Sauerkraut has been seen in many forms across the world in history but where did it originate?
When you think of sauerkraut you might think of our delicious flavours and modern uses for the condiment, or you might think of a slightly weird, very smelly German dish. Whichever one comes to mind, the origins of this diverse dish might surprise you!
Most of us probably know that the name ‘sauerkraut’ originates from Germany, and the name roughly translates in English to ‘sour cabbage’ - which is pretty accurate! However, although the name that is now used across many varieties of the dish came from Germany, the actual creation of this popular condiment cannot be claimed by the Germans!
Although the dish really took root in Central and Eastern Europe countries, not limited to just Germany, but including Russia, Austria and even France, it’s origins are likely to be more of Asian descent. Ghengis Khan is probably not a name you expected to read in this blog, but he is widely attributed as the one to bring sauerkraut to Europe. Yes, that’s right, it’s mostly believed to have been created in China.
The New York Times discusses that the builders of the Great Wall of China were living off a diet of just cabbage and rice, and during the colder months they added rice wine to help preserve the vegetable. And there we have it, the humble beginning of sauerkraut!
But wait! How did a group of overworked and underpaid builders create a famously German dish that has lasted the centuries? Well, first it must have become quite the rage in China as a simple way to preserve a prosperous vegetables for Winter, and then along comes our pal Ghengis Khan and his Tartar hordes to pillage and plunder - but not without a break to taste the local delicacies they had to offer.
According to Deseret News, they liked it so much they took it along with them as they continued to crusade across Asia and then Europe where it was picked up by nearly every country raided. But for something that has lovingly been called “sour cabbage”, it still boggles the mind that it was popularised across such a diverse range of communities. Although it isn’t possibly the most exciting food invention to travel the world (we’re looking at you, chocolate), it’s one that has seen numerous health and wealth benefits.
Before the modern refrigerator, preserved foods were a great way to ensure there was always something to eat year round. Sauerkraut, cured meats, and other pickles became the staple to a healthy household. More than the convenience and food security it provides, sauerkraut is also a great source of probiotics and vitamins. Although the average European farmer in the 1700’s probably didn’t know what a probiotic or vitamin was, they probably did know when they felt good after eating something.
So really you can see that the origin of sauerkraut is a series of very natural events where humans adapted to make the best out of what they had. Humans are a crafty bunch, aren’t we?