When traveling to this hospitable country, be sure to take an extra suitcase. Believe me, you’ll need it. You’ll definitely want to take home an incredible amount of souvenirs. And we’re not talking about refrigerator magnets, standard plates, and postcards. This magical Balkan country has many discoveries and wonders in store for you.
Bulgaria is like a kind, smiling grandmother who loads her guests with various useful and tasty things from the bottom of her heart. To make sure you grab authentic and high-quality items, study our tips and pay attention to the subtleties. So, let’s talk about what to bring from Bulgaria as gifts for yourself and friends.
Rose Oil-Based Cosmetics
Cosmetic products are sold everywhere here, and the essential component of most of them is rose oil. Wherever you go, its aroma 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.
Prefer cosmetics from well-known manufacturers. Shop in branded stores, as it’s easy to get a fake in street stalls. The ingredient list of truly high-quality products is short. It’s easy to get confused in the store. After all, cosmetics surround you everywhere, and it’s unclear which brand to prefer.
To make the choice easier, check out the selection of the most popular brands:
- Refan: A wide range of body care products: soap, oil, various creams, perfumes, sprays, and so on. It comes in several series and contains natural components.
- Biofresh, Rose of Bulgaria series: Produces excellent shower gels, creams, shampoos, lotions. Soap from this series, handmade, will be a wonderful gift.
- Bulgarian Rose: The company has been in business since 1948. Quality tested by time. The cosmetics contain only environmentally friendly and natural ingredients.
Deo Perfume Candy
Unusual candies are a unique development of the Alpi company. They are not only tasty, low-calorie treats but also a source of a pleasant aroma. An interesting nuance is that after consuming these candies, the scent comes not only from the person’s mouth but also from their skin, replacing deodorant. Surprisingly, the subtle delicate aroma is quite persistent and lasts up to 6 hours.
The source of the pleasant smell is geraniol, the main component of rose oil. To achieve the effect, the manufacturer recommends two candies per 65 kg of weight. The price of this treat is low, so packets of candies will be an original and pleasant souvenir for relatives and friends.
Herbal Teas
Black tea, familiar to us, is not very popular here. Locals prefer coffee, and herbal drinks are especially loved. The most famous is Mursal tea. If you decide to bring home such a collection, buy it only in stores in factory packaging. The fact is that the plant is quite rare and has repeatedly been on the brink of extinction.
It is actively harvested by poachers, so buying this herb from hands means contributing to the destruction of the species. Moreover, illegally harvested plants are subject to an export ban. The second name of the drink is Pirin tea because this plant is found on the southern slopes of the Pirin mountain range. There is a beautiful legend about the origin of the herb.
In search of his beloved Eurydice, the ancient Greek singer Orpheus visited these places. He wept, calling out to his beloved, and wherever his tears fell, an exotic herb began to grow. The drink has a truly magical effect on the body — it tones, strengthens the immune system, stabilizes the hormonal background, and has a beneficial effect on the nervous system. It is also called “Bulgarian Viagra” because it is considered indispensable for enhancing potency.
Clothing and Footwear
When shopping, don’t waste time looking for outfits from well-known European brands, which is a mistake many tourists make. In large Russian cities, the selection of such clothing is no less wide. What you should definitely pay attention to are colorful handmade items. Especially good are knitted outfits, which can be purchased everywhere.
You can meet knitting grandmothers right on the street, selling their products there. If you want something even more authentic, bring home a national costume, which will be a wonderful souvenir. It’s a different story with footwear. In large stores or shopping centers, you can buy excellent high-quality leather shoes.
Many famous Italian and Spanish designers trust local craftsmen with the tanning and dyeing of leather. When choosing new boots, be sure to look for the inscription “made in Bulgaria.”
Jewelry
It is better to refrain from buying gold jewelry or jewelry with precious stones. The same selection and prices can be found in Russia. But you shouldn’t pass by silver items. It’s almost impossible to find a fake, and the prices are pleasant. The jewelry stands out with its unusual design and great variety. Costume jewelry is also very good.
