Nuremberg Rostbratwurst

The Nürnberger Rostbratwurst is small by German standards, seven to nine centimetres long and weighing twenty to twenty-five grams, seasoned with marjoram, and it holds a protected geographical indication that restricts production to the city. City regulations on their size and quality date back to the fifteenth century. They are grilled over beechwood and served either on a pewter plate with sauerkraut and horseradish, counted in sixes, eights or twelves, or as Drei im Weggla, three in a bread roll with mustard, sold from hatches and stalls. The small size is often explained by the ease of passing them through a keyhole after hours, a story that is not documented.

What you actually see

• The finger size - sausages of twenty to twenty-five grams each.
• The beechwood grill - open charcoal grills in the old town restaurants.
• Drei im Weggla - three in a bread roll, sold from street hatches.
• The protected name - production restricted to the city by designation.

When to go

Year-round; the Christmas market stalls sell them through December. Historic grill restaurants in the old town serve them all day.

Honest expectations

Portions are counted, not weighed, and a six is small. The keyhole story is folklore. Queues at the best-known stalls are long at midday.

Nearby

The Imperial Castle stands above; the old town surrounds the grills.