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Other than its small size, there is nothing small about Switzerland. Not its mountains, adventure activities, railway network and definitely not its food scene.
Each canton has taken the best of home-grown produce, added a mix of neighbouring influences (don't forget Switzerland shares its borders with Germany, Italy, Austria, and France), and, like everything Swiss, created perfection even with its food. From comforting and homey dishes to refined meals and mouth-watering desserts, this country has it all.
Here are our top 10 must-try food dishes and drinks in Switzerland.
Summary
● Cheese Fondue - Delectable melted cheese dish to dip into with friends.
● Raclette - Melting cheese poured directly onto baby potatoes and more.
● Rosti - Crispy golden brown grated potato pancake with yummy toppings.
● Basler Mehlsuppe - Steaming bowl of hot browned flour soup topped with cheese.
● Alpermagronen - Everyone's favourite mac and cheese made better the Swiss way.
● Zürcher Geschnetzeltes - Veal and mushroom ragout, originally from the Zurich area.
● Muesli - invented by a Swiss doctor and now the world's favourite breakfast.
● Swiss Desserts - Bündner Nusstorte, Lackerli, cakes and more.
● Swiss chocolate - From local artisanal chocolatiers to global brands like Caillers and Lindt.
● Swiss beverages - Bubbly, fizzy, foamy or fruity, Switzerland has it all
1. Cheese Fondue
Only the Swiss can turn a simple cheese and bread dish into a social ritual. This typical Swiss dish of melted cheese (the word Fondue comes from the French verb 'fondre'- to melt) can be found across Switzerland and in almost all types of restaurants.
The dish itself comes in a sort of communal dish of melted cheese (Gruyere and Emmental) around which fellow foodies dip their bread. Don't forget to keep stirring the cheese to keep it smooth and creamy. Pair this with a nice white wine for a good balance of flavours.
This is generally on every traveller's things to do list in Switzerland.
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2. Raclette
Here's one more typically Swiss way to enjoy melted cheese. Raclette (once again derived from the French verb 'racler'- to scrape) is melted cheese poured directly from a melting wheel of cheese onto baby jacket potatoes, pickled onions, gherkins and fruit. Almost all traditional Swiss restaurants will have Raclette on offer.
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3. Rosti
Made of pan-fried grated potatoes with toppings of bacon, fried egg and cheese, Rosti is like a potato pancake. The sliced or grated potato is closely packed and brought to a heavenly golden brown exterior with a soft centre. It is typically found in most traditional restaurants and even more so in the German-speaking part of Switzerland.
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4. Basler Mehlsuppe
This earthy brown broth combines browned flour, beef stock, butter and onions topped with grated Gruyere cheese. Sometimes, it is enhanced with red wine. The name, which literally means Basel flour soup, is native to Basel and is traditionally served at the Fasnacht (Basel's annual celebration that comes before Lent in the Christian calendar).
It is said that a chatty cook once burnt the flour while preparing soup and, instead of starting from scratch again, decided to take the wrong and make it right somehow. He decided to continue roasting the flower in butter, added the beef stock to it and in doing this, turned it into the phenomenally popular dish that it is today.
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5. Alplermagronen
Alplermagronen, or Alpine macaroni, is like mac and cheese, only better. It was originally a dish meant to help local farmers gain the energy needed to work on harsh Alpine terrain. It's made of macaroni and potato cubes in a cheesy, creamy sauce and served with apple sauce and fried onions. While the addition of apple sauce may seem odd to mac and cheese buffs, trust me, it takes the dish to another level.
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6. Zürcher Geschnetzeltes
Made of pan-fried veal strips, cream, beef stock, mushrooms and wine, this ragout has a rich flavour of herbs, parsley and lemon zest. Said to have originated in the Zurich area, this popular dish is now available in restaurants throughout the region. It is typically served with a side of rosti; a must-include in your Switzerland itinerary.