In resorts, you can often find jewelry in a marine style, and copper trinkets, which can easily be personalized — just ask the seller to adorn the bracelet or pendant with an imprint of your name, look festive and unusual. Filigree jewelry enjoys popularity. They look stylish and elegant and will be a wonderful gift. Handmade items guarantee uniqueness; such beauty will be found nowhere else.
Ceramics
If you want to bring home a practical souvenir, your choice is ceramic dishes. It is not only a beautiful decoration. They can be washed in a dishwasher, used in the oven and microwave. Bulgarian ceramics are very durable, so plates and pots will last a long time. Local items are very recognizable thanks to their original painting.
Drops of paint are applied to the finished dishes in a specific order. They are carefully mixed by the craftsman or slowly run down the walls. The result is an original pattern with no analogs in other countries. Bright colors are traditionally used — red, blue, white, green, yellow.
When choosing ceramics, it is important not to make a mistake and not buy a fake. To do this, remember that all items are handmade and cannot be cheap. High-quality ceramic items are quite durable, so if it seems that the plate will fall apart right in your hands, it’s better to refuse to buy it.
Textiles
On all popular tourist routes, you will undoubtedly come across shops selling excellent local textiles. The blankets, bedspreads, and famous bed linen are very good. They are distinguished by high quality, pleasant prices, and durability.
Special 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 so-called “shaggy carpets” are the most interesting. They are made from woolen threads or fibers of natural sheep wool.
One such item takes 2-3 months for a craftswoman to make. This item will be a valuable gift for loved ones or a successful accessory creating coziness in your home. An interesting fact is that there is no single national style.
Each locality has its traditions and patterns. This is especially noticeable on the “cherga” fabric. Colors and ornaments vary in every settlement.
Paintings
No resort town is complete without street artists. Masters of canvas and brush can be found literally everywhere. You can buy images of landscapes or city sights that you liked and which will remind you of your trip to this country. Alternatively, you can get your portrait painted from life or a photograph.
Copperware
When getting acquainted with Bulgaria, be sure to choose a day for a leisurely walk through the local market, where you can buy stunningly beautiful copper items. Copper is the second most popular metal after silver. Local craftsmen turn it into works of art. You can not only watch the creation of a masterpiece but also take part in it.
Many craftsmen may give you the opportunity to make a souvenir for yourself. For an additional fee, they will engrave your name or any other text on the item you choose. Copper water vessels are especially good. They will decorate your kitchen and give it a unique color. A man can be given an ashtray or a cezve made of this metal, and a woman will be pleased with elegant trays.
Leather Goods
One of the most popular souvenirs is leather goods. Local craftsmen know the secrets of quality tanning of this material. The vast majority of tourists take home sturdy belts, bags, wallets, gloves. A national leather vest, which will give any outfit an ethnic flavor, will be an original gift.
As small presents, colorful leather coin purses are an excellent choice. They are often made in the form of fruits, vegetables, or various animals. Leather jewelry also attracts attention with its originality. You can buy bracelets, pendants, hairpins, boxes, and much more.
Icons
Icon painting in Bulgaria began to develop more than a thousand years ago, immediately after the advent of Christianity. Locals are very religious and respect Orthodox customs. To this day, masters use ancient traditions in their work. As in ancient times, the basis is boards made of linden or cypress. Then they are covered with gypsum or glue as a primer, and then painted.
For greater durability, the paints are mixed with natural egg yolk. Cheaper icons may be reproductions framed in wood or metal. Crosses and candles made by hand, with added rose oil, also deserve attention. Wooden rosaries are also very good. It is better to buy religious souvenirs in monasteries or church shops.
Kukeri Masks
One of the most interesting traditions is the merry farewell to winter, Maslenitsa. During this time, street festivities and carnivals are held in the country. Dressed-up residents take to the streets and joyfully welcome spring. The main participants in this event are Kukeri. These are men who dress up as various animals or national characters. Faces are covered with traditional masks, and bells are hung on the belt. The mask is the main attribute of the Kuker.
