When it comes to Munich, what do people think of? Germany's third largest city, the Bayern Munich football team, BMW, the beautiful Sissi... It seems that there are countless halos shrouded in the sky over this city, but the most famous one is the The famous "Beer Capital" image and the annual Oktoberfest. This is not only a grand event for Germans, but also a grand event for tourists from all over the world to experience the charm and cultural customs of German beer.
When it comes to beer, let's take a brief look at the history and drinking value of beer and the characteristics of German beer. Beer appeared at the beginning of human culture, and the Department of Archaeology of Jena University has excavated bakeries and breweries in ancient Greece and Rome 4,500 years ago. These buildings were part of the city at that time. By 800 BC, beer had become the favorite drink of the Germans. Brewing beer, like baking bread, became a task in women's daily household chores. However, the taste of beer at that time was sweet and sticky, and hops had not been applied to brewing beer. In the 8th century AD, brewers began to apply hops to beer brewing. In the beginning, they just used it as a way to store, not to give the beer a sour taste. Modern beer is made by alcoholic fermentation of water, malt, hops and yeast. In the selection of malt, only barley malt is selected for low-end beer. Premium beers use wheat, rye and spelt malts. The brewed beer contains carbohydrates, protein, minerals, carbonic acid, alcohol and 90% water. The color of the beer is determined by the color of the malt. The higher the temperature at which the malt is dried, the darker the color. German beer has a long history, high quality and a wide variety, including non-alcoholic traditional beers, Berlin white beers, green beers, Bock stouts, Kosch beers, export beers, stouts and more.
As a beer producing and consuming country, Germany has about 1,200 beer brewing plants, producing 110 million liters of beer every year. About 14 million liters of beer are sold in more than 150 countries abroad. The beer brewing industry is an important branch of the German food industry, providing a lot of jobs for the society. About 10,000 people in Germany work in various positions related to beer or the brewing industry.
Why do Germans love beer so much? Opinions vary, and even the Germans themselves may not be able to explain why beer has such an appeal. Perhaps the various effects of beer are subtly affecting the eating habits of Germans. Take, for example, the beneficial health effects of beer. Scientific research has shown that drinking beer in moderation helps prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes and osteoporosis, while also protecting the stomach, kidneys and gallbladder. In addition, the calorie content of beer is low, and non-alcoholic beer is still the best sports energy drink. The hops in beer also have anti-cancer properties. But drink any beverage in moderation, overdrinking will damage your health. In addition, beer is also widely used in the field of cosmetics. We can see all kinds of beer shampoos in the market, this shampoo can make the hair full and bouncy. Beer can also be used for skin care. Archaeological studies have found that Egyptian women used beer foam to care for their skin more than 2,000 years ago. In addition, brewer's yeast moisturizer helps improve skin texture.
The breadth of beer in Germany is a strong basis for the annual Oktoberfest in Munich, which has continued to last, and has even become the largest national event in the world. There are two theories about the historical origin of Munich's October Festival. One is that Bavarian farmers sell their produce to celebrate the autumn harvest and drink old beer before the arrival of the new beer production season. Another official and most agreed saying is that the history of the October Festival dates back 200 years and was first held on October 17, 1810, to celebrate the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig. Celebration of the wedding of Princess Teresa of Saxe-Hilden on the lawn of the racecourse next to the city walls of Munich. To commemorate the wedding and honor Princess Teresa, the lawn was named Teresa Square. Since Crown Prince Ludwig has a great interest in ancient Greek culture, the theme of this celebration is similar to the ancient Olympic Games. So the original October festival was more of a sports event. Due to the response and active participation of the public, the Bavarian royal family decided to hold such a horse racing event in October next year in order to meet the wishes of the public. Thus formed the tradition of the October festival. Since then, the October Festival activities have gradually developed, in addition to horse racing, games such as tree climbing competitions, bowling and swinging have also been added. The carousel was first introduced to the event venue in 1818. In 1819, the Munich city government took over the right to hold the event. Since then, the city government has formulated detailed event plans and procedures for the October Festival every year. At the end of the 19th century, the October Festival gradually developed into a world-famous national celebration. The time of the event has also been extended, and at the same time, it was changed to the beginning of September and the autumn festival, and the last week extended to October. Beer is the main role at the October festival. Munich brewers specially use the original malt to brew a special beer for the Oktoberfest with a higher alcohol purity of 6% to 7%. The most distinctive feature on Theresa Square is the large tents of various Munich brewers, which can also be regarded as temporary taverns. The largest tent can accommodate 10,000 people at the same time. Tourists can choose different beer brands according to their personal taste. Brewers sell 60,000 liters of beer each year during October.
However, if there is only beer, the audience will be small, and the October festival will be much more monotonous, and it may not be called a grand event. Therefore, the October festival is also a channel for Germany and the city of Munich to show its characteristic culture to the world. The parade in traditional Bavarian national costumes is another highlight of the October festival. In addition, there are various amusement facilities for families and children, such as Ferris wheel, swings, slides, etc. October Festival is also a festival for children. With the embellishment of these supporting activities and facilities, even ordinary beer can have a different flavor!
Some people say that holding a beer mug in your hand also holds a piece of history and a culture! Under the light, go to Munich, go to the paradise of beer, feel the style of beer!
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