Christmas markets are celebrated for their festive atmosphere and array of tempting food and drink. However, one journalist's inaugural experience with a market classic turned out to be a major disappointment.
A Festive First Attempt
Danielle Kate Wroe, a Senior Social News Reporter, recently tried a bratwurst for the first time. Despite being nearly 30 years old and a self-professed meat lover, she had always avoided sausages. Encouraged by a friend, she decided to finally see what the hype was about at a stall near the Bull Ring shopping centre in Birmingham.
The conditions were far from ideal. It was chucking it down, I was freezing, Danielle noted, adding that she secretly wished she was in a warm bar with a glass of prosecco instead.
The Unappetising Experience
Faced with a choice between bratwurst and currywurst, and then between a light or dark sausage, Danielle felt baffled. She panicked and chose the dark one, hoping it would be more flavourful. To mask the anticipated taste, she loaded it with ketchup.
Her first bite was a letdown. It tasted like a really bad version of a hot dog, she reported. She had expected a Christmassy, spiced flavour but found it unseasoned. To her dismay, the sausage was also majorly pink inside, which she found off-putting. The bun, she added, felt a bit stale.
Hoping for a Better Bratwurst
Danielle acknowledged that this might not have been the best representation of a bratwurst. Traditionally, they are spiced with nutmeg and marjoram, but she couldn't detect any such flavours. She paid £6.50 for the sausage, which she then awkwardly threw away in front of other people who were clearly enjoying theirs.
She concludes with a glimmer of hope, noting that friends who have tried bratwurst in Germany say it's delicious. She remains open to trying one again, but hopes her next experience will be more positive and less costly.