Each participant in the carnival must make it himself, without attracting anyone’s help. It’s best if no one sees the creation process. The mask is made of wood. The base is decorated with whatever the imagination suggests. Glitter, pieces of mirror, different rags, and so on are used.
The main goal is to make it as scary as possible to scare away evil spirits and make them flee as far as possible. For additional intimidation, the Kuker hangs bells on his clothes, whose ringing has a devastating effect on spirits. Each mask is unique; no two are the same. This is the most original and authentic souvenir, the origin of which is associated with an interesting tradition.
Medicines
This country is a major producer of medicines. They are diverse and inexpensive. Finding a pharmacy is easy because the word is written similarly to Russian. By the way, in some places, there are still pharmacy museums. Entering them, you will feel like you are in the 19th century. One of them is the Hippocrates pharmacy, which you can find in Plovdiv. The pharmacist will help you navigate local names. Graduates of special higher educational institutions, where training takes 5 years, work in pharmacies. Most medications are sold without a prescription. You will need one to buy antibiotics.
Bulgarian Pepper
Pepper’s homeland was actually America. Only after the discovery of the New World did it first reach Portugal, then Turkey, and finally Bulgaria. This vegetable can be found on the shelves from July to mid-November. But if you ask the seller to sell you Bulgarian pepper, he won’t understand you.
Such a concept simply does not exist there; this name was given to the vegetable exclusively in the former USSR. To indicate your desire, remember the words “chushka” or “piperka” (emphasis on the first syllable). Local cuisine is unthinkable without it. Pepper is eaten raw, added to various dishes, stewed, canned, baked with various fillings.
Lutenitsa
This is a universal local food. It is something like a sauce or paste made from boiled vegetables. It includes sweet pepper, zucchini, tomatoes, sometimes potatoes, brynza, eggplant. Garlic is often added. The word “lyutyi” translates as “spicy,” but this preparation can have different degrees of spiciness. Ways to use lutenitsa 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. For pizza, it can replace ketchup. Lutenitsa will add spice and piquancy to soup or borscht. At the markets, you can buy homemade lutenitsa, which is spicier and more aromatic. But the factory product is also tasty and has useful properties.
Rose Petal Jam
This delicacy can rightfully be considered the country’s calling card. It looks more like jam. There are two options for sale — with petals or without them. Damask rose, the queen of flowers, is used for its production. Local cooks have long known the secret of making the treat and carefully pass it down from generation to generation.
Rose jam is also very healthy:
- removes toxins
- helps with colds
- boosts the immune system
- benefits the heart and blood vessels
- restores gut flora
If you’re looking for a nice gift for a colleague or friend, beautiful glass jars with bright pink jam, with a pleasant aroma, are just what you need. Besides, they are very inexpensive, and you can find jam in any supermarket.
Honey
Excellent ecology and a huge variety of honey plants allow the production of a large amount of honey. In many large cities, special honey fairs are regularly held, where you can taste different varieties before buying.
Let’s list the most popular ones. Acacia honey appears for sale during the flowering of this shrub — in May-June. It is very fragrant, light golden in color. It can be stored for up to three years; all this time, the honey does not crystallize.
Lavender. The fields with these plants are especially numerous in Dobruja. The honey has an interesting aroma and a pinkish hue.
Sunflower. It should be eaten within a short time after purchase, as it crystallizes very quickly.
Honey cream is a popular product at fairs. To make it, honey of any kind is whipped into a thick, creamy substance.
The most exotic and interesting type is Manuka honey. It is almost black and has a bitter-sour taste. It is considered to have unparalleled healing properties. For its production, bees use not flower nectar but the liquid secreted by aphids. You can buy flavored honey — with the scent of roses or lemons.
