Stories fromstores and kitchens
Shortages and brands, school dinners and spices: the background to what East Germans ate and how it got to the table.
From the Kaufhalle
On scarce goods, penny items and the brands that outlived the GDR. All 4 articles
East German Spices: How the GDR Kitchen Seasoned Its Food
East German spices and seasoning: caraway, marjoram, paprika, mustard, liquid seasoning and Worcester sauce. With a basic spice rack for cooking GDR recipes.
East German Brands Still Around Today: Successful GDR Brands
There were close to 700 brands in the GDR, many with their own design. A good number did not survive the Wende, the political turnaround of 1989–90, because after 1990 …
Why Were Bananas and Other Tropical Fruit Scarce in East Germany?
Tropical fruit such as bananas, oranges and pineapples was scarce in the GDR because it had to be bought with hard currency, that is, D-Mark (West German marks) or …
Everyday eating
School lunches, canteens and restaurants: where and what people ate day to day. All 3 articles
East German School Lunch: What the Schulspeisung Served for 55 Pfennig
East German school lunch (Schulspeisung): what it cost, where it came from and what was on the tray, from Jägerschnitzel to pudding soup. Plus school milk.
Food in East Germany: Kaufhalle, Canteen and Datsche, 1949 to 1990
Food in East Germany, 1949 to 1990: Kaufhalle and Delikat shops, canteens and school lunch, Broiler, Kaffee-Mix and the classic GDR dishes.
East German Cooking Before and After 1949: What Changed, What Stayed
East German cooking before the GDR and after: regional dishes until 1945, the hunger years, what was new after 1949, what stayed and what is still popular.
What are you in the mood for?
Sorted by reading time: short pieces for a quick break, long ones for a slow Sunday.
For a coffee break
Did you know?
Three of 37 East German words from kitchens, stores and everyday life. The rest are in the glossary. All 37 terms
Look it up
Words, the foreword to this site and places to visit.
East German words from A to Z
37 East German words from kitchens, stores and everyday life, explained in brief.
ForewordEast German Recipes: Cooking Like Before 1989
Do you still remember typical East German recipes, the taste of Jägerschnitzel and Quarkkeulchen? Green Thuringian dumplings and Klitscher with applesauce or goulash? …
Experience the GDROverview
Museums, restaurants and dates to visit.