What German specialty is made from cucumbers grown around the Spreewald region?

Spreewald gherkins are the German specialty made from cucumbers grown around the Spreewald region.

The Spreewald is a marshy cultural landscape south-east of Berlin, crossed by numerous waterways. Its local cucumber-growing and pickling tradition became especially prominent during the nineteenth century, when preservation helped farmers market the crop beyond the immediate region.

Spreewald gherkins are sold in several styles, including versions flavored with herbs, vinegar, mustard seed or brine. The protected name refers to a defined geographical production area and established processing tradition, not simply to any pickle made in Germany.

The product received European Protected Geographical Indication status in 1999. It is often associated with tourism in Brandenburg, where visitors encounter jars of the pickles in local markets and food shops.