Tulumbichki
National cuisine allows you to get to know the country better and appreciate its color. Let’s move on to edible souvenirs. One of the most common sweets can be called tulumbichki. This name translates as “tubes.” The dessert is dough, shaped into a long form and soaked in syrup. This treat 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 also frequently make tulumbichki. Many craftswomen boast of their favorite signature recipe. They are easy to find in supermarkets in the dessert section. When returning home, grab a pack of tulumbichki to share your experiences with friends and family over a cup of tea with this delicious treat.
Spices
National cuisine is not particularly spicy, but spices give it a recognizable color. Here they are called “podpravki.” Pay attention to the most popular seasonings. To make it easier to navigate, we will indicate their original names.
- Savory (chubritsa): It is added to a huge number of dishes and can be called one of the country’s symbols.
- Colored salt (sharena sol): A universal seasoning that can be found in soups and side dishes. It goes well with meat and fish, and is added to sauces. It contains savory, paprika, salt, corn flour, fenugreek. Interesting options include adding garlic, hot pepper, or pumpkin seeds to this list of ingredients.
- Thyme (majerka): It has a rather strong aroma, so it should be added to dishes carefully, without overdoing it. It goes well with eggs and meat. It can sometimes be found in some sweets.
- Fenugreek (smiduh): Its smell enhances meat and vegetable dishes. It is often added to soups.
- Cinnamon (karamfil): It should be sought in special sections where confectionery spices are sold. Cinnamon is sold both ground, often mixed with sugar, and in sticks.
- Nutmeg (indiysko oreche): It adds a pleasant taste and aroma to meat pâtés. It is traditionally added to Christmas pastries.
Sweets
We cannot ignore souvenirs for those with a sweet tooth. The most beloved are Turkish delight and pastila. Try them even if you are indifferent to confectionery. If you bring such a gift to children, believe me, they will be delighted. Roses also played a role in the production of Turkish delight. The most famous types are made with rose petals.
Rose oil is also added. It gives a delicate unusual taste and a pleasant aroma. It is also a healthy product because it is made from natural ingredients. Pastila is made from fruit or berry puree. Various nuts are often added. You can buy sweets by weight. There are options in beautiful gift packages. The price is low; for small boxes, it starts from 1 lev.
Cheese
Extensive pastures allow the production of many dairy products. Among them, cheeses hold an honorable place.
- Brynza (sirene): A soft salty white cheese. It is made from cow, sheep, and even buffalo milk. Many national dishes are based on brynza. When choosing it in a store, pay attention to the price. If you don’t want to buy a product with vegetable fats, choose varieties costing more than 5 lev per kilogram.
- Yellow cheese (kashkaval): Made from goat and sheep milk. It is loved in many countries of the Balkan Peninsula. Locals add cheese to meat and vegetable dishes, make pie fillings, and even fry it. It is a very good product for those who watch their weight and prefer healthy eating.
- Cream cheese (krema-sirene): A soft and gentle product made from cottage cheese. It tastes slightly salty, reminiscent of the famous “Philadelphia” cheese.
- Processed cheese (topeno sirene): When choosing, pay attention to the composition. A product made from natural ingredients has an excellent taste and is affordably priced.
- Blue cheese (sinyo sirene): The king of local cheeses. It is expensive but very tasty. You can buy it by weight or in small portions in packaging.
Lukanika Sausage
Among meat delicacies, pay attention to dried sausage lukanka. It is made from pork, so the sausage is quite fatty. After production, the product must dry and mature for a month. During this time, a noble mold forms on the surface. A large number of spices are added to the meat, making the delicacy very aromatic. It is convenient to transport, as it can be stored for a long time.
The name suggests that the sausage should contain onions. This used to be true, but now you won’t find lukanka made according to old recipes. This ingredient has ceased to be popular and has gradually disappeared from the recipe.
In the old days, locals observed an interesting tradition. When a young man turned 18, a special celebration was organized. Friends, relatives, and neighbors congratulated the young man on becoming an adult.
They offered him a symbolic treat — Shumensko beer. The appetizer was a large plate with thinly sliced lukanka. After the young man tasted the treat, he was considered an adult and endowed with all the rights and responsibilities. This tradition is still alive in some regions.
