The theme of souvenirs is always relevant, because it is so pleasant to give them to relatives and friends. Many people try to bring something traditional from the trip, reminiscent of their stay in a certain country or city. The Czech Republic attracts with its magical architectural monuments, uncrowded streets, colorful landscapes and incredibly colorful local cuisine. But what can you bring from the Czech Republic to proudly show your friends, put on a shelf by the fireplace or dress as a decoration? In this country there is anything you want, besides, the trip will turn out to be rich in impressions and vivid emotions. It is not necessary to include imagination, it is enough to go to one of the stalls, where everything is already on the shelves. Today the Czech Republic is famous not only for its beautiful castles, but also for its amazing shops that can satisfy even the most sophisticated shopaholic.
Karlovy Vary waffles
Delicious and light Oplatky waffles are suitable as a pleasant souvenir for a sweet tooth. This is a national flour product made in the form of a large coin. They consist of two or more halves, and inside are coated with delicious filling. Although the composition is indicated on each package, no one is going to divulge the proportions and other tricks. Rumor has it that it is the healing Karlovy Vary mineral water that gives a unique taste to these sweets. They wanted to take the recipe itself to Germany, but after lengthy proceedings, the court recognized that only the Czech Republic had the right to manufacture this product.
The freshest payments are sold at low prices in the center of Karlovy Vary. It is here that even medicinal waffles are baked according to a special recipe. The multilayer construction resembles a waffle cake, and it is cut according to the same principle. The payments have more than 15 different fillings: banana, coffee, chocolate and even liqueur and others. There is a confectionery seal on top of them. Interestingly, there is still no true recipe for payments on the Internet, so you can try a real culinary creation only here.
Pardubice gingerbread
In Pardubice, gingerbread and gingerbread houses have been made according to a secret recipe for over a hundred years. This sweet and tasty product is made from dough with syrup, sugar and honey. Thanks to such spices as coriander, anise and pepper, Pardubice gingerbread has an appetizing taste and unusual aroma. They are covered with chocolate or icing and painted by hand using pastry pencils. Decorated with decorative ornaments and inscriptions made in the language of the Czech people.
Often, honey sweets are created in the form of hearts, flowers and animals in factories or pastry shops. They are sold in fair shops all over the place. They are so skillfully painted with colored glaze that it is hard to believe that this beauty was created by a human hand. Gingerbread houses are especially popular with tourists and locals. They are so bright and beautiful that it is simply impossible to pass by these multi-colored designs.
Trdelnik
The word "trdelnik" means "fool" and implies that the customer was fooled into buying pastries without filling. But there are no disappointed in this delicacy. Trdelnik is a delicious yeast dough shaped like a spring in the form of a tube. They are cooked on specific skewers over charcoal, and sold empty or with mouth-watering fillings. Different filling: cream, ice cream, fruit jam, Nutella chocolate spread. Top the dough is decorated with nuts, powder or vanilla.
Local sweets, like most Czech dishes, are delicious. They are sold in central squares, in pastry shops and are the main attribute of all holidays. According to the old tradition, these sweet buns are used to decorate the Christmas table, and they are also baked on Christmas Eve and on the Day of St. George the Victorious. During folk festivals, they are presented to young children and women in labor. Whole trays of steaming buns are put out on the streets, which can be eaten directly hot.
Hermelin cheese
Cheese comes first in traditional Czech cuisine. They are added to almost all dishes, marinated with spices or onions with a large abundance of oil, and they also eat dry wine and beer with it. When you want to please your loved ones with an appetizing present, you can buy hermelin. This soft, greasy white variety with a moldy surface is very reminiscent of Camembert. It is characterized by the fact that during maturation, deep grooves are obtained inside the head.
If translated "Hermelin", it sounds like an ermine, and this is no coincidence. This gastronomic delicacy was considered truly royal, and it got its name in honor of the mantle of rulers, sewn from expensive snow-white fur. In the old days, only wealthy Czechs could afford it, now it is sold in many supermarkets and specialty stores.
This cheese product deserves to be taken home. In addition, well-known chefs and gourmets claim that you can only feel all the aromatic and taste properties of Germelin by handing it over to heat treatment. It smells and tastes when baked, roasted or grilled.
Beer
Rumors about delicious Czech beer spread all over the world. More than 120 breweries have been built in the country, the products of which have passed a strict audit and have a special distinction - Ceske pivo. This mark applies to products only within the republic, but it is prohibited by law to use it in industries outside its borders.
