Quite frankly, if you are in search for good German bread and food in India, the subcontinent can be considered quite a disappointment. Although “German bakery” signs are abundant in India’s touristy places, the likelihood of encountering real German bread is very slim (unless you consider croissants, cookies and soft white bread typical German).
Leibspeise therefore was quite happy to find the Brown Bread Bakery in Varanasi. This bakery / restaurant was opened by German Michael Schmid in 2008. Michael is not really a baker by trade, but he spent quite some time learning how to bake in his uncle’s bakery in Mühlacker, Southern Germany (This is probably why you can find such dishes like Spaetzle and Fondue on the menu). The Brown Bread Bakery is committed to offer as many organic products as possible and formed relationships with local farmerswho produce organically grown fruits and vegetables. The bakery also sells different cheeses that come from the mountainous areas in India’s North and South.
At a breakfast visit in Varanasi’s old town, Leibspeise tested two “belegte Broetchen” (see picture), one with organic cheese and the other with salami (yes, even in India this is possible as the salami is imported from Italy). Both bread rolls were served on organic brown bread and were quite nice. If you enter the bakery and walk up to the first floor (shoes off), there is a very cosy restaurant where you can relax and chose from the restaurant’s enormous menu. In addition to the typical India backpacker menu items (including Italian, Thai, Chinese), you can order such German delights like Schnitzel, Cordon Bleu, Kaesespaetzle, Bratapfel, Laugenbrezel. Leibspeise didn’t want to have a Schnitzel for breakfast, so we can’t tell if it tastes nice, but if you happen to be there, please order it and let us know!
As another project, Micha also runs the Charity Learn for Life that works to provide free education and medical assistance for the poor in Varanasi. 20% of the bakery’s profit goes to this NGO.
Finding the bakery is a relatively easy task. Just open your eyes when walking through the small streets or along the gaths and look for the “Brown Bread Bakery” sign on the walls. Also see our map for the exact location. The bakery is close to the Dashaswamedh gath.
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