, it's recommended to leave the salami to ripen and dry for a few days before consumption. Expand

Black Forest ham is the best-selling smoked ham in Europe. It is made from the hind leg of the pig, spiced according to producers' own traditional recipes, and cold smoked using fir wood from the Black Forest. The spices used are salt, garlic, coriander, pepper, and juniper berries. As a result, the ham has a dark layer of meat on the outside but a vibrant red color on the inside with a typical smoky aroma. Black Forest ham is boneless and always contains about 20% fat, and it has a nutty and spicy flavor. This ham is easily found in many restaurants, and may be eaten raw or used as an ingredient in cooked dishes.Expand