Authentic Czech beer is characterized by an intense taste with a little bitterness. It is brewed exclusively from high-quality raw materials, therefore it does not contain third-party flavors. Popular brands: Pilsner Urquell, Velkopopovicky Kozel, Staropramen, Gambrinus, Radegast, Starobrno. During tours of the Krusovice brewery, tourists are offered not only tasting of all sorts of famous beer, but also original mugs to it.
Some breweries have colorful sets that consist of small containers and other accessories. Gift options include, among other things, a small booklet and a bottle opener. It is worth recalling that each type of beer has a different shelf life, so not all bottles with intoxicating contents are suitable for souvenirs.
Becherovka
Becherovka liqueur is considered an equally popular drink. In the Czech Republic, there is the Becherovka Museum, where you can learn the whole history of this drink. They were originally stomach drops invented in 1807 by the pharmacist Josef Becher. A little later, Becher's son, Jan, turned the drops into a popular liqueur. Today it is traded in 35 countries of the world. It has a bittersweet taste and is sold not only in stores, but also in bars and restaurants. The tincture is prepared for about 2-3 months and has a strength of 38%. Infused with 20 medicinal herbs, it is considered the best digestive aid.
The Czechs themselves call the Becherovka plant the thirteenth spring of Karlovy Vary. For many years, the original recipe was carefully kept by the Becher family, and now in the Czech Republic it is the number 1 alcoholic drink, like vodka in Russia. The herbal tincture is drunk neat as an aperitif or added to tea or coffee. Cocktails are made from it, the recipe of which is truly impressive. At the moment, there are 4 varieties of this masterpiece on sale.
Slivovitsa
Czech Slivovice is a real queen in the kingdom of alcoholic beverages. It expresses the traditions of the local population and is liked by visiting tourists. The strength of plum brandy varies in the range of 45-72%, and it tastes like moonshine or brandy. The drink is made on the basis of plum juice. Ripe unpeeled plums are placed in a container and water is added. Fermentation lasts about 2 months, then the mixture is distilled in two stages.Some manufacturers make pitted plum brandy, but in this case it turns out to be less aromatic.
The most outstanding brands under which this aperitif is produced: Zufanek, Bozkov, R. Jelinek. You can buy it for trial at any grocery store. In souvenir shops, there is a collection version with an aging of 5-7 years in a beautiful gift box. The liquid itself is both transparent and golden in color. A darker color is achieved when it is infused in oak barrels. The aperitif has a pleasant mild flavor, in which notes of aromatic ripe plum can be traced - a hangover after it is tolerated quite easily.
Medicines
Prices in Czech pharmacies are lower than the EU average, and no one has ever complained about the quality of medicines. When entering the republic, some insurances may partially cover the cost of medicines if you have a prescription. In hospitals, except in rare cases, you will not have to pay. The doctor can order medicines on demand personally at any pharmacy in the city by phone. In addition, there is online drug delivery. There is no advertisements for medicines on television, and there is no advertisements on stands in pharmacies either. This is prohibited by law.
Everything is hidden out of sight, which means it's better to know the names in advance. You can speak English with sellers, although Czech is very similar to Russian. When buying medicines, a doctor's prescription is almost always required, and it is also not customary to ask a pharmacist for advice about your illnesses. There are not many 24-hour pharmacies in the country. Almost every Saturday and Sunday they have a day off, and on Friday they work for a short time.
Cosmetics
The release of cosmetic products on a national scale began to be engaged in 1740 at the behest of the Queen of Bohemia Maria Theresa. Then, at her order, a cosmetic manufactory was opened in Karlovy Vary. Today, all Europeans are actively using these means, only in the CIS they know little about it. Scrubs, creams, shampoos, gels and perfumes will be a wonderful gift for lovely ladies. Inexpensive prices for cosmetics are due to the fact that this land has everything for its own production: raw materials, mineral waters and salts, as well as a favorable geographic location.
To create high-quality natural cosmetics, ingredients traditional for this region are used here. For example, taking wine or grapes as a basis, they produce all kinds of gels and creams that perfectly moisturize the skin, help reduce stretch marks and cellulite. Beer-based products are good for hair, so it's worth getting serious about buying a malt and hop-based shampoo and balm. Hemp series - helps with eczema, psoriasis, and acne.
