Currywurst - Far More Than Just a Sausage

As an important site in world history, Berlin has plenty to offer when it comes to museums and historical landmarks, from the remnants of the famed Berlin Wall to the iconic Brandenburg Gate and the modern Potsdamer Platz. 

One recent addition to the city’s long list of museums is a tribute to the dish found on almost every street corner, the food that most Berlin residents claim they can’t live without: The famous currywurst (curry sausage) — a hot, sliced pork sausage topped with a red, curried ketchup sauce. 

It is said that there are approximately 2,000 currywurst stands in Berlin and that every year, around 70 million currywursts are consumed in the city. But the currywurst is not only popular in Berlin — throughout the whole country, Germans are fond of the dish and over 800 million currywursts find their way into German stomachs annually. 

The love for this urban snack is so strong that it has been eulogized in German songs, films and literature — and now even has its own museum that opened its doors two years ago. 

Located close to Checkpoint Charlie, the former crossing point between East and West Berlin during the Cold War, the museum dedicated to the popular currywurst sheds light on the snack’s history and its many different varieties. 

The origins of the currywurst are somewhat controversial. The city of Hamburg in northern Germany claims to be the birthplace of the snack. German author Uwe Timm, who hails from Hamburg, even published a novel in 1993 titled “The Invention of Curried Sausage.” 

While the museum acknowledges the claim, it still gives the credit of inventing the currywurst to food stall owner Herta Heuwer, who may have first created the dish in 1949. 

“The currency reform of 1948 brought rapid price increases and [food] shortages were still widespread,” a board at the museum says. “A pioneering spirit of inventiveness was the mood of the time and the lifestyle and eating habits of the occupying forces brought new influences. In 1949, Herta Heuwer, the owner of a fast food stand in the British sector, began experimenting with ingredients bought from British soldiers. She is considered the inventor of the currywurst.” 

The story says that on one rainy day in September, business was slow for Heuwer, so she had enough time to try out new recipes. With her new spices — at least 10 to 12 of them — she created a new sauce, which she heated up and poured over well-fried sausage — the world’s first currywurst. 

The new snack quickly gained immense popularity and with her earnings, Heuwer was soon able to buy an old van, which she converted into a fast food stand dedicated to the product. Business took off instantly and only a couple of months later, she opened her second stand. Heuwer successfully stayed in business until 1974, when she retired for health reasons. 

Heuwer never revealed the recipe for the currywurst sauce until her death. That is probably the reason why there are so many different variations of the dish today. 

Besides giving an insight into the history of the currywurst, the museum has many other interesting facts to offer. 

A map highlights some of the places around the world the currywurst has traveled to and found a new home: New York, Tokyo and Bangkok to name a few — and even to Bali. 

A sign explains that Mama’s restaurant in Kuta, a German eatery that was opened in 1985 by German honorary consul Reinhold Jantzen, also features the famous currywurst on its menu. By pressing a button, a female voice says in Indonesian: “Even in Indonesia, we love the currywurst.” 

Several fridges offer a humorous glimpse into the eating habits of Germans, depending on their status: from poor university students to a family with two kids. 

Another topic discussed at the museum is the environmental impact of fast food: A display sheds light on the production and recycling of the eco-friendly biodegradable paper used to serve the currywurst. 

The most pleasant features, however, are those that are interactive. In fact, upon buying the tickets at the entrance, the museum staff will encourage the visitors to touch and play with the exhibits. 

A real currywurst van allows visitors to experience what it feels like to be on the vending side, as does a virtual currywurst station: Here, one can try to take up and prepare three orders with only a couple of minutes time. 

By becoming an interactive experience, the museum is fun for kids and adults. 

Unfortunately, the entrance fee of 11 euros ($15) for adults is ridiculously overpriced. Even the fun factor of the visit and the tasty currywurst that is included in the ticket price — a small portion that can be picked up in the eatery next door — cannot justify this expense.

This article was first published in the Jakarta Globe newspaper on November 1, 2011.