Thuringian sausage

Thuringian sausage, orThüringer BratwurstinGerman, is a uniquesausagefrom the German state ofThuringiawhich hasprotected geographical indicationstatus underEuropean Unionlaw.
Thuringian sausage has been produced for hundreds of years. The oldest known reference to a Thuringian sausage is located in the Thuringian State Archive inRudolstadtin a transcript of a bill from anArnstadtconvent from the year 1404.  The oldest known recipe dates from 1613 and is kept in the State Archive inWeimar, another is listed in the "Thüringisch-Erfurtische Kochbuch" from 1797 which also mentions a smoked variety.
Only finely minced pork, beef, or sometimes veal, is used in production. Most of the meat comes from the upper part from around the shoulder. In addition to salt and pepper,caraway,marjoram, andgarlicare used. The specific spice mixtures can vary according to traditional recipes or regional tastes. The ingredients are blended together and filled into apig or sheep intestine.  Thuringian sausages are distinguished from the dozens of unique types of German wursts by the distinctive spices (which includes marjoram) and their low fat content (25% as compared to up to 60% in other sausages).
According toGermanminced meat law, theHackfleischverordnung, raw sausages must be sold on the day of their creation or until the closing of a late-night establishment. Previously grilled sausages have a shelf life of 15 days, and sausages immediately frozen after their creation may be stored for six months.
The preferred preparation method for Thuringian sausage is roasted over charcoal or on a grill rubbed with bacon. The fire should not be so hot that the skin breaks. However, somecharringis desired.  The sausages are sometimes sprinkled with beer during the grilling process.
Usually, a Thuringian sausage is presented in a cut-openrolland served withmustard.
For the people of Thuringia, grilled Thuringian sausage is not merely the local cuisine.  The grill is at the very core of Thuringian culture. Mostly beer instead of water is used to cool the grill, and the type of grill is a matter of doctrine. Mustard, preferably local, is the traditionalcondiment. Most commonly used is "Born mustard" from a local food company inErfurt. In some regions the usage of any relish - even mustard - is a stricttaboo. In eastern of Thuringia most commonly used is "Bautz’ner" mustard.
In 2006, theDeutsches Bratwurstmuseum, opened in Holzhausen, part of theWachsenburggemeindenearArnstadt, the first museum devoted exclusively to the Thuringian sausage.
In 2016, akosherversion of Thuringian bratwurst made with veal and chicken packed into goat intestines was introduced at the annual Onion Festival inWeimar, which took place betweenRosh HashanahandYom Kippur. The introduction of the kosher bratwurst sparked some backlash on social media with comments posted that were "full of hate, anti-religious sentiment and National Socialist cliches", according to the Governor of Thuringia.
In North America, the termThuringerrefers to Thuringercervelat, a type ofsmokedsemi-dry sausage similar tosummer sausage. It is made from a medium grind of beef, blended with salt, cure ingredients, spices (usually including dry mustard), and a lactic acid starter culture. After stuffing into a fibrous casing, it is smoked and dried, then cooked.Hormel Foods CorporationandUsinger's, as well as many regional processors and some small butcher shops, produce the sausage in this fashion.
Prior to Thuringian sausages being givenprotected geographical regionstatus in the EU, a type of Luxembourgish sausage was locally known as a Thüringer. It is now referred to as "Lëtzebuerger Grillwurscht" (Luxembourgish:grill sausage).