31 March 2008

The Horror! The Horror!

I pulled out my hoarded Fluff, spread it on a slice of sandwich bread. On the other slice I spread "Barney's Best" peanut butter, purchased at great expense at the KaDeWe. I placed the slices together, closed my eyes, took a bite and chewed.

Then I ran to the garbage and spat it out. Germans put sugar in their peanut butter! My gosh, that's even worse than putting it in their mayonnaise (because I just eat French mustard instead).

And now I am running out of my last box of Lucky Charms.

So, if anyone wants to send me a care package, remember that Lucky Charms and extra-chunky Jif or Skippy are welcome additions to my pantry (and Louisiana Hot Sauce, of course).

10 comments:

C N Heidelberg said...

Say what?? That sounds really weird! I've never had German peanut butter! I did find some in Rewe called Barney's or something. It billed itself as American and actually was made in the USA. It tasted pretty normal to me; maybe you should check Rewe? I think I found it near the baking products (it was only by chance that I found it).

G in Berlin said...

"Barney's Best"is what I have (haven't thrown it out yet, because I only took 1 knife full, but don't know who would want it!). It says product of USA, put the second ingredient is zucker and it's only 90% peanuts, as well as having added oil. Frankly peanut butter does not need to have oil added. Since this is packaged as an export product, I assume they are making it to German (Nutella, Miracle Whip, Popcorn sugarring) tastes, not actual American taste. I would rather not eat peanut butter than eat this stuff. (Which is also how I feel about Kellog's "Corn" flakes produced here- I eat Irishoatmeal instead;-))

Dr. J said...

I have never noticed a significant difference between Australian peanut butter and German. But then, we grew up on Vegemite and it's more our salty tastebuds that have been sensitised (although you can now buy salt and vinegar chips here, they just don't come close to Samboys oesophagus burning value). Hmm, have no probs with cornflakes either.

Maybe I've been here too long?

Are there no American brand peanut butters at KaDeWe? I though I saw one of those premixed things with jam in it there when I went and bought pumpkin pie mix last year. It would be a start, oder?

G in Berlin said...

I'm afraid that eating fake pb pre-mixed with some high sugar crappy jelly would be worse. Truly, I would prefer organic crunchy pb, on a sanwich with low sugar, high seed raspberry jam or sour cherry jelly. Otherwise, I like my chunky pb spread on toasted, seeded rye bread (which I also haven't found here). And is there any place to get sourdough starter?
Cornflakes here seem to be made out of some forign grain. I like oatmeal, so that's not a problem. The German brought in 32 boxes of Kellog's Red Berries in double-size Costco boxes because he does care.
I am a salt and sour frek too- can't get any really good pickles here. And I need to find a British store for Ploughman's and pickled onions. Sigh. Know any good pubs (with good pub food, that is?).

Rositta said...

Have you considered trying to make your own peanut butter? It can't be that hard can it?...ciao

Dr. J said...

Broken English in Charlottenburg and Kreuzberg have British food. The Emerald Isle in Kreuzberg was a pretty decent pub, although its changed hands since I was last there, so I've no idea what its like now.

G in Berlin said...

Rositta- Without a food processor and any fresh peanuts: extremely difficult.While we are here, let's see if this works:
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Dr. J: Every time I see your new do, I like it more!I will try Broken English this weekend, perhaps...I looked at the Oscar Wilde and it was a sty.

Adèle said...

At DM you can buy peanut butter that is just peanuts with salt, as well as peanut butter that is only made with peanuts (I believe that it is called "Erdnussmus" or something of the sort). Good luck with that!

G in Berlin said...

I hate to admit this, but what is DM? The German doesn't know either.(He guessed Drogerie Markt, which I've never seen, but which doesn't sound like food?)

C N Heidelberg said...

Hmm, I even used the Barney's kind in my US recipes containing PB and they came out just fine. Are you looking for something like Teddy PB? If so, maybe DM (it's a drogerie) is a good bet, or a Reformhaus.