Clothes and footwear
The best clothing and footwear assortment was organized in Prague. It is in the capital that, in addition to shopping centers, there are whole streets, on which all famous European brands are lined up, such as Dior, Hugo Boss, Armani, Versace. In addition to expensive retail outlets, there was also a place for stores with more affordable prices: Benetton, H&M, Mango, Vero Moda. All products, from children's clothing to stylish and sportswear, are of high quality.
If you want to indulge in shopping for the whole day, then many recommend visiting the megamalls: Palladium, Novy Smichov, Palace Flora and Kotva. As for footwear, it has been known since the times of the Soviet Union. Tourists who have seen the sights have already acquired a couple of high-quality Czech "cakes", and some of them manage to carry them in almost wholesale lots. But first of all, the Czechs themselves wear their own shoes. The most famous factory is TSEBO, followed by the firm of Bata. It is with these names that Russians associate beauty, quality, and convenience for centuries.
Tonak hats
Tonak is one of the largest headwear manufacturers in the world. Today, one third of the assortment produced is exported to the main European countries. It all started in 1799 with a hat shop, which Johan Hückel deigned to open in the old town of Neu-Titschein. Since that time, the words "quality" and "original design" have gone side by side with the name Tonak.
At all times, Tonak hats have been worn by the upper classes of society. Products are made from natural raw materials: goat wool, rabbit fluff, and other materials. These branded hats have become a stylish accessory for men and women of all generations and nationalities. The factory produces not only hats, but also caps, berets, various kinds of fez, as well as hat blanks. Wenceslas Square in Prague is home to a real "hat paradise" with a huge variety of shapes, sizes and colors.
Puppets
On the threshold of the 18th century, puppets were made by hand for the popular street performances of that time. Two centuries later, plaster and wooden toys themselves became objects of art. Czech craftsmen pride themselves on their ability to make toy caricatures, and now, for many, this business has grown into a family business. Characters of historical events and fairy tales, "famous" in the Czech Republic, come to life, you just have to pull the strings.
Any puppet will be an interesting gift for a child, and is also suitable for home decoration. The price of such a toy depends on its size. Good quality dolls can cost over € 100. Hand-made toys are found everywhere, in every corner of squares and streets. Clowns, witches, princesses and dwarfs are dressed in colorful costumes and are completely ready for home puppet shows.
Krtek
Who would have thought that a mole from a cartoon from the times of the USSR is a favorite character of the Czechs and one of the main symbols of the Czech Republic! On this cartoon, more than one generation of children has grown up who have become adults long ago. Big-eyed Krtek has settled on every street in the Czech Republic, more than enough. Soft toys in multi-colored knitted hats will delight a child and become a real surprise for any holiday.
Krotek's muzzle is so popular that it is found on all souvenir products: caps, T-shirts, knapsacks, mugs, postcards, magnets and key chains. The Fat Mole, created by cartoonist Miller, is made of wood or plastic. It can easily cause a storm of positive emotions in both the donor and the recipient of the presentation. The price of such a toy is quite small, but the pleasure from such a purchase will be really great.
Wooden Toys
From the trip, you can bring educational games made of wood, which develop imagination and fine motor skills in children. Maybe for some it will be a surprise, but the country is famous for the production of wooden toys. They are very popular among tourists, which is why Chinese fakes have appeared on sale. They cost much less, so you need to look at both during the purchase.
Today the Detoa company is engaged in the production and sale of traditional wooden toys. Multicolored wood products are environmentally friendly and completely harmless. These simple objects are able to form the imagination and stimulate children to explore the world around them and make new discoveries. Toy heroes, cubes, animals will give your child joy and a whole sea of pleasure. And for adults, addictive puzzles are well suited.
Koh-i-Noor pencils
This present can be presented to children and relatives who are engaged in creative work. At home, he certainly will not be stale. We are talking about the Koh-i-Noor trademark, which has gained fame in more than 80 countries around the world. The stationery of this company first appeared in Austria, and now the main branch has moved to the Czech Republic. It all started with a nondescript simple pencil, and today Kohinoor stationery numbers more than 5 thousand items. All things are of the highest quality and, to top it all off, are comfortable and practical to use.
During the Soviet era, Koh-i-Noor was in short supply in Russia, but from time to time it appeared in shop windows.Every student dreamed of having in his arsenal a box of pencils of varying degrees of hardness. The package always contained a snow-white pencil, which no one found use. In fact, it was meant to be drawn on black paper. Pencils draw incomparably to this day, and the lead does not crack or break when sharpened. By the way, you can buy them at a nice price.
