Lithuania is a very small country, for acquaintance with which you need not so much time. Many will think that the region is not famous for any special products or products. But this does not mean at all that there is absolutely nothing to buy in the country as a gift or souvenir. In our article we want to talk about what to bring from Lithuania. We hope that our recommendations will help you return from a trip not empty-handed.
Amber
Even those people who have not visited the Baltic States know very well what to bring from Lithuania. Of course, it is worth buying products from amber. Natural stone here is even called "Lithuanian gold." Local tourist guides even developed a special route called the Lithuanian Amber Route. If you have time and desire, you can visit this tour, which will tell you a lot of new things. A pleasant end to the trip can be the acquisition of amber jewelry as a keepsake.
Natural material can be safely called a symbol of the country. Therefore, you don’t even have to think about what to bring from Lithuania. Amber products have always been valued. They can be purchased not only in small shops, but also in large stores. Moreover, stone products are not only jewelry. Amber makes a variety of souvenirs and objects. After all, each piece is a ray of the sun, which has its own shape and shade. Expensive jewelry and jewelry is just a small part of what can be seen on the shelves. Local craftsmen make amber figurines, paintings, charms, stationery and much more. If you wish, you can even order an individual little thing. Handmade items are more expensive.
It is worth knowing that there are many fakes for natural amber on sale. Therefore, the purchase should be done with caution. Synthetic stone is made from a mixture of plastic, synthetic resin and glass. Outwardly, it is difficult to distinguish between them. A fake when heated starts to exude an unpleasant odor. The synthetic analogue reacts poorly to contact with acetone. In addition, physical damage remains on it. While natural amber only crumbles. Real stones smell of resin or have no smell at all. In addition, they are not scratched. You can suspect a fake at the low cost of the little thing, but the high price is not a guarantee of quality.
Alcohol
Excellent alcohol is sold in Lithuania - this is beer, all kinds of tinctures, liquors and balms. Local balms are known around the world. If you want to present, don’t even think about which alcohol to bring from Lithuania. Tincture will be a good gift. The fact is that Lithuanian balms are prepared according to recipes that have been preserved since the Middle Ages. In those days, warriors carried with them such tinctures as a medicine. Now their appearance has become different, but in the process of cooking they try to adhere to old recipes. Zalgiris balms are very popular.
A strong drink is infused with honey, it has a burning taste and a strength of 75%. Linden blossom, thyme, cranberry juice, juniper berries and other herbs are added to the balm. Within two years, the rich taste of the drink ripens. And the strength of the balm is achieved through a special distillation method. Connoisseurs do not recommend drinking or eating a drink, as this will spoil the true taste palette. Do not even think about what to bring from Lithuania as a gift (photo is given in the article) - Zalgiris will be a great option, even if the present is addressed to the lady.
Tincture "Three Nines"
No less interesting is the tincture “Three Nines”, which is prepared on the basis of 27 natural products. The recipe for this drink appeared a very long time ago. The ingredients in its composition symbolize the unity of the air (fruits and flowers), earth (grass and bark) and underground (roots) spheres.
Honey is also put in tincture. They say that a bitter taste with sweet notes and a unique aroma conquer people from the first tasting. They drink tincture in small portions, and also add it to cocktails or juices. If you have not yet decided what to bring from Lithuania for a friend or colleague, pay attention to “Three Nines”.
Vodka
What to bring from Lithuania as a gift for a man? An excellent souvenir can be Lithuanian vodka, which is significantly different from the usual drink for us. It is of high quality. It is made in factories with the addition of rye, wheat and oats. Vodka has a clean taste and aroma. Currently, on the shelves you can find drinks with the addition of honey, coffee, tangerines, cranberries, peppers and other products. Such vodka is somewhat different from traditional, but does not become less beautiful from it.
Fans of strong drinks will be interested in adobe. The drink is a fragrant whiskey. Prepare adobe insisting on rye. Experts believe that such a drink will be a real surprise for gourmets.
