Bratwurst sausages, affectionately known as brats, originate from Germany. The term 'bratwurst' comes from Old German, where 'brat' meant no waste and 'wurst' referred to sausage. Traditionally, brats were made from meat scraps and encased in a thin skin, usually animal intestine, to ensure no part of the meat was wasted. Today, the flavour remains similar, but synthetic casings are more commonly used.