Ai Gude, wie? This is how a die-hard Frankfurter or Hessian would greet you in the main metropolis, and the saying means, ‘Hello, how are you?’
Frankfurt is incredibly multifaceted and known for many things: The great and unique skyline – the only real skyline in Germany. The Frankfurt Airport, which is the largest airport in Germany and therefore the hub of many airlines, and due to the seat of the ECB as well as many well-known banks, Frankfurt is of course, also known as a banking city. But is that the only thing Frankfurt has to offer? No!
If you look beyond the skyline of Frankfurt, you can discover some cute streets and places that are often overlooked.
We’ll take a closer look at the streets and places and show you what the “Ebbel” is all about!
You can’t really get around it in Frankfurt, because the Frankfurter Schoppen is represented everywhere in the main metropolis. No other drink embodies Frankfurt more than the golden and full-bodied Ebbelwoi. For non-Hessians, Ebbelwoi is also known as apple wine, Äppler or simply Stöffche. Frankfurt’s national drink has a long history, as even the Greeks and Romans knew about the intoxicating effects of the apple beverage. After the decline of wine culture due to climatic changes around Frankfurt, the production of cider grew and so the first wine press houses developed. There are now over 60 larger and smaller cider press houses in Hessen, and the Schoppen has become a real cult drink in Frankfurt.
But now, the most important part: where can you get the national drink of Hessen in Frankfurt?
As the Frankfurt locals would say, there are two options where to drink cider – Either “Dribbdebach” or “Hibbdebach”. The traditional “Ebbelwoiviertel” is located in “Dribbdebach”, that is for non-Hessians, “south of the Main,” in Sachsenhausen. Here it is worth visiting pubs such as “Wagner”, “Zum gemalten Haus” or “Buchscheer”. Here you can immerse yourself in Frankfurt’s cider culture in a cozy atmosphere and feast on typical Frankfurt specialties, such as Handkäs’ mit Musik (cheese with music), Grüne Soße (green sauce) or a juicy rib with cabbage. In addition, the mix of guests is very diverse, you meet here with old residents and Frankfurt originals as well as travelers from near and far. Many pubs also offer home-made Ebbelwoi. In addition, there are also “Hibbdebach” in the districts of Bornheim, Bergen-Enkheim, Seckbach, Sossenheim or around Frankfurt numerous traditional cider pubs.A little tip on the side: every year in August, the traditional apple wine festival will take place at Frankfurt’s Roßmarkt. Here, everything revolves around the Hessian national drink. Numerous wine pressers from the region will present their Ebbelwoi as well as the process of pressing. So, if you happen to be in Frankfurt at this time, don’t miss it!
Now a short excursion to the Hessian cider culture: If you should hear the term “Geribbte” in the cider bar, then this has nothing to do with ribs or spareribs. What is meant is the glass from which Eppelwoi is traditionally drunk. The special diamond-shaped outer structure definitely ensures recognition! Another important term is “Bembel”. This is the thick-bellied earthenware jug from which the cider is served.
One of the best-known press houses is certainly the Possmann press house. Not only in Hessen is it a household name, but Possmann also sells the alcoholic apple drink throughout Germany. So if you want to get in the mood or warm up beforehand, you can find Possmann’s cider in many beverage markets.
The press house also offers interesting, guided tours. The guided tour with the Äbbel-Ännchen is especially recommended. The special wine press tour is accompanied by the Äbbel-Ännchen and takes you into the deep and apple-scented vaulted cellars. During the subsequent tasting, the different types and the origin of the Ebbelwoi will be explained to you in more detail. So if you were there, you should know exactly the difference between the classic, the Frau Rauscher Speierling and the cellar master, and can shine with this knowledge in cider pubs!
If you don’t have that much time to visit Frankfurt and indulge in the cider culture, you can simply take the Ebbelwei Express and combine a city tour with a tasting of the national drink. The old-timer streetcar will catch your eye as it cruises through the streets of the Main metropolis. Colorful on the outside and cozy on the inside, the Ebbelwei-Express takes you to the sights of Frankfurt and can be used like a Hop-On/Hop-Off bus. Every Saturday, Sunday and some holidays, you can get on and off at the specially marked stops as you wish! In any case, a great alternative to the usual sightseeing tours to experience Frankfurt a little differently – and on the day you sit in it certainly not!
So a cool shopping belongs in Hesse to the summer (or other seasons) just as Frankurter Wörschtsche and Handkäs. Tradition is still popular and is lived out more and more – even if some things are changed a bit to go with the times. For example, the culinary trend in Hesse is for breaded and deep-fried Handkäs, vegan Frankfurter sausages, green sauce with Wiener schnitzel or Handkäspuffer with green sauce. This keeps tradition alive and is also attracting more and more young people back to the traditional cider pubs. But not only is there no limit to creativity when it comes to Hessian food, Schobben is also becoming a modern trend drink. It is no longer served neat – which old-established Frankfurters still swear by – but mixed with cola, soda, water or energy drinks. The wine presses are keeping up with the times and creating a combination of tradition and modernity. So why not take a look behind the Frankfurt skyline and get a little involved with tradition? And for those who don’t like cider, there are also delicious mild rosés.
So there is certainly something for everyone, and it should also keep you fit, because as the Hessian says: Drink cider every day, no disease will torment you! So why think about it for a long time?
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