Salty Swiss food

Food & Drink, Events and Entertainment
1
Once I was eating in a Swiss restaurant and the food was extremely salty (atleast for my taste) but Im not a very fussy guy, so just ate it without complains.

Then sometimes I get the grilled chicken from Migros, and everytime I find it very salty. I always thought maybe its my bad luck, I just got the not so properly seasoned one.

BUT this morning I have the famous Brezels from no other than Brezelkonig, and they were EXTREMELY salty!!! I mean it was like they were trying to kill someone with the salt!

So... is the Swiss food so salty in general, or is it just me and my luck with Swiss salt

2
Thats a first. Never really heard anyone describe swiss food as salty. If anything it hasnt been seasoned enough

3
No, it is salty. Mountainous (cf. ocean-dwelling) folk like salt as usually it is less available in their diets, so they build up an inherent need for it over generations.

Once upon a time salt was an extremely expensive commodity.

That said, CH has some pretty decent mines around - especially in Jura - so maybe they just like it as they had access to it.

4
Roast chicken from Migros or Coop is generally much saltier than from a proper Guggeli stand, I'll grant you that.

But come on... you can see how much salt is on a pretzel, can't you? If you don't want that much, scrape some of it off. I promise you won't hurt the pretzel seller's feelings.

5
True, also the spring water from mountains usually lack iodine as well, so can understand that.

But still... Nothing stopping them for adding other seasonings, other than salt and lemon grass. All I could taste is just salt.

It was my first time, I thought it was some magic ingredient of the Brezel Kings. Also like I said I am not a fussy person, but won't be having it again for sure.

6
Thank you for such a succinct reason, I will be repeating it!

When we first lived together, mountain man's fondness for adding excessive salt (IMO) to everything became a weekly argument. Unfortunately, my argument of 'you only do it because you don't have a sea' just got laughed at.

As I been here now for 2 years I think my taste-buds have acclimatised to the increased salt levels and we only argue about it every month or so.

In another 2 years, I'm sure I'll be as liberal with the salt as he is and adding in some stock and Aromat for good measure.

7
Hi,

I have noticed the same, everything is very salty. My wife has a theory that everything is so salty because a large number of people smoke here and it is the only way in which they can taste the food.

I remember going to a place near us where you could get a baked potato. We were shocked by the amout of butter and salt that was added. When you tasted the potato you could feel your arteries clogging up. We have not been back there again.

When I cook I never use salt and then once I have tasted the food I decide if any salt is needed.

Have fun

Martin

8
Well I live with a Peruvian so we occasionally try some food with our salt - no, I don't find food here that salty, although all streetfood tends to be saltier than normal food anywhere.

9
I have had streetfood in other places and nowhere I have found it as salty as it is here, unless the chef made a mistake. But here it seems to be the acceptable level.

Even some of the Thai and Chinese restaurants tend to put a bit excessive salt, I think.

A hillybilly colleague puts stupid amounts of soya sauce or seasoning on his food.

10
I don't use salt. I have become properly integrated: I use Aromat.

11
Mmm salteh!

12
There is a movement (in CH) to reduce the amount of salt in prepared food.

Too much salt is unhealthy (and you get used to a certain level, increasing the amount over time).

However, the reduction (especially in things like bread or convenience-food) has to be done over time or people would notice the lack of salt and start revolting ;-)

http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/schwei...1.3991477.html

http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/wissen...1.4564381.html

The first link mentions that salt-consumption in .ch is currently twice as high as the WHO recommends.

13
I think the company canteen has a set amount of salt they must use each day. Most of the time they are able to spread it among the different side dishes. Yesterday they used the entire amount on the green beans. Blergh!

I keep meaning to complain, but it doesn't seem to bother anyone else.

14
I had sandwiches at Brezelkonig when I initially arrived in switzerland... they were extremely salty.. The food in general here is more salty than my homeland

15
Well at least they don't put salt in their BUTTER.... YUCK

16
Hmmmm soft, warm and fresh Brezel.........must resist....must resist

17
Every now and again, I accidentally buy a pack of frozen green beans with that weird savoury coating. It's utterly nasty, and I end up boiling the kettle and rinsing them before I start cooking them.

18
Yes! I think salt and Aromat are the official Swiss seasoning. Or maybe it's a sales tactic to get you to order more beverages in the restaurant since those are so expensive!

Seriously, everytime we get invited to dinner at our Swiss friends' house, we will pre-drink lots and lots of water!

19
Thank god I'm not the only one. When I first travelled here 2 years ago, I thought most food served here was salty, its nice but its just too salty. But my Swiss bf always think its just me. But his theory that its probably from the old days when the folks need to preserve food.

And yes, what's up with this Aromat? Most Swiss household has this MSG laden shit!

20
I like (mildly) salty butter, except if its home made butter, then it has to be just as it is... Yummmmm! I can just drink that

Salt mafia? They have to buy a set quota for daily consumption everyday?

I have tried traditional Swiss restaurants 3 times and I tried to order kind of creative dishes. It was good, I think, but just that they killed it with salt.

Swiss need to learn how to cook, among other things

They are meant for eating?!

Well next time you have any doubts about anything, just post them on EF and very soon you would realise that you are just a number... ermm I mean you are not alone... there are other people with similar experiences.

Just like I did