Dutch Delights: Maggi

What: Maggi is a dark, hydrolysed vegetable protein-based seasoning sauce, which is very similar to East Asian soy sauce without actually containing soy.  It is used most often in soups and sauces.


Why: Introduced in 1886, as a cheap substitute for meat extract, it has become popular in countries such as the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria and especially Germany.


Where: You can pick up one of the distinctive brown bottles with its yellow or red lid and red and yellow label in the supermarket. Even larger bottles, can be found in shops such as Sligro and Makro.


When: You can find Maggi year round.


Varieties: Normal Maggi and Strong Maggi


How Much [Should I Eat]: This depends a lot on how much you like soy sauce and salt. If you like both of those flavours then start chucking it in. If not, don’t bother.


Pas Op! (Watch Out!): Maggi is actually a Nestlé brand of instant soups, stocks, bouillon cubes, ketchups, sauces, seasonings and instant noodles. The full name of the seasoning sauce is in fact “Maggi-Würze”, however, in many countries “Maggi” is still used as the seasoning sauce’s name.