What to bring from Bulgaria as a gift – 25 best souvenirs

Going to this hospitable country, be sure to take an extra suitcase with you. Trust me, you will need it. You will definitely want to take home an incredible amount of souvenirs. And we are not talking about fridge magnets, standard plates and postcards. This magical Balkan country is preparing many discoveries and wonders for you. In general, Bulgaria looks like a kind smiling grandmother, who heartily loads her guests with a variety of useful things and goodies. In order not to get confused and take authentic and high-quality items with you, study our tips and pay attention to the subtleties. So, we present the TOP of the best souvenirs.

Rose oil cosmetics

Cosmetics are sold everywhere here, and rose oil is an indispensable component of most of them. Wherever you go, its fragrance will accompany you. Cosmetics are the most popular souvenir brought from this country. It is important to choose a truly high-quality product. To do this, pay attention to the following signs.

Give preference to cosmetics of well-known manufacturers. Shop in branded stores, as it is easy to run into a fake in street shops. The list of ingredients for really high-quality products is short. It's easy to get lost in the store. Still, because cosmetics surrounds you everywhere and it is not clear which brand to give preference to. To make your choice easier, take a look at the selection of the most popular brands:

Perfumed candies Deo Perfume Candy

Unusual lollipops are a unique development of Alpi. It is not only a delicious low-calorie treat, but also a source of pleasant aroma. An interesting nuance – after eating these sweets, the smell comes not only from the person's mouth, but also the skin is fragrant, replacing the deodorant. Surprisingly, the unobtrusive delicate aroma is quite persistent and lasts up to 6 hours.

The source of the pleasant smell is geraniol, which is the main component of rose oil. To achieve the effect, the manufacturer recommends two sweets per 65 kg of weight. The price of this delicacy is low, so bags of lollipops will be an original and pleasant souvenir for relatives and friends.

herbal teas

The black tea we are accustomed to here cannot boast of great popularity. Locals prefer coffee, and herbal drinks are especially popular. The most famous is Mursala. If you decide to bring home such a collection, purchase it only in stores in factory packaging. The fact is that the plant is quite rare and has been on the verge of extinction more than once.

It is actively collected by poachers, so buying this grass from your hands means doing your bit to destroy the species. In addition, an illegally collected plant is subject to a ban on export from the country. The second name of the drink is Pirin tea, as this plant is found on the southern slopes of the Pirin mountain range. There is a beautiful legend about the origin of weed.

In search of his beloved Eurydice, the ancient Greek singer Orpheus visited these places. He wept, calling on his beloved, and where his tears fell, strange grass began to grow. The drink has a truly magical effect on the body – it tones up, strengthens the immune system, stabilizes the hormonal background, and has a beneficial effect on the nervous system. It is also called “Bulgarian Viagra”, as it is believed that it is indispensable for increasing potency.

Clothing and footwear

Going shopping, you should not waste time looking for outfits from famous European brands, this is a mistake of many tourists. In large cities of Russia, the choice of such clothes is no less wide. What you definitely need to pay attention to is colorful handmade things. Knitted outfits that can be purchased at every corner are especially good. Right on the street there are knitting grandmothers who immediately sell their products.

If you want something even more authentic, bring home a national costume, it will be a wonderful souvenir. The situation is different with shoes. In large stores or shopping centers you can buy excellent leather shoes of the highest quality. Many well-known Italian and Spanish designers trust local craftsmen to dress and dye their leather. When choosing new boots, be sure to look for the inscription “made in Bulgaria“.

Decorations

It is better to refuse to buy jewelry made of gold or jewelry with precious stones. The same choice and prices can be found in Russia. But you should not pass by silver products. It is almost impossible to meet a fake, the prices are pleasant. Jewelery has an unusual design and a huge variety. Very good jewelry.

In resorts, you can often find jewelry in a marine style, copper trinkets look elegant and unusual, which are easy to make personalized – just ask the seller to decorate a bracelet or pendant with an imprint with your name. Openwork filigree jewelry is popular. They look stylish and elegant and will be a wonderful gift. Handmade products guarantee uniqueness, no one else will have such beauty.

