But there’s much more to discover beyond the famous tea ceremony. Visit the East Frisian Islands, learn more about the Wadden Sea National Park, or stop by the seal sanctuary. You also shouldn’t miss out on culinary delights such as East Frisian beer culture, Smoortaal, or the ever-popular fish sandwich.
It is said that East Frisians drink 10 times more tea than Germans in other regions. According to global rankings, we are even said to rank first, with approximately 300 liters of tea per person per year. Tea drinking isn’t celebrated every day with Kluntje and a dollop of cream, but this tradition has a long history and is highly cherished. Its origins date back to the early 17th century. To this day, the tea party remains an important part of our East and North Frisian cuisine.
Besünners bi Schietwetter! (Especially when the weather´s bad!) That’s when you just have to “sit tight and have a cup of tea.” The East Frisians are said to be calm and enviably unflappable. That may well be true, because taking regular breaks relaxes both body and mind.
Tea time is essentially a brief break that often takes place several times a day. The East Frisian tea ceremony, however, follows a very specific ritual. Authentic East Frisian tea is a blend of robust Assam tea—very dark and strong. But that’s not all—up to 20 different varieties are combined to create an “authentic East Frisian tea blend.”
What you'll need:
Preparation
There are several opportunities to attend a tea ceremony in East Frisia. We have two suggestions that are located along the route of our cycling tours in East Frisia.
The Bünting Tea Museum in Leer features two floors filled with various tea-related books and nostalgic souvenirs, as well as tea seminars and tea tastings.
Bünting Teemuseum
Brunnenstraße 33
26789 Leer (Ostfriesland)
Prices
Adults: Admission €3.00 per person
Guided tour of the permanent exhibition: €5.00 per person
Events (admission included):
Tea Time: €8.00 per person, approx. 60 minutes
Tea Ceremony: €13.50 per person, approx. 90 minutes
Tea Ceremony with Tea Tasting: €17.50 per person, approx. 120 minutes
Tea Seminar: €15.00 per person, approx. 120 minutes
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Events are held for groups of 8 or more people. You can also participate in public events as an individual or in small groups. You can find the event calendar at www.buenting-teemuseum.de www.buenting-teemuseum.de
The Tea Museum in Norden welcomes you to "The World of East Frisian Tea Culture".
In Norden, you can learn everything there is to know about tea—from the growing regions, through the processing and production of the famous East Frisian blend, to the designs on East Frisian tea sets, and much more.
The museum is open year-round.
April–October: Monday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
East Frisian Tea Ceremony: March–October: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays at 2:00 p.m., and Fridays at 11:00 a.m. Duration: approx. 30 minutes; cost: €3.00 per person plus admission.
Advance registration is requested due to limited capacity. info@teemuseum.de or Tel. 04931 12 100.
East Frisian Tea Museum
Am Markt 36
26506 Norden
Our seven islands lie in a row off the coast of Lower Saxony: Borkum, Juist, Norderney, Baltrum, Langeoog, Spiekeroog, and Wangerooge. Endless expanses, long sandy beaches, dune landscapes, our mudflats, and the fresh sea air await you.
All seven islands captivate visitors with their own unique charm. Juist is said to be one of the most beautiful islands, while Spiekeroog is the most idyllic, offering the perfect setting for a relaxing getaway. Of these islands, Baltrum, Langeoog, Juist, Spiekeroog, and Wangerooge are completely car-free. On our “East Frisia Island Hopping” tour, you’ll spend two nights on Langeoog. Beautiful dune landscapes, plenty of beaches, the sea, and excellent bike paths. And all of this without any traffic—just enjoy the peace and quiet and take a break from everyday life.
During our trip, you’ll also visit Borkum and Norderney. Cars are allowed on both islands, though they’re rarely needed. Many people prefer to get around by bike on the islands. A major advantage is that both islands are not affected by the tides, making them easily accessible by ferry for a day trip. You can bring your bikes along to each island and spend the whole day exploring the beautiful surroundings.
However, if you’d like to take a day off from the island or don’t feel like taking the ferry, then check out Norddeich. That’s where the seal rehabilitation center is located. You can find the opening hours and information on how to book online at www.seehundstation-norddeich.de. The Marine Mammal Rescue Center in the Norddeich district takes in between 80 and 180 orphaned harbor seals and gray seals every year. In addition to raising motherless harbor seals, the center also focuses on research into these animals.
Opening hours:
Prices:
One of the most popular dishes in northern Germany is delicious kale. Traditionally, classic kale is served in winter with potatoes, smoked pork loin, and pinkel sausage. We often combine this with a handcart ride, a walk “around the pudding,” or a game of boßeln. Boßeln is a sport played with a wooden or rubber ball. The goal of Boßeln is to cover a set distance with as few throws as possible. Both are primarily winter leisure activities.
In the summer, we recommend fresh fish such as plaice and North Sea shrimp, as well as Ammerland smoked eel. Or stop by a "milk station" to enjoy special milk-based treats. Well-known dishes like Snirtjebraten, Labskaus, or a fish sandwich right on the beach are also absolutely delicious.
Jever Pilsener Brewery
Do northern Germany and breweries go well together? Yes, very well indeed. There are several coastal breweries that offer tastings or tours. The best-known brewery is probably the one in Jever—home of the Frisian-style bitter beer. Located between the brewery museum and the brewery itself is the brewery taproom “Haus der Getreuen.” A beer tasting is already included on our “East Frisia Beer Tour.”
Varel TIDE Beer
Since 2008, beer has been brewed at the Vareler Brauerei, where they produce lager, dark beer, pilsner, and wheat beer. Try the TIDE organic beer, which bears the German organic seal. www.vareler-brauhaus.de
Ostfriesen Bräu
The Ostfriesen Bräu Brewery Museum and brewery are located in Großefehn Bagband. Experience the history of East Frisian beer up close.
The Wadden Sea National Park is divided into three national parks.
The Wadden Sea is a unique experience because parts of it are still wilderness. The largest contiguous Wadden Sea stretches from the Netherlands through Germany to Denmark. To see and explore the mudflats, the sea has to recede—and it does so at low tide. In the Jadebusen, the water recedes only twice a day, so there are a few hours when you can explore the mudflats. And there’s plenty of life there. There are hundreds of species of algae, worms, crabs, and mussels. And that not only makes us happy but also keeps the birds well-fed.
There is hardly any other place on earth with as much life as there is in the mudflats. That is why preserving the Wadden Sea is so important for many species. This includes whales, seals, and, of course, North Sea tourists. But the Wadden Sea does as it pleases; it is a wilderness and therefore requires a certain amount of care. There are some rules to follow, not just for the preservation and safety of the animals. If you’d like to go on a mudflat hike, always go with a guide, because the tide can come in faster than you think.
In East Frisia, there are numerous mudflat hiking guides who can provide you with interesting information about the flora and fauna.
You will find the already reduced bike prices in our price section. Applies to all new bookings and subject to availability.
