From a family idea to a Brandenburg mustard manufactory
Since the year 2000, the Klosterfelder Senfmühle has stood for artisanally produced mustard from the Barnim region. What began as the Trautmann family's decision to become mustard makers in Brandenburg grew step by step into a small manufactory: knowledge and machinery were continuously expanded until production moved into its own company premises in the home village of Klosterfelde, a district of Wandlitz north of Berlin. Remarkably: the father built the mustard mills for crushing and grinding the seeds himself. The manufactory still lives by this attitude — pragmatic, idiosyncratic, trusting in its own taste.
Klosterfelde is located on the edge of the Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve, in the middle of a forest and lake landscape that almost forces one to think in terms of seasons and regionality. This location is no coincidence, but a program.
Cold grinding instead of industrial speed: the craft behind it
The Klosterfelder process follows a simple logic: the slower, the more aromatic. The mustard seed is deliberately not de-oiled before processing — this preserves the natural ingredients and essential oils of the seed. The grains are then crushed together with herbs in the stone mill. The resulting mash rests overnight and swells before it is processed cold and slowly between two millstones into the finished mass. No heat input, no shortcuts.
Additives, artificial flavors, dyes, and preservatives are completely avoided. All products are vegan. For ingredients like honey, pumpkin, apple, pear, and plum, the manufactory specifically draws on the immediate surroundings — the honey for the honey mustard, for example, comes from the beekeeper next door. Three types of mustard seeds, each with its own sharpness and bitter aroma, form the basis; their mixing ratio varies depending on the variety.
A range between Berlin "Mostrich" and fiery Boris
The spectrum ranges from fine to coarse-grained texture, from mild-fruity to fiery-hot. Classics like the Boulettensenf Berliner Art — the indispensable companion to the capital's cuisine — or Omas Körniger Senf stand alongside characterful specialties: the "Scharfe Boris" relies on uncompromising sharpness, the plum mustard brings fruit and spice together, the garlic mustard works with powerful aromatic contrasts. In total, the range includes around 40 different mustard specialties. The manufactory sells its products through markets, retailers, its own farm shop in Klosterfelde, and the online shop — and occasionally works with other manufactories from the region for new ideas.
