8+1 Hungarian souvenirs no foreigner can resist to buy

Daily News Hungary often writes about all kinds of Hungarian specialities and Hungaricums, such as the paprika of Szeged, fröccs, Egri Bikavér, chimney cake, fisherman’s soup or goulash. Now, Magyarorszagom.hu collected 8+1 Hungarian souvenirs which are the most popular items that travellers cannot resist buying when they are visiting our country.

Let’s start with the most obvious ones:

Special alcoholic beverages

Pálinka

There is no household in Hungary where you cannot find at least one dusty bottle of pálinka somewhere in the pantry, maybe on top of an old shelf if the residents are not drinkers. Pálinka is the most well-known ancient beverage of Hungarians.

The history of the Hungarian Pálinka

It is a spirit made of fruits, usually of apricots, plums, cherries or pears, but there is a saying among Hungarians that “there is no fruit from which you cannot make pálinka” (which is of course not necessarily true, but sounds nice). Be warned: it is quite strong, and people who are not used to it tend to feel a little bit sick when they try it for the first time.

Americans try Hungarian pálinka for the first time – VIDEO

Hungarian wines

There is an almost endless list of articles about the wonderful Hungarian wines on Daily News Hungary. Hungarian wines are frequently winning local and international wine competitions, and there is always at least one Hungarian wine among the best wines in the world. You can find red, white or rosé, regular or sparkling, something for every taste. The Egri Bikavér is one of the most well-known Hungarian red wine blends which is officially listed as a Hungaricum.

Unicum

Unicum is a Hungarian herbal liqueur which is usually drunk as a digestif or aperitif. It has a history of more than 200 years.

The liqueur is produced by the Zwack company, using a secret formula consisting of more than forty different herbs.

Unicum is regarded to be one of the national drinks of Hungary. The production facility offers tours which include the tasting of the two different varieties: Unicum, and Unicum Plum. According to the manufacturer, the original Unicum is no longer distributed in the US, having been replaced by Unicum Next, which is a sweeter, thinner-bodied drink with a more prominent citrus flavour.

Embroidery

Tablecloths

The hand-made embroidered tablecloths are there in every souvenir or gift shop in Hungary. Embroidery has a long history in Hungary, and each ethnic group has its own way and style. People who are interested in folk art cannot leave the country without at least looking through the beautiful embroidery patterns.

Shirts

It is the same with embroidered shirts which are usually bright white with a colourful pattern embroidered on them.

Porcelain

Herend porcelain

The Herend Porcelain Manufactory was founded in 1826. For a very long time, it was an honourable privilege to own the so-called white gold: Herend porcelain. It is as prestigious as the other well-known Hungarian porcelain manufactory: Zsolnay from Pécs. At the first World Exhibition in London, Queen Victoria purchased a set of Herend porcelain with a butterflies and purple peonies pattern which became the symbol of Herend afterwards.

If you want to learn more about The Herend Porcelain Manufactory, click here for a full article about them.

Porcelain dolls

Hungarian porcelain dolls have appeared in many museums all over the world. The ceramic figures are often dressed in the Hungarian national costume or other beautiful dresses decorated with traditional Hungarian patterns. The dolls are also all hand-made.

Ajka Crystal

Ajka Crystal was founded in 1897, and similarly to the products of The Herend Porcelain Manufactory; their products have reached the other side of the globe. The colourful, hand-made, high-quality glass products are available in all kinds of styles.

Easter eggs

Easter eggs are not only available during Easter, but they can be purchased all year round in the souvenir shops of Budapest. They are quite popular among tourists and travellers who often purchase the special eggs as gifts for their loved ones.

Featured image: Facebook.com/ajkacrystal/

Source: www.magyarorszagom.hu; Daily News Hungary