Oma’s Regional Traditional German Food: Bremen

by: Gerhild Fulson  / Oma Gerhild shares easy, authentic German recipes you can trust, rooted in family tradition and featured in her cookbooks.

Town Musicians and the Drop Tower

Founded in 1947 as a federal state, the two-city state of Bremen is the smallest among the 16 German states. It lies within Lower Saxony and consists of Bremen and Bremerhaven.

1,200 years ago, this was the center of Christian missions in northern Europe and had a major role among the Hanseatic cities.

These cities were a group of guilds (Hanse) established to promote and control trade. Now three cities are part of the Hanseatic Free Cities: Bremen, Hamburg, and Lübeck.

The ports of Bremen and Bremerhaven have the largest enclosed container handling facilities in the world and are an important hub to the Far East.

The Drop Tower at the Centre of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity at the University of Bremen is a 146-meter high drop tube that provides 9.3 seconds of weightlessness in an earthbound laboratory.

Along with other high-tech industries in aviation, space, electronics, and shipbuilding, these industries are the major contributors to the economy of the region.

A tour of Bremen includes stopping at the monument of the Bremen Town Musicians to rub the nose of the donkey. The large bronze sculpture of a donkey, dog, cat, and rooster standing on top of each other is taken from the fairy tale by the brothers Grimm and makes an interesting photo opportunity.

Tour the "old city" and the harbor facilities, and then stop by one of the many restaurants to sample the local wares.

The proximity to water (the North Sea and the Weser River) and access to foreign markets has greatly influenced the cooking for this region. Sweet, spicy, and exotic. Curry, coffee, and chocolate. Tempting fish specialties and traditional Kale and Pinkel (smoked sausage). Bremen has is all.

From Oma's heart to your table

Complete your set today - order now!

Bremen's Favorite Foods

• Curry dishes, such as Curryhuhn (Curried Chicken)
• Matje Herring and Rollmops (Fish Rollups)
  
• Flounder, eel, halibut, herring, cod, shrimp 
  
• Cabbage, rutabaga, and potatoes
  
• Beef and pork
• Coffee - the major coffee companies are in Bremen: Jacobs, Eduscho, and Melitta
  
• Labskaus - Seaman's Hash, a mixture of potatoes, corned beef and beets served with a fried egg, herring, pickles, and beets
  
• Rote Grütze Germany's national dessert!

My Favorite Recipe from Bremen

Herring Salad

Go to recipe >

This is the recipe I grew up with. My Mutti made this frequently for an easy supper and I carry on that tradition! You'll find the recipe for this dish  by checking out Herring Salad. 

More Recipes from Bremen ...

Potato and Cabbage Soup

Rote Grütze

Herring Salad

Potato and Herring Salad

Kale

Poached Cod with Mustard Sauce

Visit more of Germany's Regions  and States ...

Join Oma's Kaffeeklatsch

Come for coffee & cake (virtually!), & you’ll discover new things about German food, recipes, & all things German.

 

Get my “Top 10 Favorite German Recipes” ebook & more … all delivered free right to your inbox from me, Oma Gerhild 🥰

 

Email address

First name

CLICK TO JOIN NOW

Thanks for joining!

Keep your eyes on your inbox for my email. 

---

Follow Oma on Social Media:

instagramyoutubefacebookpinterest

Comments?  Questions?

You can leave a comment about this recipe or ask a question...

Pop right over to my private Facebook group, the Kaffeeklatschers. You'll find thousands of German foodies, all eager to help and to talk about all things German, especially these yummy foods. 

Meet with us around Oma's virtual table, pull up a chair, grab a coffee and a piece of Apfelstrudel, and enjoy the visit.

Recent Articles

• 
• 

1. Traditional German Red Cabbage Recipe – Oma's Rotkohl Rezept

   Apr 30, 25 08:54 PM

   
   The red cabbage recipe (rotkohl) is sweet, tangy, and easy to make. A German classic with big flavor and little fuss—just how Oma likes it!

   Read More

2. Southern German Cucumber Salad – Oma's Süddeutscher Gurkensalat Rezept

   Apr 30, 25 07:12 PM

   
   German cucumber salad (gurkensalat) is one of my go-to sides. Light, tangy, and always so refreshing with any meal.

   Read More

3. German Pancake Soup Recipe – Oma's Flädlesuppe Rezept

   Apr 30, 25 02:13 PM

   
   German pancake soup (flädlesuppe) is SO simple and SO good. I didn’t grow up with it, but once I tried it, I was hooked!

   Read More

Let's connect...

Gifts that say "Ich liebe dich" without saying a word

From Oma's heart
to your table

Complete your set today - order now!

More about me >

Hi, I'm Oma Gerhild! As a food writer and cookbook author, I'm always looking to find ways to pass on my German heritage using local ingredients. Quick and easy. That's my goal. Wunderbar food. That's the result.