What Are Landjäger?

Landjäger are raw sausages that are smoked. They originally come from the Alemannic region and now come from Austria, Switzerland or southern Germany. Depending on the region, there are different names for the Landjäger – for example Bauraseufzer, whip sticks or Unterruhlbacher. In Alsace they are called gendarmes.

The sausages are made of beef, pork, or a combination of both. Other ingredients are pork bacon and spices. Landjäger have a typical angular shape and are about 15 centimeters long. Their taste is strong and spicy. With 25 grams per 100 grams, Landjäger has a fairly high protein content compared to many other types of sausage.

The whip sticks are extremely practical in storage. They don’t need to be refrigerated and still keep well. They were therefore used early on as an invigorating, hearty snack for workers in agriculture. Even today, the sausage is a popular snack for hikers and other day trippers. This is partly due to their uncomplicated use: you can simply eat the Landjäger straight out of your hand. It tastes great on its own or in combination with bread.