Erbstwurst

[CRMichaelis]

I've been looking into German rations and keep running across "erbstwurst" which is described as:

Purée of peas is rendered very nourishing when bacon or sausage is taken with it. This food is often given to the German soldier, who thus receives a truly nourishing diet, containing all three of the main groups of our foods, and for a soldiers' stomach it is not very hard to digest. Some people declare that the German army has accomplished its able work not only because of the efficient German instructors, but also because of the "Erbstwurst" (pea sausage), and it is certainly true that a sufficiently rich and complete food, such as this sausage, plays an important rôle—in reality much more important than is generally believed—in making an army capable of marching and of successful action. In pea sausage there is not very much meat, but the carbohydrates, vegetable albumin, and fat are all well represented.

Anyone know of this? Apparently it's available from German grocers. Not sure what form it comes in and how it would have been issued 1914-1918?

[Hoffmann]

cgi.ebay.com/KNORR-ERBSWURST-PEA-SOUP-6-x-1-4-Liter_W0QQitemZ270126745185QQihZ017QQcategoryZ43399QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247

I received two packages recently from a unit member who was in the military in Germany. He says the stuff is surprisingly good, although I have not tried mine yet. I am waiting for an appropriate label so I can carry it to an event.

Once you open the tube, the soup portions are in six solid dry tablets. If I read the directions correctly (they are auf Deutsch) You dissolve 1 tablet in 1/4" liter of water and bring the mix to a low boil and then cook for three more minutes.

Randall

[oskar2ndchev]

I'd be curious to see what sort of packaging these came in. Rations seem to be a definate area that needs to be filled in more and especially for the German side.

Maybe it's just me but in terms of German ration labels and packaging I've never seen any pictures of originals or drawings or anything- it's always been some reenactor source (sort of a "copy of a copy of a copy..." thing).

I'm curious...

[riflecpl]

I realize that this is an old thread. However, I recently had Erbstwurst for the first time a couple months ago at an event and it is pretty good if you like pea soup. It was very easy to make and surprisingly filling. The soup pucks are wrapped like a sauge tube so the packaging looks like Oscar Meyer liversausage package. It is easy to carry. I highly recommend it if you are looking for more options for period German food.

[Hoffmann]

It would be period appropriate, if we could get a period label.....

Randall

[oskar2ndchev]

Sounds good- I happen to like Pea Soup.

[cplcampisi]

This website has some good info on the history of Erbswurst in the German Army up to WW1:

17thdivision.tripod.com/rationsoftheageofempire/id2.html

[qms]

Reading the above thread, Erbstwurst sounds like pressed (and processed) Pease pudding forced into a skin.
At one point one could buy small tins of P-p which wasn't bad* (wasn't great, mind you) but made an additional (or substitute) vegitable for lazy cooks.

If it's what I think, it's got a high lentil content and is a sort of tan colour.

Tom


*Heated through with a little salt & pepper, perhaps some garlic (if you like it) and a decent swipe of butter and it it made a quite palatable potato substitute (Too lazy to cook the real thing and I don't particulary like the 'instant')

[kingkaiser]

Here's an interesting article about Erbswurst. Apparently, it wasn't too popular with the troops!

www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=3&sqi=2&ved=0CCsQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theausteritykitchen.com%2F2009%2F04%2Ftasty-prussian-rations-erbswurst.html&ei=IuZ7TvStC4m3tgfDgNnkDw&usg=AFQjCNHMemWgL_mo7VkPMNZ3h3cxS6WEpw