Ceramics

If you want to bring home a practical souvenir, ceramic tableware is your choice. This is not only a beautiful decoration. It can be washed in the dishwasher, used in the oven and microwave. Bulgarian ceramics are very durable, so plates and pots will last a long time. Local products are very recognizable due to the original painting. Drops of paint are applied to the finished dishes in a certain order. They are carefully mixed by the master or slowly flow down the walls.

The result is an original drawing, which has no analogues in other countries. Traditionally used bright colors – red, blue, white, green, yellow. When choosing ceramics, it is important not to make a mistake and not to get a fake. To do this, it is worth remembering that all products are made by hand and cannot be cheap. High-quality ceramic objects are quite durable, so if it seems that the plate is about to fall apart right in your hands, it is better to refuse to purchase it.

Textile

On all popular tourist routes, you will certainly meet shops selling excellent local textiles. Very good blankets, bedspreads, famous linens. They are distinguished by high quality, pleasant prices and durability. Particular attention should be paid to linen towels, napkins or tablecloths, decorated with beautiful national embroidery. In small towns or villages, you can find craftswomen who weave wonderful woolen carpets.

The most interesting are the so-called “shaggy carpets”. They are made from woolen threads or fibers of natural sheep's wool. One such item is crafted by a craftswoman within 2-3 months. This product will be a valuable gift for loved ones or a good accessory that creates comfort in your home. An interesting fact is that there is no single national style. Each locality has its own traditions and patterns. This is especially noticeable on the “cherga” fabric. Colors and ornaments differ in each locality.

Paintings

No resort town is complete without street artists. Masters of canvas and brush are found literally everywhere. You can buy images of your favorite landscapes or city sights from them, which will remind you of a trip to this country. As an option – their own portrait, which they will gladly write from life or from a photograph.

copper utensils

When getting to know Bulgaria, be sure to choose a day for a leisurely walk through the local market, where you can buy copper items of stunning beauty. Copper is the second most popular metal after silver. Local craftsmen turn it into a work of art. You can not only watch the creation of a masterpiece, but also take part in it. Many artisans can give you the opportunity to make a souvenir for yourself.

For an additional fee, the product of your choice will be engraved with a name or any other text. Copper vessels for water are especially good. They will decorate your kitchen and give it a unique flavor. As a gift, a man can buy an ashtray or a Turk made of this metal, and a woman will be happy with elegant trays.

Leather products

One of the most popular souvenirs is leather goods. The local craftsmen know the secrets of high-quality workmanship of this material. The vast majority of tourists take good-quality belts, bags, wallets, gloves with them. An original gift will be a national leather vest, which will give any outfit an ethnic flavor. As small presents, multi-colored leather coin boxes will be an excellent choice. Often they are made in the form of fruits, vegetables or various animals. Attract the eye with its originality and leather jewelry. You can purchase bracelets, pendants, hairpins, jewelry boxes, boxes and much more.

Icons

Icon painting on the territory of Bulgaria began to develop more than a thousand years ago, immediately after the arrival of Christianity. The locals are very religious and honor Orthodox customs. Until now, masters in their work use ancient traditions. As in ancient times, boards made of linden or cypress are taken as the basis. Then they are covered with plaster or glue as a primer, and then painted.

Paints for greater durability are kneaded on natural egg yolk. Cheaper icons may be reproductions set in wood or metal. Noteworthy are crosses and candles, which are made by hand, adding rose oil. Wooden beads are also very good. It is better to buy religious souvenirs in monasteries or church shops.

Mummer's masks

One of the most interesting traditions is a cheerful farewell to winter, Maslenitsa. At this time, street festivities and carnivals are organized in the country. Residents in smart clothes pour out onto the streets and joyfully welcome spring. The main participants in this action are the cookers. These are men who dress up as various animals or national characters. Faces are covered with traditional masks, and bells are hung from the belt. The mask is the main attribute of the cooker.

