Our Pride: Worstenbrood!

Have you ever eaten our provinces specialty? The rectangle-shaped bread roll is made with dough and filled with spiced meat and today it even belongs to the immaterial heritage list of UNESCO! (It’s delicious as well, we think!)

History of the worstenbrood

In the past, farmers could not preserve their food as long as they do now. The ‘sausage roll’ was created to make meat last longer. By rolling meat in dough and baking it, people could keep it longer. Later, farmers took it to the baker and each had their own worstenbrood. This way they could enjoy the pork long after the slaughter.

It used to be eaten mainly during Christmas, after mass. But also with carnaval and Easter. Nowadays, worstenbroodjes are eaten all year round. The buns can no longer be bought only at the Brabantse bakery, but also outside the province. They are even sold at festivals. But what place does the delicious bun come from? Unfortunately, we don’t know.

Contest 

We even hold competitions for who can make the tastiest worstenbrood. Professional bakers and butchers, home bakers and students compete at Omroep Brabant's contest for who can make the tastiest worstenbroodjes. The last winner won in 2019, because of the covid restrictions last two years were cancelled. The winner of the 2019 contest was Lars van Dongen.

Intangible heritage

Since March 2016, the worstenbroodje has been on UNESCO's list of valuable and unique intangible heritage. The reason why the worstenbroodje belongs to our culture, is because we often eat it with friends and family. We eat it on normal days, but also especially on special days like Carnaval and Christmas, and at funerals. It is seen as an important tradition that should be preserved. 

About twenty-five million worstenbroodjes are eaten every year. Sometimes it is eaten with a nice sauce, such as ketchup or curry and wrapped with a napkin because the buns are often very hot!

Bavaria worstenbroodje

A few weeks ago the typical Noord-Brabants beer brand ‘Bavaria’ announced a collaboration with ‘Houben worstenbrood’. These are worstenbroodjes with used brewers grain, and no, it doesn’t concede alcohol! We tried them already and you actually don’t really taste a difference.