This podcast also talks about Pfeffersteuer (pepper tax) and Schokoladensteuer (chocolate tax).
Zuckersteuer was a tax in Germany on sugar. The tax was originally introduced in Prussia in 1841 – one year after the sugar cube was invented. Sugar had become more popular in previous years following the introduction of the sugar beet.
The tax was discontinued at the end of 1992.
To hear a simple explanation and a short discussion in German, listen to the podcast:
(Press the “play” button to listen to the podcast)
Salzsteuer was a tax in Germany on salt, specifically on table salt.
Originally salt was considered to be a luxury and hence was taxed.
The tax was discontinued in Germany at the beginning on 1993, in Austria in 1995, but continues to this day in some parts of Switzerland.
The type of salt that is used to keep roads clear in winter was not taxed. To avoid people buying the “wrong” type of salt and avoiding the tax, the latter was coloured and had a bitter taste added – a process called vergällen.
To hear a simple explanation and a short discussion in German, listen to the podcast:
(Press the “play” button to listen to the podcast)
This month in German Words Explained we are talking about types of tax that have been discontinued.
Tea was first taxed in Germany in the 17th Century. At first it was the import of tea that was being taxed, but in 1953 this changed to be a tax on the sale of tea products.
The tax was discontinued at the beginning of 1993.
To hear a simple explanation and a short discussion in German, listen to the podcast:
(Press the “play” button to listen to the podcast)
Die Grünen is a name given to the Green Party in Germany. Their official name is Bündnis 90/Die Grünen.
The Green Party was founded in Germany in 1980, and merged with Bündnis 90 in 1993. Between 1998 and 2005 they formed a coalition government with the SPD.
Many of their policies are connected with the environment, so that they often take on government departments associated with this area when they form local coalitions.
The following politicians belonged or belong to the party: Joschka Fischer, Jürgen Trittin and Claudia Roth.
To hear a simple explanation and a short discussion in German, listen to the podcast:
(Press the “play” button to listen to the podcast)
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