Spreewald gherkins

Spreewald gherkins is a protected geographical indication for pickled cucumbers from Brandenburg.

History and production

Already in the 1870s was Theodor Fontane, the Spreewaldgurke stand at the forefront of agricultural products in Brandenburg Spreewald:

" The Spreewald products have their principal emporium namely in Lübbenau and only go from here in the world. Among these products, the pickles be at the top. In one of the previous shock 800 per week were sold by a single dealer. That would not say anything in Hamburg or Liverpool, where one is accustomed to expect after loads and tons, "but every place has its Elle ," which contemplated for these 800 shock a good reputation results. "

The moist humus-rich soil and the climate in the Spreewald support the growth of cucumbers. The special taste of the Spreewald gherkins resulting from their processing form and the accompanying spices. Manufacturers are added in some cases (artificial ) flavorings. During the fermentation process previously took in large barrels several weeks, the cucumbers come already after one day's processing trade - either as mustard, spices or pickles. In the processing in the approximately twenty insert land cucumbers are heated to seventy degrees Celsius with addition of sodium hydroxide solution. Gifts such as basil, lemon balm, wine, cherry or walnut leaves give the Spreewaldgurke their taste.

During the time of the GDR Spreewaldgurke was offered by VEB Spreewald Golßen. After the reunification of Germany in 1990 was the Spreewaldgurke one of the few East German products, which were further available without interruption. The cucumber is available under their brand name Spreewald gherkins, which was protected across the EU in March 1999.

Growing areas

Cucumber fields found throughout the Spreewald, most of which is particularly protected as a biosphere reserve Spreewald since 1990. The following places offer special for cucumber and the cucumber at around:

• Lubben. Spreewald Feldmann GmbH & Co KG
• Boblitz. RAVEN Spree Forest Preserves - tours during the cucumber production at harvest time
• Golßen. Spreewald Golßen - the opportunity to inspect the cucumber production
• Leipe. Traditional vegetables.
• Lehde. Farmhouse and cucumber Museum.
• Schlepzig. Agricultural History Museum
• Lübbenau / Spreewald. Spreewaldmuseum

Trivia

Awareness in the West became the cucumber in 2003 with the multi-award winning feature film Good Bye, Lenin! by Wolfgang Becker. In this tragicomedy Daniel Brühl raise by his mother ( Katrin Sass ) beloved Spreewald gherkins shortly after the turn of great difficulty, which he absolutely needs to pretend his sick mother the persistence of their view " heal DDR world " can.

Furthermore, there exists a cucumber bike path - the tour logo shows a laughing cucumber on a bicycle.

At the annual Spreewald - Marathon, which is held in the disciplines of running, cycling, hiking, canoeing and inline skating, it says at startup " on the cucumber, get set, go ."