German Culture

All about Germany

German Dog Breeds

There are over 20 breeds that originated from Germany, some of which make great hunting partners like the German Shorthaired Pointer, the Munsterlander or the Dachshund others make excellent guarding dogs like the Rottweiler, Doberman and Leonberger (the gentle lion) and some just make incredible companion dogs, for example the Pomeranian. The most … [Read more...]

Hazelnut Cake with Cream – Nußkuchen mit Sahne

Juicy, moist hazelnut cake is a perfect choice for dessert and extremely easy to make - which is another advantage of this wonderful cake. Ingredients: 200 g butter 200 g sugar 5 eggs 200 g flour 1 sachet backing powder 200 g hazelnuts (grated) 100 g grated chocolate (bittersweet) 200 g (liquid) cream 3 tbsp … [Read more...]

Things to Know About Germans

Here are some things about Germany and its inhabitants you will notice during your time spent in Germany, living in Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Weiden in der Oberpfalz, Bavaria and Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein. A hilarious (and true!) list by Liv Hambrett. Germans are tall. They enjoy dairy products. The refrigerated section of their … [Read more...]

Strange German Surnames

Surnames play a huge role in our life and you can expect any surname you can think of already exists. But it gets really bizarre when you start to browse through the German telephone book. Here are 9 of some of the weirdest German surnames and they are all real! First names have been altered though, to spare real people the ridicule. 1. Jens … [Read more...]

German Chicken Schnitzel

While veal is the traditional choice for authentic German Wiener Schnitzel, chicken or pork is an easy and delicious substitution. And this pan-seared schnitzel is a lightened up version of the favorite fried cutlets, yet is just as tender and yummy as its counterpart. Ingredients: 4 skinless, boneless, thinly sliced chicken breasts 1/4 … [Read more...]

15 false friends in German for English Learners

German and English belong to the group of West Germanic languages and have many words with common language roots. Sometimes you can guess the meaning of the German word because it sounds almost like an English word. This makes learning German language a bit easier for English speakers but it can also create some confusion when it comes to “false … [Read more...]

Sausage, Potato and Sauerkraut Soup

This creamy sausage, potato and sauerkraut soup is a little taste of Oktoberfest you can have any time of the year! Ingredients: 4 tablespoons butter 1 medium onion, finely diced 1/4 cup flour 1 1/2 cups chicken broth 2 1/2 cups milk 400 g Bratwurst, halved and sliced 1 1/2 cups cooked diced potatoes 1 cup sauerkraut 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh … [Read more...]

How to Make German Quark

Quark is a traditional, creamy, unripened cheese tracing its origin to German-speaking and eastern European countries. Quark is said to be a cross between yogurt and cottage cheese. This fresh, soft, white cheese is prepared from pasteurised cow's milk with a small amount of acid added to achieve a good, firm curd. However, traditional quark is … [Read more...]

9 German Superstitions

Here are some superstitions – or Aberglauben – that you may come across in Germany. Knowing what these are might help explain any ‘unusual’ behavior you see in Germany, and help you to avoid making an embarrassing faux-pas yourself! 1. Chimney sweepsChimney sweeps are repositories of good luck everywhere. In Germany, they are particularly … [Read more...]

The Cost of Living in Germany for Foreign Students

The cost of living in Germany generally differs according to the city you are in, while Leipzig can be bizarrely cheap and affordable, Munich is nothing like that. Among the bigger metropolitan cities as Hamburg, Cologne, Stuttgart and tiny yet cozy towns like Erfurt, Freiburg or Osnabrück, Berlin is caught somewhere in the middle as a common … [Read more...]