The History of Sauerkraut
Recipes:
What is Sauerkraut anyway?
Sauerkraut is cabbage that has been cured and fermented although it doesn't create alcohol but a lactic acid solution that is similar to a vinegar.
How do you make Sauerkraut ?
It is very simple; you shred cabbage and then add salt and then crush it up with your hands or something similar to a would mallet that can crush the cabbage and cause it to sweat water. The salt also draws out the water and creates a stable solution for lactic acid to grow but inhibits or kills any other bacteria that would cause it to break down and go bad.
What about this word, "Sauerkraut"?
Sauerkraut is a German word that is 2 words put together, Sauer which means sour and Kraut which can mean several things in German so you need to be careful if you get in a bet or arguement. Kraut can mean 'herb" and Kohl is a word for cabbage. Sound familiar; Cole Slaw. However an old high German word Krut , specifically meant cabbage. On the other hand if you make a the same recipe using radishes or turnip you would still call it radish kraut or German kraut. So even though Germans have a reputatio for being precise this definition is a little murkey.
Who invented Sauerkraut?
No one is more associated with sauerkraut than Gemans but they didn't invent this dish. Over 2000 years ago the Chinese were building the great wall of China and needed to feed thousands of workers in a remote area. They found probably one of the most remarkable things about cabbage that you can preserve it with no refrigeration or canning by fermenting it. They didn't use salt, probably because salt was scarce back then, but they used a rice wine to ferment and preserve the cabbage and it was a nutritious dish that fed the workers and kept them healthy and strong.
If German's didn't Invent Sauerkraut Why Did it Take a century and a half to get to Germany?
That to me is a mystery. Remember that we are a global community now but it wasn't that way back in the 1600's. Once that the Mongols and the Tartars started to take over parts in the European world, they shared their fermented cabbage, and it took off in Germany. It is a perfect match, the cabbage grows even in cold weather and it is a food that can last in the coldest part of Germany all winter and provide nutritious food. Remember they didn't have supermarkets back them.
There is a references that suggest that it was brought up to Germany from the Romans, and used as a folk medicine in the 12th century by the famous head nun of a convent, Hildegard von Bingen
Napolean's Armies benefited from the new invention of canned foods, one being sauerkraut. In WW1 it was a perfect food for the German armies, hence the Americans started to refer to them as Krauts.
Is Sauerkraut Healthy ?
Fresh uncooked sauerkraut is a lactic fermentation that has lots of good pro-biotics to promote good gut health.
Fresh sauerkraut also has lots of vitamin C. Captain Cook carried it on his voyages to help prevent the crew from getting scurvy.
Some Great Heroes in the History of Sauerkraut;
There are no way I can list them all,
Hippocrates (466-377 BC.) A Greek philosopher and physician often considered "The Father of Medicine"
has written that sauerkraut was a healing and healthy food.
Pliny the Elder (AD 23-79) a Roman writer and philosopher and much more. His writings and study of the world were the basis for the idea that we now call an encyclopedia. He wrote in one of his scientific books, "Cabbage gives a lot of milk to nursing mothers, helps with dull eyes, has a positive effect on headaches and should be beneficial after a high alcohol consumption."
Sebastian Kneipp, (1821- 1897) as far as German history, goes this is an important man for sauerkraut. But also would be a superstar to the whole world today. He is considered one of the founders of naturopathic medicine. He wrote that "The dilligent cabbage eaters are the oldest".
Sandor Katz; probably the most famous modern day expert on fermenting foods, and popularizing how easy it is to make sauerkraut. His books are wonderful and extensive into fermented foods from many cultures.
Lejla Kazinic Kreho is a Croation nutrition specialist that led the researchers from King’s College, London of the health benefits of sauerkraut and also as a natural "love food" that works like viagra. The knowledge collected at King s College shows pickled cabbage is the best natural Viagra. It may be hard to believe that saurkraut is one of most powerful aphrodisiacs, but the British data is conclusive.
Here is more information on how sauerkraut works as a love food
Recipes;
Make your own Sauerkraut Small Batch
Make a larger Batch
Links;
Schlichting Sauerkraut Brand of Germany Website
Links
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