Ein herzlicher Gruß von Berta mit Bärlauch-Pesto

What does “Bärlauch” mean in German?

The pesto in this clip is made from Bärlauch — wild garlic, literally “bear’s leek”: Bär (bear) + Lauch (leek). Its Latin name, Allium ursinum, means exactly the same thing, so the bear connection isn’t a German quirk but a pattern shared across European languages. The folk explanation: bears were believed to dig it up and eat it first thing after waking from hibernation.

Bärlauch grows wild in shady forests across Germany every spring and carries a fresh, strong garlic smell despite its leek-shaped leaves. Many people still forage it themselves as a seasonal ritual, but it’s also increasingly easy to just buy — markets and supermarkets widely carry it in season.