Division 5.3 Causal link between the geographical area and the quality or characteristics of the product (for PDO) or a specific quality, the reputation or other characteristic of the product (for PGI)

The centuries-old tradition of Bratwurst production in Nuremberg, the high quality standard which has long been controlled and the unusual small shape have made ‘Nürnberger Bratwürste’/‘Nürnberger Rostbratwürste’ known and highly appreciated throughout Germany and the world.

The speciality emerged in the former Imperial City of Nuremburg as a result of its geographical location as a key intersection on the trade and spice routes from East Asia, introducing spices such as marjoram, nutmeg and pepper. It was the availability of these spices from Asia that made production possible in the first place. As Nuremburg was a city involved in much long-distance trade and with a number of refined modern traditions, ever smaller, more refined, better spiced sausages were produced here, which in time became the famous ‘Nürnberger Bratwürste’.

Unlike the country areas, the city placed greater emphasis on quality from the outset. While quantity took precedence elsewhere, the principle on which production in Nuremburg was based was quality over quantity, and it was this which resulted in the small size of the sausages.

Compliance with the recipe and quality date back to the supervisory rules of the Nuremburg city council. Nuremburg may well lay claim to the oldest foodstuffs supervision scheme, which is mentioned in the penal code dating from the year 1300.

By publishing the recipe, exercising strict supervision and restricting production to the city area, the city of Nuremberg has helped to ensure that the character of the sausage is an indication of its origin.

The link with the geographical area was therefore based initially on the geographical location as a key intersection on spice and trade routes and on the early introduction of supervision of foodstuffs. The geographical location and foodstuffs supervision and the associated protection of the recipe therefore resulted in the particular quality of the sausages. The imperial city with its extensive trade network across the world resulted a speciality which was very well known from the Middle Ages onwards. Today the link is based on the renown enjoyed by this speciality which is traditionally appreciated worldwide.