'' (Black Forest cake) German cuisine varies from region to region. The southern regions of
Bavaria and Swabia, for instance, share a culinary culture with Switzerland and Austria, like the
Schnitzel. Pork, beef, and poultry are the main varieties of meat consumed in Germany; pork is the most popular. Throughout all regions, meat is often eaten in
sausage form. More than 1,500 different types of sausage are produced in Germany.
Organic food has gained a market share of almost 6%, and this is predicted to increase further. A popular German saying has the meaning: "Breakfast like an emperor, lunch like a king, and dine like a beggar." Breakfast is usually a selection of breads and rolls with jam and honey or cold cuts and cheese, sometimes accompanied by a boiled egg.
Cereals or muesli with milk or yoghurt is less common but widespread. More than 3000 types of
bread are sold in bakery shops across the country. Occasionally, more traditional and heartier Breakfasts, like the Bavarian "Brotzeit" with
Weisswurst, Sweet Mustard and
Wheat beer, or the
Bauernfrühstück are also popular. It is customary for Germans to have a very large lunch around noon. A typical lunch usually consists of some type of meat or fish, a heavy carb such as potato or
German noodles, and a side of vegetables. Due to the increasing number of Germans who work in urban centers, however, many more people are eating simple items on-the-go for lunch such as
Currywurst, a go-to quick meal to pick up that consists of small pieces of sausage, french fries, and a spicy ketchup sauce. The term for dinner in German is Abendbrot which directly translates to "evening bread". As the name suggests, typically Germans will have a lighter dinner that consists of sliced meat, sausages, bread, and cheeses. Also, most dinners eaten by Germans usually include some form of
mustard and pickles. The habit of having a simple, light dinner has become less of an everyday routine for many Germans. Due to the increasing number of people who work all day, it is difficult for many Germans to make the time to have a large lunch. For this reason, larger dinners have become more common. Although, most families still have Abendbrot at least a few times a week. and cold meat
buffet served at private festivities As a country with many immigrants, Germany has adopted many international dishes into its cuisine and daily eating habits.
Italian dishes like
pizza and
pasta,
Turkish and
Arab dishes like
döner kebab and
falafel, are well established, especially in bigger cities. International
burger chains, as well as
Chinese and
Greek restaurants, are widespread.
Indian,
Thai,
Japanese, and other Asian cuisines have gained popularity in recent decades. Among high-profile restaurants in Germany, the
Michelin guide has awarded ten restaurants three stars, the highest designation, while 38 more received two stars and 255 one star. German restaurants have become the world's second most decorated eateries after France. Although
German wine is becoming more popular in many parts of Germany, the national alcoholic drink is
beer. In over 1.500 breweries more than 5.000 types of beer are produced. German beer consumption per person is declining but—at 116 litres annually—it is still among the highest in the world. Beer varieties include
Alt,
Bock,
Dunkel,
Kölsch,
Lager,
Malzbier,
Pils, and
Weizenbier. Among 18 surveyed western countries, Germany ranked 14th in the list of per capita consumption of soft drinks in general, while it ranked third in the consumption of fruit juices. Furthermore, carbonated mineral water and
Schorle (its mixture with fruit juice or wine) are very popular in Germany. == Gaming ==