Renowned far beyond its borders for its Läckerli, Basel has many other culinary assets. A vast assortment of sweets, craft beers, oils or even salmon make up the promise of a memorable stay in this city rich in flavours.
Sweets
There are so many sweet specialties in Basel that it would be possible to live off nothing else forever.
First of all, there is a magical aroma drawing you in: the Rosekiechli is for many the secret staple of the traditional Basel Autumn Fair. This deep-fried pastry, sprinkled with lots of powdered sugar, can only be found here.
The fact that the Autumn Fair has a special place in the hearts of the people of Basel is probably due to childhood memories of other typical sweets: Mässmogge (sweet, coloured candy sticks), Magenbrot (soft gingerbread with a sugar glaze), Rahmtäfeli (soft caramel candies) and Magenmorsellen (coloured sugar wafers) are inseparable from this 550-year-old folk festival.
Let’s continue with the sweet temptations of the Rhine Bend: Brunsli is a Christmas cookie made of chocolate and ground nuts, very popular throughout Switzerland.
Between mid-January and Easter, a pretzel-like pastry becomes very popular: the Fastenwähe, sprinkled with caraway, is an integral part of the Basel bakeries’ display.
Discover Basel, its traditions and specialties
Basel’s sweets are closely linked to its traditions: they can be enjoyed during the Basel Carnival, the Autumn Fair, or the Basler Christmas. Try these specialties at the traditional festivals!
Flour Soup
During the Basel Carnival, participants and spectators alike regain their strength with a tasty flour soup. According to legend, the recipe originated when the maid of a wealthy Basel family mixed broth, red wine and butter, and inadvertently turned toasted flour into a delicious snack.
Recipe
To bring the flavours of Basel into your kitchen, why don’t you try to make the recipe at home? Switzerland Tourism has a recipe for flour soup on its website.
Fish
It is obvious that the Rhine is an important culinary inspiration: as early as the 16th century, Basel salmon, as it is called here, was served in the guild halls. The fish has remained a coveted delicacy and has since made its way into cookbooks under the name “Basel-style salmon”.
Breweries
Microbreweries are springing up all over the country like mushrooms. The Fischerstube, where the famous Ueli beer has been served since 1974, proves that Basel is definitely a pioneer of craft beer in Switzerland. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg: from BrauBudeBasel to Volta Bräu to Matt & Elly, there are countless microbreweries and craft breweries waiting to be discovered in the city.
Where to try them?
On site during a visit or in the city’s restaurants! Basel’s culinary specialties are best accompanied by regional beers.
It is also possible to buy these beers in local shops and enjoy them while admiring the city or on the Rhine.
Spirits
In Basel, several distilleries produce excellent products.
That’s the case with Ulrich & co, who have been shaking up the world of gin with their brand Nginious! since 2014. Bold creations, mixing tradition and innovation, which earned them the title of best Swiss gin in 2018 at the Swiss Spirit Awards.
Since 2017, Nginious! has been produced in the Liquid Spirit distillery in Basel. Here, Olivier and Iris Ullrich produce their various gins and host tastings, workshops and various events.
How to drink it?
Great gin means great cocktails. At your next party, impress your friends and family with the delicious recipes offered on their website!
Where to buy it?
Directly from the producers! Enjoy a tour of the distillery and a tasting. You will be sure to come home with your favourite gin. It is also possible to buy it directly from their online store.
Oils
The world of oils has no more secrets for Simon Müller, or almost. In 2010, he became a Swiss pioneer in cold-pressed oils by founding Oelist with his wife Sandra Müller-Karrer. Since then, the family business has grown and offers a wide range of natural oils for cosmetic and culinary purposes.
Where to taste it?
Oelist’s natural oils can be found in the homes of several chefs in Basel, including our Chef-Ambassador Pascal Steffen, Chef of Restaurant Roots and member of the Grandes Tables Suisses. There is nothing better than tasting good products elevated by great chefs,
Where to buy it?
Oelist is open from Tuesday to Saturday. Why not visit them to discover their world? Their products are also on sale on their website and in many specialized stores.
Tofu
Tofu often comes from far away and the tofu on the shelves in Switzerland often has nothing to do with Asian tofu, both in terms of quality and taste.
From this realization, Jinhee Park founded TUYU TOFU in Basel in 2020. His tofu is produced exclusively from ingredients of Swiss origin, including organic soybeans, in order to favour short distances.
Recipes
It is much easier to create tasty dishes with quality products. And TUYU TOFU has made it even easier for us by offering several recipes on its website. Let’s get cooking!