Culinary Bremen

The city's grand Ratskeller has a particularly long tradition of culinary indulgence. The cellar masters first started serving wine here back in 1409, and now the restaurant also serves traditional Bremen dishes. The wine list runs to over 70 pages and is regarded by aficionados as a veritable encyclopaedia of wine, with 650 delicious-sounding varieties to choose from.

Beer has been brewed in Bremen since the 11th century. According to the Markenmonitor Bier survey, Bremen's very own Beck's is not only Germany's most popular beer, it also has the strongest brand. A wealth of fascinating information is provided about the fine art of brewing beer on the brewery tour in Bremen. The tour can easily be combined with a visit to the Alexander von Humboldt, the iconic three-masted ship that features in Beck's beer advertising. German TV viewers will recall the advertisement with the bright green sails and the distinctive sound of 'Sail Away' by Joe Cocker. Today, the ship has found a permanent home at St Martin's quay in Bremen. But Beck's is by no means the only beer that is brewed in Bremen. At the moment, craft beers are – quite literally – the thing on everyone's lips.

Did you know that every other cup of coffee drunk in Germany is supplied by a Bremen company? Or that the first coffee shop in the German-speaking countries opened in Bremen back in 1673? Coffee is still being produced at the old factory in Überseestadt. Coffee has been roasted by hand at Lloyd Caffee for 85 years, making the small roastery on Fabrikenufer the oldest in Bremen to still produce coffee using traditional methods. Explore the coffee culture of Bremen with master coffee roaster Christian Ritschel, who holds public coffee seminars where visitors can look behind the scenes and discover the secret to really good coffee.

Bremen is home to a wide range of big brands and manufacturers, including Beck's beer, Jacob's coffee, Milka and Hachez chocolate, Kellogg's cornflakes, Chiquita bananas and Philadelphia cream cheese. And just like with any good recipe, the secret to Bremen's success lies in the right balance of ingredients – here you'll find both international brands and family-owned businesses that are steeped in tradition. All over Bremen, smaller local producers put their heart and soul into creating the most wonderful delicacies. These make the perfect souvenir for visiting tourists. Many producers also offer guided tours and experiences, where visitors get a chance to see how the finished product is made. Why not give one of them a try?