Spreewald gherkins facts for kids
Spreewald gherkins with garlic
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| Type | Pickled cucumber |
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| Region or state | Spreewald, Brandenburg |
Spreewald gherkins (called Spreewälder Gurken in German) are a special kind of pickled cucumber. They come from the Spreewald region in Brandenburg, Germany. The EU protects them with a special label. This label is called a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). It means only gherkins from the Spreewald, made in a certain way, can use this name.
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What Makes Spreewald Gherkins Special?
These gherkins have been famous for a long time. In the 1870s, a writer named Theodor Fontane visited the Spreewald. He wrote that Spreewald gherkins were the most important farm product there. He noted that a single merchant in Lübbenau sold thousands of them every week. This showed how popular they were, even back then.
The Secret to Their Delicious Taste
The special taste of Spreewald gherkins comes from a few things. The soil in the Spreewald is moist and rich. This helps the cucumbers grow very well. The local climate also plays a part in their good growth.
But the real secret is how they are made. In the past, gherkins were fermented in big barrels for many weeks. Today, they are ready much faster, sometimes in just one day. This is done by heating them to 70 °C (158 °F) and adding a special ingredient.
Special Ingredients for Flavor
The exact mix of extra ingredients is a secret. About twenty companies that pickle gherkins keep their recipes private. These ingredients add to the gherkins' unique sour and spicy taste. Some common ingredients include basil, lemon balm, grape leaves, cherry leaves, or walnut leaves.
Spreewald Gherkins in History and Film
After Germany became one country again in 1990, many products from East Germany disappeared. But Spreewald gherkins were one of the few that stayed popular.
They even became famous in a 2003 movie called Good Bye Lenin!. In this film, a son tries to find these gherkins for his sick mother. She loves them and he needs them to make her believe that her old East German world still exists. This movie helped make the gherkins even more well-known.
Since March 1999, Spreewälder Gurken has been a protected name. This means it's a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) in the EU. In 2004, many businesses in the Spreewald agreed to keep the region free from genetically modified crops.
Exploring the Spreewald Gherkin Region
Cucumber fields are found all over the Spreewald. Most of this area is a special protected place. It's called the Biosphärenreservat Spreewald (Spreewald Biosphere Reserve). Several towns in the area offer fun activities related to gherkins:
- Golßen: You can tour the Spreewaldkonserve Golßen factory. This is where gherkins are produced.
- Leipe: This town shows traditional ways of growing vegetables.
- Lehde: Visit a farmhouse and a gherkin museum here.
- Schlepzig: Explore an agricultural history museum.
- Lübbenau/Spreewald: See the Spreewaldmuseum.
The Gherkin Bicycle Path
There's even a special bike path named after the gherkin! It's called the Gurken-Radweg (Gherkin Bicycle Path). The path's logo shows a smiling gherkin riding a bicycle.
Gherkins and Sports
The annual Spreewald-Marathon is a big event. People run, bike, hike, canoe, and skate. Instead of saying "ready, steady, go!" to start the race, they say, "Auf die Gurke, fertig, los" (On the gherkin, steady, go!). It's a fun way to celebrate their famous gherkins.
