jam & spreads

German Jams, Honey & Spreads — Schwartau, Zentis & More

A real German breakfast table always features a lineup of Aufstriche — fruit jams, honey, Nutella, and savory spreads. At GermanFoods.shop, we stock the brands that Germans actually buy: Schwartau Extra from Schleswig-Holstein, Zentis from Aachen, and Mühlhäuser Pflaumenmus from Thuringia. Add Nutella, German honeys, and specialty spreads to complete the picture. Whether you spread Erdbeermarmelade on your Brötchen or dip into Pflaumenmus with Quark, these are the flavors that make a German breakfast feel like home. Shipped directly from Erfurt to the USA, UK, and Canada.

Germany takes its breakfast spreads seriously. The tradition of Marmelade, Konfitüre, and Mus runs deep — and the distinction between them is not just semantic. Under EU regulation, "Marmelade" technically refers only to citrus preserves, while fruit spreads from other fruits are labeled "Konfitüre." In everyday German, however, almost everyone still says "Marmelade" regardless.

Schwartau was founded in 1899 by brothers Paul and Otto Fromm in Bad Schwartau, a small town near Lübeck in Schleswig-Holstein. Initially operating as "Chemische Fabrik Schwartau," the company produced artificial honey and plum jam before establishing a dedicated jam production department in 1904. A sugar refinery followed in 1907, and Schwartau shifted its focus entirely to fruit-based products. The breakthrough product, Schwartau Extra, launched in 1962 and is still Germany's best-known jam line. The "Extra" designation signals a higher fruit content — typically 50% or more. Today, over 950 employees work at the Bad Schwartau headquarters. The company is now part of the Swiss Hero Group.

Zentis was established on June 20, 1893, by Franz Zentis in Aachen. The company's first major success came in 1900 with FAMOS — "Feinste Aprikosen Marmelade Ohne Sirup" (Finest Apricot Jam Without Syrup) — which local bakeries used as a pastry filling. In the 1960s, Zentis expanded into fruit preparations for the dairy industry, developing banana and pineapple mixes for yogurts. In the 1970s, Zentis introduced Nusspli, a sweet nut spread that became a household name. Zentis remains a family-owned business headquartered in Aachen and is one of Europe's leading fruit processing companies.

Mühlhäuser produces the original Thuringian Pflaumenmus (plum butter) — a product with over 100 years of tradition. Plum jam has been "cooked" in the Thuringian city of Mühlhausen since 1908. Today, approximately 21 million jars of Mühlhäuser Pflaumenmus and preserves are produced annually at the same traditional location. Pflaumenmus has a thick, deeply concentrated flavor that is distinct from regular plum jam — it is slow-cooked until the fruit breaks down into a dense, spreadable paste.

In addition to fruit spreads, German breakfast tables frequently include Nutella (produced by Ferrero, which has a major plant in Stadtallendorf, Hesse), German honey (often regional Blütenhonig or Waldhonig from domestic beekeepers), and savory options like Leberwurst or herb-based cream cheese spreads.

FAQ

What is the difference between Marmelade and Konfitüre in Germany?

Under EU food labeling regulations, "Marmelade" refers exclusively to preserves made from citrus fruits. Spreads made from other fruits like strawberries, raspberries, or cherries are officially labeled "Konfitüre." In everyday German, most people use "Marmelade" for any fruit spread. The "Extra" designation (as in Schwartau Extra) means the product has a higher fruit content, typically 50% or more.

What is Pflaumenmus, and how is it different from plum jam?

Pflaumenmus is a traditional plum butter — slow-cooked over low heat until the plums break down into a thick, dark paste without added pectin. It has a concentrated, almost caramelized flavor. Regular plum jam (Pflaumenkonfitüre) retains more fruit texture and is set with pectin. Mühlhäuser has produced Pflaumenmus in the Thuringian town of Mühlhausen since 1908.

What brands of German jam do you carry?

We stock Schwartau Extra (founded 1899, Bad Schwartau), Zentis (founded 1893, Aachen), and Mühlhäuser (Pflaumenmus from Thuringia since 1908), along with Nutella, German honeys, and other spreads. The selection covers strawberry, raspberry, cherry, apricot, plum, and mixed-fruit varieties.