The Great Bratwurst Debate: Bavaria vs. Thuringia Over Sausage Origins

A rivalry has ignited between Bavaria and Thuringia over the origins of the Bratwurst sausage, with Thuringian historians claiming evidence dating back to 1269, while Bavaria's Wurstkuchl maintains its 1378 status. Both states pride themselves on their culinary heritage, making the resolution of this dispute significant amid regional traditions.

A row has broken out between two German states, Bavaria and Thuringia, as to who can lay claim to inventing the Bratwurst sausage. Until now, the "Wurstkuchl" tavern in Bavaria has claimed to be "the oldest Bratwurst stand in the world." Die Wurstkuchl is situated on the Stone Bridge in Regensburg on the Danube River. The oldest documented evidence of a cook or a food stall at the Stone Bridge is said to date back to 1378.

However, historians in Erfurt, Thuringia's state capital, assert that they have discovered a document from 1269 which mentions people who rented a property with a meat-roasting stand (Brathütte) and a roasting pan (Bräter), predating the Regensburg sausage stand by over a century.

Historians are currently in search of the location in Erfurt where this potential sausage stand once existed, since no restaurant in the city has yet claimed the title of the oldest Bratwurst stand. Previously, the earliest written mention of Bratwursts in Thuringia was from 1404, referencing an expense for "1 groschen for bratwurst casings" in the town of Arnstadt.

Meanwhile, Regensburg's Wurstkuchl continues to produce its famed sausages, boasting that "much has remained the same" since the medieval era. Their offerings include an open charcoal grill, homemade sausages made from pure pork ham, sauerkraut from an in-house fermentation cellar, and the famed Wurstkuchl mustard.

In light of the new claims, Wurstkuchl's landlady, Alexandra Meier, downplayed the argument during an interview with German BR24 TV, stating: "To be honest, it doesn't bother us at all." She expressed pride in her family’s craftsmanship and the quality that attracts visitors, suggesting that the debate over rank would not deter customers.

This is not the first time a dispute over the origin of Bratwurst has surfaced in Germany, as Bavarian towns Regensburg and Nuremberg previously both claimed the title of the oldest sausage stand. Ultimately, this dispute was settled in favor of Regensburg, but the ongoing discussions highlight the cultural significance and culinary pride associated with this iconic German dish.