Cooking American, English or even Italian recipes can be a nightmare in Germany, as even the common ingredients back home can be difficult to find here. This article should help you gather everything you need to bake home sickness away.
The ingredients below are sorted in alphabetical order. If you feel like something is missing from that list, write us in the comments.
American cheese
American cheese, the "radioactive yellow" burger topper that's also known as Kraft Singles, can be found in the dairy section of most grocery stores.
Baking soda
Sodium bicarbonate is called Natron in Germany. It can be found in small paper packets and boxes in the baking section of all grocery stores. Look for the green Kaiser Natron boxes.
Baking powder
Baking powder is called Backpulver in Germany. It can be found in small paper packets in the baking section of all grocery stores. German baking powder is usually single-acting, while American and English baking powder is double-acting, and the difference is important. Broken English and many asian markets carry double-acting baking powder. If you are in a pinch, use substitute double-acting baking powder with 1.25x the amount single-acting baking powder.
Boneless chicken thighs
This is unfortunately not a normal product in Germany1, but some people have seen it on sale at Penny on occasion.
Brown sugar
Brown sugar is surprisingly hard to find. Don't be fooled by German Rohrzucker. Despite its brown colour, it does not contain molasses and will ruin any recipe that calls for brown sugar. Tate+Lyle sells light and dark brown sugar on Amazon, and you can also find it in most asian supermarkets. Go Asia, Metro, Galeria and some Edeka stores usually carry brown sugar.
Caramelized condensed milk
LEDO supermarkets carry caramelized condensed milk, as well as many other Russian staple foods.
Cheese curds
Q-Regio now carries poutine cheese made in Brandenburg.
Chipotles
Chili & Paprika carries chipotles in its Berlin shop.
Chorizo
Chili & Paprika carries chorizo in its Berlin shop.
Condensed milk
Condensed milk is called Kondensmilch. Germans frequently used as a coffee creamer1, so you will find it in small cans next to coffee cream and H-Milch.
Condensed milk can be a false friend for people from the UK at least. If a recipe calls for condensed milk, you might want gezuckert Kondensmilch, also known as Mädchenmilch.
Corn tortillas
Corn tortillas are sold at Super Iberico, Chili & Paprika and Aqui España.
Couscous spices
According to Quora, you can find Couscous spice at Galeria under the name Ras el-Hanout. Turkish markets and spice kiosks at Berlin's many Wochenmärkte should also carry couscous spices.
Evaporated milk
See Condensed milk.
Flour
Mehlstübchen carries flours of all types from all over the world, including Manitoba and type 00 dopio zero flour. Self-raising flour can be found at Galeria Kaufhof.
Graham crumbs
Graham crumbs are hard to find, but you can buy a pack of Leibniz crackers and grind the cookies into crumbs. I used Leibniz crackers several times to make Nanaimo bars. You can find those in every grocery store.
Hot dog sausages
Most Turkish grocery stores carry packs of chicken and beef sausages that taste exactly like the hot dog sausages you would find in America.
Kerrygold salted butter
Edeka, Lidl, Penny and REWE usually carry Kerrygold salted butter.
Maple syrup
Most grocery stores carry pure Canadian or American maple syrup. REWE keeps it close the the Nutella and peanut butter.
Marmite
Marmite is found at Galeria Kaufhof and Broken English. It was also spotted at Asia Mekong near Hackescher Markt and in the English section at Real,- and at KaDeWe1.
Molasses
Molasses is called Melasse in German. You can find it at Edeka and in many bio shops. You can also order it off Amazon.
Mustard powder
This staple ingredient of American BBQ can be found in most Wochenmärkte. I get mine from the Winterfeldtplatz market. Just look for Senfpulver at the spice kiosks. Colman's Mustard Powder can be found at KaDeWe or ordered from Amazon.
Pancetta
Italian pancetta can be found at KaDeWe.
Peanut butter
Most grocery stores carry peanut butter. REWE has both creamy and crunchy peanut butter. You will find it next to the Nutella.
Poutine cheese
See Cheese curds
Powdered sugar
Powdered sugar (also called confectioner's sugar or icing sugar) is called Puderzucker or Staubzucker. It's sold in small 250g boxes in the baking section of all grocery stores. There is a slight difference between powdered sugar and confectioner's sugar. If you need confectioner's sugar, add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch per cup of powdered sugar.
Pumpkin puree
Both KaDeWe and Galeria Kaufhof sell Libby's pumpkin puree at a premium price. American Lifestyle also carries it. You can also make your own.
Sal de Guzano, sal de Chapulín
Chili & Paprika carries agave worm salt and grasshoper salt in its Berlin shop.
Self-raising flour
You can get self-raising flour from most asian supermarkets. You can make your own by adding 2 teaspoons of baking powder for every 150g of flour. Self-raising flour can be found at Galeria Kaufhof.
Vanilla extract
Vanilla extract is rather hard to find in Germany. I usually buy cheap vanilla aroma vials, but real vanilla extract is available on Amazon, at Galeria Kaufhof and at Metro.
Vegemite
Australia Shopping World carries Vegemite in its Berlin store. You can also order it from Amazon, but it ain't cheap.
Yeast
Yeast is called Backhefe in Germany. It can be found in small paper packets in the baking section of all grocery stores.
Stores that sell international foods
International
- Galeria Kaufhof: Large selection of international products
- KaDeWe: Large selection of international products
- Mehlstübchen: Flours from all over the world
- real,-: Department store with small international foods section
Australia
Eastern Europe
- Kasatschok: Russian supermarket
- LEDO: Russian supermarket
Greece
- Grigorios Commatas: Greek supermarket
Latin America
- Aqui España: Carries some Latin American products
- Chili & Paprika: Food from Mexico, Brasil, Colombia, Argentina, Peru
- Super Iberico: Latin American supermarket
Spain
- Aqui España: Spanish products
United Kingdom
- Broken English: Britain
United States and Canada
- American Lifestyle: American snacks and drinks
But what about...
If something is missing from this list, try asking Found in... Berlin, or ask us in the comments below and we'll do our research. Below is a list of shops that carry foreign ingredients, drinks and snacks.
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