Rumtopfs are used to preserve fresh summer fruits in rum so that they can be consumed in winter.

They were produced in large numbers by a number of West German pottery manufacturers. Scheurich and Bay probably produced them in the largest numbers. One of the sets of instruction shown below says that in 1982 it was estimated that “every fifth German citizen owned a Rumtopf”.

They are used to preserve fresh summer fruits so that they can be consumed in winter.

Our particular favorite West German Rumtopf made by Jasba with its unusual stylistic design is shown below. A more common Scheurich Rumtopf is also shown.

If you are tempted to put a Rumtopf to good use – there are copies below of two of the original recipe leaflets given away with Rumtopfs from which you could choose a recipe.