Foraging is a popular pastime in Germany, from spring's wild garlic and sweet woodruff to autumn's elderberries, mushrooms and chestnuts, and the latest article is a recipe which will be well used throughout the country in the next weeks:


A BLACK ELDERBERRY SYRUP RECIPE


Elderberry syrup is an "all rounder", that is fun to forage, harvest and easily made. It makes great drinks, for summer and winter, is delicious with dishes savory and sweet, and in Germany is used as a popular natural remedy for all types of ailments.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art177724.asp


And the "Word of the Week" is TRANTUETE

Can't be bothered/not in the mood, so you are doing whatever it is, from walking to homework, very slowly and without much, if any, enthusiasm?

Well in Germany you would risk being called a "TRANTUETE", or "bag of whale blubber", and that is a description which has been known to inspire even the slowest of slowpokes into frenzied action.



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Francine McKenna,
German Culture Editor

http://germanculture.bellaonline.com