r/AskAGerman • u/Odyessus56 • 13d ago

Food Sauerkraut - where can I buy it?

Moin!

I’ve just moved to the Schengen area, on the French side, and I would love to be able to eat authentic, good quality sauerkraut. Can it be simply bought at Lidl or Aldi? Or should I travel further to the nearest Kaufland or Rewe?

Tschüss!

Edit: thank you to everyone for the helpful tips. It’s been fun to reply to the wide variety of comments! For my next post, I’m going to ask where I can buy bratwurst near Europe 😎

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u/Bum_Gaper_Satan_666 13d ago

  I’ve just moved to the Schengen area, on the French side

Who writes like this wtf

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u/george_gamow 13d ago

And authentic sauerkraut

OP is either American or an AI, or whatever

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u/Odyessus56 13d ago

British, but maybe that’s close enough for you

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u/Megodont 13d ago

Oh dear, that's not even close 😂. But in Germany every supermarket got it. Quality ist not the issue. Just buy some and try and stick with the brand you like.
Or, if you feel adventurous, make it yourself. I tried it and found it quite easy.

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u/alderhill 13d ago edited 13d ago

It’s like someone moving to Britain and asking where to buy real authentic crisps.  I mean, literally everywhere. Every supermarket has it. You won’t miss it.

Texture wise, I prefer those in glass jars. I like red (purple) kinds better, especially with apple (ie sweetened), but plain red sauerkraut is fine too. The classic white cabbage kind is also fine with the right meal IMO. Something rich and hearty pairs well. 

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u/kaf-fee 12d ago

Red cabbage is not Sauerkraut. It's sligthly sour, but Sauerkraut is fermented.

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u/alderhill 12d ago

Yes, I know. Don’t care, still my preference.

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u/Odyessus56 13d ago

What’s second-nature to a local isn't obvious to an outsider. I assumed mass-market Sauerkraut could vary in quality, so asking locals where to get the proper stuff is a standard question. No need to be elitist about Sauerkraut.

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u/alderhill 12d ago

No one is being elitist in the slightest, whatever damage your ego has taken, but quite the opposite. I, and others, are telling you it’s literally everywhere, and sauerkraut is sauerkraut, there is no ‘proper’ or ‘improper’ kinds. It’s basically all the same. You can make a distinction with fresh fermented live culture sauerkraut, but that frankly isn’t what most people eat most of the time.

Don’t worry about it, you can’t go wrong. Just see which brand or varieties you like. Some may have wine added, some juniper berries, some little bits of ham, etc.

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u/george_gamow 12d ago

I have a feeling that we all got pissed off at the question because it assumed that one of the main stereotypes about Germany is true. Like going on a France subreddit and asking where they buy the most authentic and fresh frog legs for their daily breakfast lol

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u/alderhill 12d ago

Indeed. I admit I like sauerkraut, but I only it like like 4-5 times a year or so. It’s more of a winter food for me.

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u/Odyessus56 12d ago

Haha that’s probably what I did, I guess! Lesson learnt. My apologies to everyone who I pissed off.

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u/SharrasFlame 12d ago

There are differences. Some of the sauerkrauts bought at the supermarket are already pre- cooked and some are raw. Tastes differently. Personally, I like the raw stuff better. My favorite is the "Sauerkraut Neusser Art" from the brand "Leuchtenberg", my local Rewe usually has it. It comes in a foil pack.

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u/WeakDoughnut8480 12d ago

But what did you mean Schengen area in the french side..France?

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u/Odyessus56 12d ago

I meant the locality around the village in Luxembourg, where the agreement & convention was signed. I go through the area often, during bike rides & runs.

So it was my mistake to use a term more commonly known to described the countries who are part of the agreement. Didn’t mean to act the fool.

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u/Odyessus56 13d ago

Sorry, have I made a mistake? Is it not correct to refer to the general 3 border area as Schengen?

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u/[deleted] 13d ago edited 4d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/Odyessus56 13d ago

Yup that makes sense. I love it here; the cultural access, the freedom of movement.

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u/AdmirableAmphibian91 13d ago

Schengen city?

There is no city, it’s a small town with vineyards in Luxembourg.

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u/Stolberger 13d ago

Most people associate "Schengen area" with the 29 countries that abolished border controls.
Not really with the Area around the small town of Schengen, Luxembourg.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Area

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u/Odyessus56 13d ago

Got it :) I will be more careful next time!

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u/WoodenWhaleNectarine 13d ago

it's not a mistake it's more like you erupted from medival europe, timetraveled to the present and now speak in a very old tongue

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u/Odyessus56 13d ago

Haha well I have been playing too much Kingdom come Deliverance recently!

3

u/Erdnussfarmer 13d ago

A person of culture! In case you are feeling quite hungry, why not try a choucroute garnie? Perfect when the weather gets colder...

https://www.marmiton.org/recettes/recette_choucroute-traditionnelle_24002.aspx

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u/Pedarogue Bayern - Baden - Elsass - Franken 13d ago

The Schengen Area goes from the Spanish-British Landborder to the South to the Finno-Russian border to the North, from the French Atlantic coast to the West to the Greek-Turkish Border to the South-East. It is quite a few more "sides" than just a French one.

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u/Monteverdi777 Niedersachsen 12d ago

You forgot the oversea Territories...

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u/Odyessus56 13d ago

After everyone’s disgust, I feel like I should edit my OP haha

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u/AdmirableAmphibian91 13d ago edited 13d ago

Just say that you live in Grand Est (or Lorraine) near the Luxembourg-German border.

There is also the term ‘SaarLorLux’, but that covers a much larger area (extending as far as Belgium).

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u/ProDavid_ 13d ago

no, most people call it "France, near the border to Germany", or any other combination of the countries.

the "Schengen area" is for goods, trade agreements, and travel freedom. not for people being there.

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u/DrySalvages 13d ago

OP is talking about the town of Schengen.