What’s the right plan for you?

Leisurely walkers on short routes

You’re looking for a savoury snack to enjoy during a break on a manageable walk. Taste and freshness are your main priorities.

Endurance walkers planning their energy intake

You’ll be out for several hours or walking at a brisk pace. As well as a pretzel, you plan to take drinks and other suitable provisions, rather than relying on a single snack.

Buyers mindful of ingredients and salt

Before buying, you want to check the ingredients and allergens in the specific pretzel, its stated salt content and whether the dough actually contains sourdough.

What should you look for when buying?

First, work out how long you’ll be out and what else you’ll take with you. Then compare the information for the specific portion, ingredients and preparation.

What matters What to check Who it matters to
Food for longer stretches Compare the carbohydrate content per portion and the weight of each pretzel. Take additional snacks for longer or more strenuous hikes. If I’m hiking for several hours, I don’t want to rely on a single pretzel for food. Around 36% of consumers would put planning for longer stretches first.
Drinks and salt Plan your drinks separately from your pretzel; check the salt content per 100 g or per portion. For a full day’s hike, I want to take enough drinks and be able to assess the salt content of my snack. This would be a priority for around 29% of consumers.
Ingredients and sourdough Check the ingredients and allergen information for the specific pretzel. If buying loose, ask whether sourdough is used in the dough. If I need to watch certain ingredients or am specifically looking for sourdough, I need information about the pretzel I’m actually buying. This would be a deciding factor for around 21% of consumers.
Freshness and preparation Choose between ready-to-eat fresh pretzels and frozen unbaked ones; check how to transport, prepare and store them. I want to be able to eat my pretzel at the planned break without underestimating the preparation needed before setting off. Around 14% of consumers would consider this their main priority.

Common selection mistakes

  • Relying on a salty pretzel instead of taking drinks

    Salt content and fluid intake are two different things. The German Alpine Club stresses the importance of taking enough to drink on hikes; the German Nutrition Society notes that drinking too little or too much can both cause problems.

    Plan your drinks according to the duration, weather and intensity of your hike. Use the pretzel’s salt information to assess the food, not as a drinking strategy.

  • Assuming sourdough bread means sourdough pretzels

    Lidl lists natural rye sourdough for selected speciality breads. That doesn’t tell you how a pretzel is made.

    For packaged products, check the pretzel’s own ingredients. If you’re buying loose, ask about the recipe.

  • Judging allergens by appearance

    EDEKA Heimatliebe mein Bayern’s pretzels list wheat and soya as allergens, and may contain traces of other allergens. Different information may apply to other pretzels.

    Check the information for the specific product. If you’re buying loose, you can ask about allergen information at the point of sale.

  • Assuming frozen pretzels are ready to eat

    According to EDEKA, its EDEKA Heimatliebe mein Bayern pretzels aren’t suitable for eating raw and must be cooked through completely.

    Follow the instructions on the pack you’ve bought and allow time to prepare them before your hike.

Brands to consider

Ditsch

Ditsch sells pretzels that could be an option to buy before a hike.

  • For its “Swabian Style” pretzel, Ditsch publishes ingredient and nutritional information. Once baked, it contains 50,6 g of carbohydrate and 1,74 g of salt per 100 g.
  • This product information doesn’t identify the variety as a sourdough pretzel. Information about products supplied to retailers doesn’t automatically apply to every pretzel sold in a shop.

EDEKA Heimatliebe mein Bayern

These frozen pretzels are an option if you want to bake them at home before your hike.

  • EDEKA lists the ingredients and allergens, along with instructions for cooking in an oven or air fryer.
  • The unbaked pretzels aren’t suitable for eating raw and aren’t identified as sourdough pretzels. EDEKA notes that the product may not be available in all stores.

LIDL – Unser Brot

Lidl lists sourdough as an ingredient in selected speciality breads from its bakery range.

  • The range information could prompt you to ask specifically about the ingredients in a bakery product.
  • Information about sourdough bread doesn’t confirm that a sourdough pretzel is available, or tell you about its ingredients or availability.

Suitable products at Joybuy

Suitable products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is one pretzel enough for a long hike?

For a longer or more strenuous hike, you shouldn’t rely on a pretzel alone. The German Alpine Club stresses that food and drink are important for your performance and concentration on a hike, so plan to take drinks and other suitable provisions too.

How should I plan drinks for a day hike with pretzels?

Plan your drinks independently of the pretzel’s salt content. The German Alpine Club recommends taking at least 2 litres for a day hike; also take the weather, duration and intensity of your hike into account.

Can I take frozen pretzels with me and eat them straight away?

Not if they’re unbaked pretzels that need to be cooked first. According to EDEKA, its EDEKA Heimatliebe mein Bayern pretzels aren’t suitable for eating raw; follow the preparation instructions on the pack you’ve bought.

How can I find out about allergens in a loose pretzel?

Ask at the point of sale for allergen information about that specific pretzel. Lebensmittelklarheit explains that important allergens must also be disclosed for loose foods in Germany; the information doesn’t have to appear directly on a pack as it does for packaged products.

Does sourdough automatically make a pretzel more suitable for hiking?

The word “sourdough” alone doesn’t tell you whether a pretzel is suitable for your hike. Check whether the dough actually contains sourdough, then consider the portion size, ingredients and nutritional information of the specific product separately.