Echt Jetzt Munich's first gluten-free bakery

No grains, but lots of flavours: the bread, cakes and other products from the Echt Jetzt bakery contain no gluten but high-quality ingredients such as wholemeal rice flour and psyllium husks. The coeliac-friendly products made in Munich are also predominantly vegan.

Anyone who has an upset stomach from grains such as wheat, rye and spelt must take a very close look when buying bread and pretzels. The young entrepreneur Katharina Böttger has turned this challenge into a business and founded Munich's first gluten-free bakery, Echt Jetzt, together with her business partner Rena Wiese in 2019.

"I suffer from coeliac disease myself, so I know how difficult it is to find food that is well tolerated, tastes good and doesn't contain any unhealthy additives," says Katharina Böttger. After years of experimentation, Echt Jetzt has now been producing savoury and sweet baked goods without yeast or ready-made mixes for over four years.

"We only use organic raw materials, most of which are sourced regionally. And apart from a few products, our range is even vegan," explains the owner. In addition to five types of bread (our favourite: the classic organic crusty bread), there is a choice of rolls, organic pretzels, granola, and muesli in various flavours.

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A highlight for anyone with a sweet tooth: Sweet pastry creations such as cinnamon buns, chocolate rolls and nut corners. Depending on the season, Easter plait, gingerbread hearts or biscuits and Christmas stollen also end up on the sales counter of the open bakery at Echt Jetzt's headquarters in Mittersendling.

Direct sales are available every Saturday, and click & collect is also available on weekdays. At the end of 2023, the company will also (re)open its own café branch in the university district, which had to close in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The gluten-free baked goods can now also be found throughout Germany: "We supply Michelin-starred restaurants as well as schools, hospitals, hotels, supermarkets and other bakeries," explains Katharina Böggert. The products are vacuum-packed for nationwide dispatch by post.

Whether purchased directly on-site or ordered via the online shop, Echt Jetzt aims to keep its baked goods fresh for up to five days. Exemplary: because almost everything is only produced to order, there is virtually no food waste.

Incidentally, you realise how true the company name is when you bite into one of the crispy, fluffy breads or sweet nut buns. Gluten-free really can taste so delicious. Really now? Really now!

Nina Zeller

Author Munich