No, it’s not like a hot dog and why some people just don’t get it.

Invented in Berlin in 1949, currywurst has long been a popular classic of snack culture - not only in Berlin, but especially there. An incredible 70 million curry sausages are eaten here alone every year. Of these, many are certainly eaten by tourists from all over, thirsting for authentic variety.

Comparing apples with pears

Occasionally, bloggers then publicly fail in this self-imposed mission - easily recognized by the fact that shirt-sleeved comparisons are made with hot dogs. First of all, there are the obvious differences, which can be recognized with all the senses.

Hotdogs are simply not made with curry sausages, indeed, they are different sausage qualities and preparation methods: Currywurst comes from the country famous for sausage (and beer and cars). Original Berlin currywurst also does not include mustard, onions and pickles. Currywurst is also not squeezed into a bun, but cut into bite-sized pieces. That, by the way, might be a less-noticed reason for currywurst's popularity: even drunk, you don't spill it on yourself as quickly.

The least common denominator

If you want to have one thing in common, it's ketchup. But you could also compare H&M with Armani, since both brands use cotton. So hot dogs and currywurst have nothing in common except ketchup as one of the ingredients. Currywurst smells different, tastes different and looks different. At least if you make sure you actually get original Berlin currywurst - even in Berlin, unfortunately, that's anything but a given.

By the way, the sauce for the curry sausage plays a not insignificant role in the taste. Those who are self-respecting offer their own creations based on tomato ketchup, which then sometimes contain Worcestershire sauce in addition to spices. What many tourists don't know is that you can often ask for different levels of spiciness, depending on your own taste. This is done by simply sprinkling different amounts of hot spices on the sauce. Some snack bars also offer ready-mixed extra-hot sauces.

Currywurst is a cultural asset

Why do such blogged misunderstandings still occur? Because Currywurst is not only a pleasure (at least with original Berlin Currywurst), but a cultural asset, social cement, which connects. There the Federal Chancellor stands beside the construction worker, the manager beside Mr. Mueller, the tourist from Kansas beside Kreuzbergern. An empty currywurst stand may serve very good currywurst, but you will miss what makes currywurst special. It's the people you munch currywurst with. It's a little break from everyday life, a great treat that unites everyone. Anyone who can't or won't get involved with that and just grabs a supposedly authentic currywurst to go somewhere is simply missing out.

And then writes funny blog articles. Which say more about the author than about original Berliner Currywurst.