Czech garnet
Tourists often turn their gaze to the luxurious garnet jewelry. This is no coincidence! It's all about the energy of the stone - it is a decoration, a symbol and at the same time a talisman. He will gladly do a good service to certain signs of the zodiac. When buying this stone, some connoisseurs recommend bypassing antique stores so as not to pick up the energy of the former owner. In no case should you steal it, otherwise everything will end in disaster for the thief.
The stone itself, in terms of color and parameters, resembles a seed of a pomegranate fruit. An expensive stone has more than 50 facets, at the same time, a cheap one will not do 12. Garnet is ranked among Bohemian jewelry stones and conquered the whole world with its beauty and grace. In Turnov, where garnet is mined, there is a small museum and a jewelry store, where tourists can buy a real stone, confirmed by a certificate. The chain of branded stores called "Cesky granat" also guarantees authenticity.
Vltavin
Very few facts are known about this mineral. It is a bottle green volcanic glass stone. It doesn't look cheap at all. Indigenous craftsmen often exploit this semi-precious stone to create unique creations, enclosing them in silver frames. It is mined only in the south of the country, on the territory of the Vltava. It is most profitable to buy certified masterpieces from vltavin in highly specialized stores in the Czech Republic.
The pebble itself is quite rare and green. These properties are very popular with many psychics and fortune-tellers. It is a bit like jade. The natural emerald color accumulates vitality and is suitable for meditation. Many legends and restrictions are associated with the stone. For example, it cures migraines, but you cannot swim in a Vltavin suspension so as not to drown. According to legend, these are the smallest fragments of a meteorite that once fell to the ground. Tellingly, air bubbles inside the stone could form only under conditions corresponding to an altitude of 25 km above the earth's surface. So the story is quite realistic.
Crystal and glass
Bohemian glass can be called one of the hallmarks of this ancient land. For the first time they started talking about it in 1162, and during the Middle Ages, the so-called blown Bohemian glass was already sold in full swing in France, Flanders, Saxony. The ancient technology is used to this day and pleases everyone with its unsurpassed quality. Czech craftsmen create smooth cast, cut and even colored crystal.
This is a very painstaking work that requires some skill. The most beautiful are crystal objects with gilding and molding. Such works of art look simply royal and will make any holiday luxurious. In order not to bring a fake, the product should be checked for crystal purity.
Real crystal is not cloudy, does not contain any inclusions or air bubbles. A crystal piece is always heavy, and when you tap it with a pen, the ringing lasts at least 4 seconds. Sound is the main criterion when choosing a good glass. It is usually sufficient to run a wet finger along the edge of the garment. If you hear a characteristic continuous ringing - this is nothing more than crystal.
Porcelain
Like all creations of this wonderful land, Czech porcelain is known all over the world for its divine quality, unique beauty and style. This is a real souvenir that will last for more than a dozen years and will bring joy to its owner. The products of the concerns "Karlovarsky Porcelan" and "Starorolsky Porzellan" deserve attention. Here they make amazing coffee pots, butter cans, tureens and table sets, which are not inferior in quality to goods from England and Japan.
Bohemian porcelain is distinguished from other manufacturers by inimitable decor and patterns in the style of "onion". It is made of environmentally friendly materials and painted with natural dyes. Milky-white thin sets are decorated with bright blue patterns, and under a thin layer of glaze, a barely noticeable brand of the manufacturer is usually visible. The ornament is made accurately, with high quality, with equally symmetrical lines and curls. Even in the color palette, one can feel the corporate identity - the patterns are always bright, clear, incredibly beautiful.
Mikov knives
In 1794, the first blades were released under the Mikov label. Rumors of this wonderful weapon quickly spread throughout Europe. Soon, the craftsmen received orders of the international level. During the Second World War, during the occupation, the production of knives was reduced, and the enterprise was reorganized for the military needs of the Third Reich. Only in 1955 the production came to life and turned into a giant concern. Even today, with its own Solingen arms factory, Germany orders multi-object blades from the Czech Republic.
The automatic knives of this company are especially famous. Even an ignorant person will recognize unusual multidisciplinary models. To create this edged weapon, decorative overlays are used from valuable species of wood, horns, and bones. A special flat spring makes it flip-out, and if removed, it turns into a conventional knife. Such a gift, and even in a leather case, will be an excellent alternative to some beer or brandy. In addition, the Mikov company has a considerable range of its original products.