Wine
Winemaking has been developed here for a very long time. The law defines special zones for wine production.
- Danube Plain: The homeland of excellent dry white, sparkling, and red wines. They are distinguished by a pleasant fruity shade.
- Black Sea Coast: International grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon, and Muscat are grown in these areas. White wines produced here are famous for their delicate taste.
- Thracian Lowland: Historically, this region has produced rich red wines.
- Rose Valley: The kingdom of light, fresh white wines, exuding fruit aromas.
- Struma River Region: Luxurious, rich red wines from red grapes.
Each of these regions has a different climate, so the wine also has its characteristic features that cannot be confused. In mid-February, you can attend a colorful festival dedicated to Trifon, the patron saint of winemakers. At this event, you can taste and buy various drinks. Sweet wine is quite rare in this country. If you visit Balchik, be sure to visit the local Botanical Garden.
There is an interesting establishment — a winery, where you can buy drinks with an amazing sweet taste. The secret is that honey is added to the wine here. You also have the opportunity to taste and purchase the local pride — “Snow Wine.”
It got its name because the grapes are harvested in December, after the first snow falls. It’s a sweet drink with a delicate taste and aroma. The drinks here are not cheap, but they are worth it.
Rakia
Moving on to stronger alcohol. If wine can be offered to you during the day, rakia is an attribute of a leisurely dinner. This drink is a strong moonshine made from fruits. Locals affectionately call it “rakijka.”
Apples, quinces, pears, figs, cherries, plums, and so on are used for its production. To follow the standard, you should only use fruits of one kind, without mixing them. The highest quality and most expensive option is made from apricots, and the most budget-friendly is made from small red or yellow plums.
The traditions of drinking rakia have been established for a long time. It is drunk from small glasses before meals, as an aperitif. The drink is savored in small sips; it should not be downed in one go. Rakia should be at room temperature.
In hot summer weather, it can be slightly chilled. In winter, on the contrary, rakia is often slightly heated and used to fend off colds. The traditional drink’s strength is 40 degrees. It is customary to serve appetizers with rakia.
Usually, it’s brynza, vegetables, meat delicacies. It goes perfectly with a cheese plate and eggs. Locals will gladly tell you about the healing properties of rakia. It fights infections, improves metabolism, and is good for the stomach. But in pursuit of miraculous results, the drink should not be overused, or you will fully experience the amazing local “mahurluk,” that is, a hangover.
Menta Liqueur
This is another popular drink. It is based on ethyl alcohol and mint. Its strength is 25 degrees. Its distinctive feature is its mild taste, rich green color, and fresh aroma. You can find bottles of different capacities for sale — from a liter to small 200-gram bottles.
It is rarely drunk undiluted. The liqueur is very sweet and concentrated. However, summer cocktails based on it are simply wonderful. The drink goes perfectly 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. To prepare it, equal proportions of strong aniseed “Mastika” and “Menta” are used. The drinks have different densities, so they are poured in layers and try not to mix them, then decorated with cream. “Cloud” is perfect for a date with a loved one.
Strong “Mastika” symbolizes the masculine beginning, and the gentle sweet mint liqueur demonstrates the charm of a woman. Locals believe that this cocktail sharpens feelings and promotes closeness. Resourceful housewives use the liqueur in cooking to prepare various desserts.
Summary
This country has a lot to offer tourists. People from Russia are traditionally well-received in Bulgaria, as we share a long-standing friendship dating back to Soviet times. There are activities for those who love to lazily bask on the beach, appreciate architectural beauties, and ancient monuments.
Believers will have the opportunity to visit holy places revered by Christians. Those who are keen on their health will find many sources of healing water.
Sports enthusiasts will be delighted with 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 impressions. Family vacations are also good here.
Children will not be bored, and the trip will be relatively inexpensive. Over the past decades, the service has also improved significantly. We guarantee that after your first visit to these hospitable and welcoming places, you will definitely want to return here again.