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7. Muesli
Today, the world has accepted muesli as a healthy breakfast meal. However, not many know that it was invented by a Swiss physician named Maximilian Bircher-Benner, who came up with it as an optimally beneficial breakfast for his patients. It is made of oats, seeds, nuts like walnuts and almonds, soaked overnight in yoghurt or milk. It is best enjoyed chilled and topped off with seasonal fruits and honey.
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8. Swiss Desserts
Each canton in Switzerland may have it's favourite local dessert but some are now more popular than others and can be found in most places.
The Bundner Nusstorte from the Graubünden region is a shortbread pastry tart filled with caramel and nuts (most typically walnuts). You will probably see a slice of these being enjoyed along with a coffee or tea.
The Basler Lackerli which as the name suggests, hails from the town of Basel. It's a spiced biscuit made of flat baked dough. It gets its flavour from ingredients like hazelnut, almonds, honey, candied orange peel and kirsch (cherry brandy).
There are also seasonal and festive desserts. In summer, look for raspberry or apricot cakes. The Swiss really enjoy their 'Kaffe und Kuchen' (coffee and cake) and so will you. Come Christmas, keep an eye out for the pretty Spitzbuben biscuits made from a buttery dough with a layer of jam. They come beautifully decorated in various festive shapes.
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9. Swiss Chocolate
By far, Switzerland's most famous food is chocolate. The average Swiss person consumes over 10 kilograms of chocolate per year, making them the world's biggest chocolate consumers! Known for its high standards of ingredients, smooth creamy texture and striking innovative combinations of flavours, Swiss chocolate is renowned worldwide.
Many brands like Lindt, Sprungli, Toblerone and Cailler are now global names, but there are so many smaller local artisanal chocolatiers that one must try when in Switzerland. My favourites are Max Chocolatier and Laderach in Lucerne.
If you would like to learn more about chocolate and its making process, you can visit one of the many chocolate factories around the country. The most popular places, though, are the Lindt Chocolate Museum in Zurich and the Nestle-Caillers factory, which you can visit on the Chocolate Train from Montreux and on which you get a sizable discount with your Swiss Travel Pass.
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10. Swiss beverages
Wines: Switzerland has 15,000 hectares of vineyards, and the locals consume almost all of it (the average consumption is 34 litres per person). Some of the more famous wine growing regions are Ticino, Valais and Vaud (you have likely come across pictures of the UNESCO protected terraced vineyards of Lavaux in this region). These regions are known for their wines like the Pinot Noir, Chasselas (made from the rarer Chasselas grape celebrated for its light notes), Gamay and Chardonnay.
There are tours that show you around the vineyards, where you can meet the families who cultivate them, and of course, sample and purchase the wines. Make sure you buy some to take home with you. Like I mentioned, Swiss wine is not easy to find abroad because almost all of it is consumed locally.
If you would like to learn more about chocolate and its making process, you can visit one of the many chocolate factories around the country. The most popular places, though, are the Lindt Chocolate Museum in Zurich and the Nestle-Caillers factory, which you can visit on the Chocolate Train from Montreux and on which you get a sizable discount with your Swiss Travel Pass.
We recommend trying a glass of wine at the mighty Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe, gazing at the snow-covered mountains in your sight.
Beers: Switzerland has over 650 breweries (arguably the most significant number of breweries per capita in the world). Like everything in Switzerland, each region has its own speciality, which you must try. However, among the more popular names are Feldschlosschen, Chopfab Amber, Vienna Lager and Calanda Lager. Make sure a steaming cup of hot chocolate is on your list while you are on your Switzerland trip.
Popular non-alcoholic beverages:
Rivella: Made of whey ( a by-product of cheese making), fruit and fruit extract, Rivella comes in many flavours and is probably the most popular drink in Switzerland.
Vivi Kola: Another favourite summer drink made with all-natural ingredients.
Passaia: A soft drink with a refreshing passion fruit flavour that is very popular all over the country.
Well, there you have it. If you have started planning your next trip to Switzerland, think beyond the mountains, trains and activities. Make sure you have some leisure time to sample some or all of these excellent food, drinks and desserts too. As they say in Switzerland, "En Guete".
