Krista's Favorite Things

As you’re getting into Christmas shopping season, I thought I’d take some inspiration from Oprah and share some of my “Favorite Things” that I’ve found in Germany so far. Happy shopping!

1. Bioderma Sensibio H20 Micellar Solution

Technically, this is French, but this product earned the number one spot because it has helped me so much. When we first arrived in Germany, my skin had such a terrible reaction to the hard water, broke out, and took almost a year to get under control. Although I had stockpiled and brought all of my favorite US cosmetic products with me, the dermatologist here said that I needed to switch to German/European products that are formulated to work better with the water.  She recommended a Bioderma moisturizer and when I was buying it, the pharmacist also recommended the H20 micellar solution, which is a make-up remover and cleanser. I have tried and love several other Bioderma products, as well as other French skincare brands like La Roche-Posay and Avène.

Bioderma H20 Micellar Solution

Some of my other favorite skincare products

2. Ritter Sport Chocolate

Chocolate, of course, comes in at a close second. When thinking about German chocolate, most of the attention goes to some the big brands like Lindt (which is Swiss, anyway). However, there are other great chocolates readily available in the grocery store that are just as good and cheaper. Ritter Sport makes bars that are about 3 inches wide and come in a ton of different flavors, including strawberry yogurt,  rum-soaked raisin, and vanilla chai latte. My favorite is the nougat.

3. Reusable Bags

Compared to the US, German society is much more environmentally conscious and fairly eco-friendly. Trash is divided between recyclables, biodegradable, and waste. Soft drinks are primarily served in glass bottles. When you go shopping, plastic bags are either not provided or cost between 10-50 cents per bag. Reusable bags are must more common and of better quality than those in the US. For grocery shopping, we have our own foldable grocery basket that is insulated to keep things warm or cold. Additionally, almost every woman carries a foldable reusable plastic bag in her purse, in case of an unexpected shopping trip. These bags are made of plastic material that is much more durable than the cloth/felt-ish bags that I’ve seen in the US.

4. Fritz Kola

I would not say that Fritz Kola is the best drink I’ve ever had in my life, but they earn a spot on my list because I think it’s really cool that a small company had the courage to go up against the Coke/Pepsi giants and be successful. Fritz Kola was founded by two friends in Hamburg in 2002 and can now be found all across Germany. The drinks are mostly sold wholesale to restaurants, but we have found one drink market where we can buy some for ourselves. In addition to the standard cola and diet cola, they also make lemonades, fruit drinks, and sparkling apple juices to the German palette.

Fritz Kola at Chipotle in Frankfurt

5. Mayersche Bookstore

While Amazon has led to many of the big book stores in the US closing, there is a German law that prevents Amazon from selling books cheaper than book stores. This means the book store business is still booming in Germany. The largest Mayersche shop in Cologne is in the Neumarkt shopping district and is three stories. In addition to books, they also sell greeting cards, toys, and great Cologne souvenirs. With their loyalty card, I can also get discounts on English books one day per month.

6. Früh Kölsch

You can’t talk about German products without mentioning beer, of course! Beer is such a huge part of German culture, with each region and often individual city proudly brewing their own variety. Kölsch is the special type of beer from Cologne and is usually served in tiny 0.2 liter glasses. According to Wikipedia, there are 13 official brands of Kölsch from various breweries around town. My favorite is from the Früh.

7. Kahla Five Senses Coffee Mugs

There are several brands of German porcelain which are popular,  including Villeroy & Boch and Kahla Thurigen. Kahla has a lot of pieces which are very modern and minimalist.  One of my favorites are these coffee mugs which have a strip of velvet attached to protect your hand from the heat. We have both the coffee and tea versions, which features a small slit to keep your tea bag in place.

8. 4711 Echt Kölnisch Wasser

I suppose that you can’t have a Cologne Christmas list without…COLOGNE. The very first eau de cologne was created in the 1700s in Cologne. The original scent has now been renamed 4711 after the address of the original headquarters in the French-mandated city planning system. The name was eventually changed to Echt  Kölnisch Wasser or “True Cologne Water.” You can still visit the original headquarters, which is now a museum and gift shop.