Each carnival participant must independently make it for himself, without involving anyone to help. It is best if no one sees the creation process. The mask is made from wood. The base is decorated with everything that fantasy tells. Glitter, pieces of a mirror, various shreds and so on are used. The main goal is to make it as scary as possible in order to scare away evil spirits and make them run away as far as possible. For the final intimidation, their cooker hangs bells from their clothes, whose ringing has a detrimental effect on the spirits. Each mask is unique, none is repeated. This is the most original and authentic souvenir, the origin of which is connected with a curious tradition.

Medications

This country is a major producer of medicines. They differ in variety and low price. Finding a pharmacy is not difficult, because the spelling of this word is similar to Russian. By the way, in some places there are pharmacies-museums. When you go there, you will feel like you are in the 19th century. One of them is Hippocrates Pharmacy, which you can find in Plovdiv. A pharmacist will help you navigate the local names. Graduates of special higher educational institutions are accepted for this work, training in which takes 5 years. Most medicines are available without a prescription. You will need it to buy antibiotics.

bell pepper

In fact, America was the birthplace of pepper. Only after the discovery of the New World, he first came to Portugal, then to Turkey, and only then to Bulgaria. This vegetable can be found on the shelves from July to mid-November. But if you ask the seller to sell you a bell pepper, he will not understand you. Such a concept simply does not exist there, and this nickname was given to a vegetable exclusively in the expanses of the former USSR. To indicate your desire, remember the words “chushka” or “piperka” (emphasis on the first syllable). Local cuisine is unthinkable without it. Peppers are eaten raw, added to various dishes, stewed, preserved, baked with all sorts of fillings.

Lutenitsa

This is a versatile local food. It is something like a sauce or pasta made from boiled vegetables. It includes sweet peppers, zucchini, tomatoes, sometimes potatoes, cheese, eggplant. Garlic is often added. The word “fierce” is translated as “sharp”, but this blank can have different degrees of sharpness. The ways of using lute are varied.

With meat or fish, it acts as a sauce. If you spread lutenitsa on bread, you get an excellent snack that goes well with strong alcohol. It can be substituted for ketchup for pizza. Soup or borscht, lutenitsa will add spiciness and piquancy. In the markets you can buy homemade lute, it is spicier and more fragrant. But the factory product also tastes good and has useful properties.

Rose petal jam

This delicacy can rightly be considered the hallmark of the country. Outwardly, it looks more like jam. On sale there are two options – with or without petals. For its production, the Damascus rose is used – the queen of flowers. The local culinary specialists have long possessed the secret of making delicacy and carefully pass it on from generation to generation.

Rose jam is also very useful:

If you are looking for a cute gift for a colleague or girlfriend, beautiful glass jars with bright pink marmalade with a pleasant aroma are what you need. In addition, they are very inexpensive, and you can find jam in any supermarket.

Honey

Excellent ecology and a huge variety of honey plants allow you to produce a large amount of honey. In many large cities, special honey fairs are regularly held, where you can taste different varieties before buying. We list the most popular of them. Acacia honey appears on sale during the flowering of this shrub – in May-June. It is very fragrant, light golden in color. You can store it up to three years, all this time the honey is not candied.

Lavender. There are especially many fields with these plants in Dobruja. Honey has an interesting aroma and a pinkish hue.

Sunflower. It should be eaten within a short time after purchase, as it candied very quickly.

Honey-cream is a popular product at fairs. For its preparation, honey of any kind is whipped, turning it into a tender thick substance.

The most exotic and interesting species is Manov honey. It has an almost black color and a bitter-sour taste. It is believed that it is endowed with unsurpassed healing properties. For its production, bees do not use flower nectar, but the liquid secreted by aphids. You can purchase a flavored product – with the smell of roses or lemon.

Tulumbiчкиki

National cuisine allows you to get to know the country better and appreciate its flavor. Let's move on to edible souvenirs. One of the most common sweets can be called tulumbichki. This name translates as “tubes”. Dessert is a dough stretched into an oblong shape and filled with syrup. This delicacy will appeal to those who love very sweet desserts.

For others, it may seem too cloying. Most often it is served in cafes and restaurants, but local housewives often cook tulumbi. Many craftswomen can boast of their favorite branded recipe. They are easy to find in supermarkets in the dessert section. Returning home, grab a package of tulumbichek to share your impressions with friends and relatives over a cup of tea with a delicious treat.

Spices

National cuisine is not particularly spicy, but spices give it a recognizable flavor. Here they are called “corrections”. Pay attention to the most popular seasonings. To make it easier to navigate, we indicate their original names.

Savory (chubrica). It is added to a huge number of dishes, savory can be called one of the symbols of the country.

Variegated salt (sharena sol). A versatile seasoning that can be found in soups and side dishes. It goes to meat and fish, is added to sauces. The composition includes savory, paprika, salt, cornmeal, fenugreek. There are interesting options when garlic, hot peppers or pumpkin seeds are added to this list of ingredients.

Thyme (mascherka). It has a rather bright aroma, so you need to add it to dishes carefully, do not overdo it. Combines with eggs, meat. Occasionally you can find it in some sweets.

Fenugreek (smidukh). It adorns meat and vegetable dishes with its smell. Often added to soups.

Cinnamon (caramphile). It must be sought in special departments where confectionery seasonings are sold. Cinnamon is sold both ground, often mixed with sugar, and in sticks.

Nutmeg (Indian Nutmeg). Gives a pleasant taste and aroma to meat pates. Traditionally added to Christmas baking.

Sweets

You can not ignore the souvenirs for the sweet tooth. Turkish delight and marshmallow are considered the most beloved. Try them, even if you are indifferent to confectionery. If you bring such a gift to children, believe me, they will be delighted. In the production of Turkish delight, roses were also involved. With the petals of these flowers, the most famous varieties are produced.

Rose oil is also added. It gives a delicate unusual taste and pleasant aroma. It is also a healthy product, as it is prepared from natural ingredients. Pastila is made on the basis of fruits or berries. A variety of nuts are a frequent addition. You can buy sweets by weight. Available in beautiful gift boxes. The price is low, for small boxes it starts from 1 lev.

Cheese

Extensive pastures make it possible to produce a variety of dairy products. Cheeses take pride of place among them.

Brynza (siren). Soft salty white cheese. It is made from the milk of cows, sheep and even buffaloes. Many national dishes are made on the basis of brynza. When choosing it in the store, pay attention to the price. If you do not want to buy a product with vegetable fats, buy varieties more expensive than 5 lev per kilogram.

Yellow cheese (kashkaval). Made from goat and sheep milk. He is loved in many countries of the Balkan Peninsula. Locals add cheese to meat and vegetable dishes, make stuffing for pies and even fry them on the basis of kashkaval. A very good product for those who watch their weight and prefer a healthy diet.

Cream cheese (cream sirené). A soft and tender product is made from cottage cheese. It tastes slightly salty, reminiscent of the famous Philadelphia cheese.

Melted cheese (topeno sirene). When choosing, pay attention to the composition. The product, made from natural ingredients, has a wonderful taste and affordable price.

Cheese with blue mold (signo sirene). The king of local cheeses. It's not cheap, but it tastes very good. You can buy it by weight or in small sticks in a portion package.

Sausage Lukanka

Among meat delicacies, pay attention to dry-cured sausage lukanka. It is made from pork, so the sausage is quite oily. After manufacturing, the product must dry and ripen within a month. During this time, a noble mold forms on the surface. A large amount of spices is certainly added to the meat, so the delicacy is very fragrant. It is convenient to transport as it can be stored for a long time.

The name alludes to the fact that the sausage should contain onions. This used to be the case, but now the lukanka cooked according to old recipes is no longer to be found. This ingredient ceased to be popular and gradually disappeared from the recipe.

In the old days, the locals observed an interesting tradition. When a young man reached the age of 18, a special holiday was arranged. Friends, relatives and neighbors congratulated the guy on entering adulthood. The young man was offered a symbolic treat – Shumen beer. A large dish with thinly sliced ​​onion served as an appetizer. After the young man tasted the treat, he was considered an adult and endowed with all rights and obligations. This tradition is still alive in some areas.

Wine

Winemaking has been developed here for a very long time. The law defines special zones for the production of wine.

Danube plain. It is home to excellent dry white, sparkling and red wines. They have a pleasant fruity flavor.

Black Sea region. In these places, international grape varieties are grown – Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Muscat. The white wines produced here are famous for their delicate and delicate taste.

Lowland of Thrace. Since ancient times, rich red wines have been made in this region.

Rose Valley. The realm of white, light, fresh wines, emitting the fragrance of fruits.

Struma river area. Luxurious red rich wines from red grapes.

In all these regions, the climate is different, respectively, the wine also has its own characteristics that cannot be confused. In mid-February, you can get to a bright colorful holiday dedicated to Trifun, the patron saint of winemakers. At this event, you can taste and purchase a variety of drinks. Sweet wine is quite rare in this country. If you visit Balchik, be sure to visit the local Botanical Garden.

There is a curious establishment – a winery where you can buy drinks with an amazing sweet taste. The secret is that here honey is added to the wine. There is also the opportunity to taste and purchase local pride – “Snow Wine”. It got its name from the time of the grape harvest. It is harvested already in December, after the first snow falls. This is a sweet drink with a delicate taste and aroma. Drinks here are not cheap, but they are worth it.

Brandy

Let's move on to stronger alcohol. If you can be treated to wine during the day, then rakia is an attribute of a leisurely dinner. This drink is a strong moonshine, which is made from fruits. The locals affectionately call it “rakiya”. For cooking use apples, quince, pears, figs, cherries, plums and so on. If you follow the standard, then you need to take fruits of only one type, without mixing them. The highest quality and most expensive option is made from apricots, the most budgetary – from small red or yellow plums.

The tradition of using raki has been around for a long time. It is drunk from small glasses before meals, as an aperitif. Drink is savored in small sips; Rakia should be at room temperature. In hot summer weather, it can be slightly cooled. In winter, on the contrary, rakia is often slightly warmed up and thus defeats a cold. The strength of the traditional drink is 40 degrees. It is customary to serve an appetizer with rakia.

Usually it is cheese, vegetables, meat delicacies. It is perfectly complemented by a cheese plate and eggs. The locals will be happy to tell you about the healing properties of rakia. It defeats infections, improves metabolism, and is useful for the stomach. But in pursuit of a miraculous result, it is better not to abuse the drink, otherwise you will fully experience the amazing local “makhmurluk”, that is, a hangover.

Liqueur Menta

This is another popular drink. The basis is ethyl alcohol and mint. Fortress – 25 degrees. A distinctive feature is a mild taste, rich green color and fresh aroma. On sale you can find bottles of different capacities – from a liter to small 200-gram scales. In undiluted form, it is rarely drunk. The liqueur is very sweet and concentrated. But summer cocktails based on it are simply wonderful. The drink goes well with Sprite, ice cream, cream, lemon and other ingredients.

Tourists who are not afraid of experiments can try a unique local cocktail based on Menta, milk and sour cream. The most famous is the cloud cocktail. For its preparation, in equal proportions, they take strong anise “Mastic” and “Mentu”. Drinks have different densities, so they are poured in layers and try not to mix, then decorate with cream. “Cloud” is well suited for a date with a loved one.

Strong “Mastic” symbolizes the masculine principle, and delicate sweet mint liqueur demonstrates the charm of a woman. Local residents believe that this cocktail sharpens the senses and promotes rapprochement. Savvy housewives use liquor in cooking to prepare various desserts.

In this country there is where to turn around for a tourist. People from Russia in Bulgaria are traditionally treated well, because we are connected by a long-standing friendship that developed back in the Soviet years. There will be entertainment for those who like to mindlessly soak up the beach, connoisseurs of architectural beauties and ancient monuments. Believers will have the opportunity to visit holy places revered by Christians. Those who are zealous about their health will find here many springs with healing water.

Athletes will be delighted with the ski resorts, which are suitable even for beginners. The country is small, so in one trip you can visit several regions and gain a variety of experiences. Family holidays are also good here. Children will not be bored, and the trip will be relatively inexpensive. Over the past decades, the service has also changed for the better. We guarantee that after the first visit to these hospitable and welcoming places, you will certainly want to come back here again.