Local producers have become famous far beyond the borders of the country with the delicious Svyturus beer. It has a short shelf life, so it should be purchased just before leaving home so that it does not deteriorate. All alcoholic beverages are best bought in company stores. So you can protect yourself from fakes.
Lithuanian cheese
Many travelers know what to bring from Lithuania from groceries. Of course, cheese. After all, he is the real pride of the country. Lithuanian cheeses were famous even in Soviet times. They are prepared according to recipes that have come down to our days from the era of the Principality of Lithuania. The peculiarity of the cooking technology is that the cheese mass is heated not once, but several times, due to which it is possible to achieve a more uniform consistency and a delicate creamy taste. Among the most famous and largest producers of cheese in the country, it is worth highlighting “Pen Zhvaygdes” and “Rokishkio Suris”.
In Lithuania, a huge number of cheeses are produced, which are produced not only in factories, but also in small farms. Hard cheeses with caraway seeds, smoked variations and soft Nemunas are very popular among guests. You can eat such delicious foods with Lithuanian black bread, spices and honey. Such an unusual combination will slightly surprise any connoisseur of a delicious dairy product.
Small souvenirs
What to bring from Lithuania? All sorts of little things with the symbols of the country - trinkets, t-shirts, magnets, cups and more, can become souvenirs. Small presentations are good if you need to buy something for colleagues.
Linen products
Do not know what to bring from Lithuania, reviews from experienced travelers will help you make a choice. Arriving in the country, you will certainly want to see Vilnius. This amazing city is famous for flax. It operates the only factory in Europe for the production of home textiles and linen clothes. Therefore, here you can buy beautiful things and household items at the lowest prices. People come to Vilnius from the Czech Republic, Poland and Belarus.
Flax has been grown in Lithuania for several millennia. Clothes from it are very practical and comfortable to wear. It absolutely does not cause allergic reactions, allows the skin to breathe and removes excess moisture. Clothes, accessories, bags, bedding, towels, tablecloths, scarves, pillows, toys, slippers and much more are sewed from linen fabrics. In Vilnius there are many shops with such products. Among such a variety, making a choice is not always easy.
Before you make a purchase, you need to pay attention to the quality of the fabric. Natural material has faded shades of gray and brown. Bright colors of the product indicate its unnaturalness. Linen fabrics are smooth to the touch. When squeezed in the hand, the material wrinkles. If you purchased a linen product, remember that it must be squeezed by hand, then it will last a long time. It is necessary to iron such things in a wet state, only then the thing will ideally sit on the figure.
Tableware
What can I bring from Lithuania for mom or grandmother? We recommend paying attention to ceramics. In the performance of Lithuanian masters, she is especially good. Practical dishes, candle holders, beautiful figures and hanging panels - all this can be found on store shelves. Local ceramics is made of clay using all kinds of mineral additives that give the fortress products. The dishes are made according to sketches, sculpted, dried and coated with glaze. And then burn in the ovens. Masters makes a careful selection of defective products.
Clay objects are good because they do not contain harmful chemical impurities. In such dishes, the food is especially tasty. Typically, items are made by hand and painted with unique, inimitable patterns. Such products can become not only your helpers in the kitchen, but also a wonderful decoration of the interiors of the house. Very often in the stores are presented not the handicrafts of masters, but analogues produced using machines. Such instances are much cheaper.
A clay beer mug can be presented to men as a gift, and a tea set or a set of plates for a woman.
Sweets
No less popular are sweet souvenirs from Lithuania. What to bring (photo is given in the article) to home sweet tooth? Can I purchase chocolate or sweets of the Ruta or Karuna brands. The sweets of these manufacturers are of good quality. As souvenir options in stores you will find whole sets with a national theme. Local coffee houses sell delicious chocolate figurines.
There are a lot of coffee houses in Vilnius where you can not only get sweet gifts, but also have a good time. Real sweet tooth is worth a visit to establishments called “chocolates”. In them, confectioners prepare products by hand. Here you can see a chocolate map of Lithuania or an architectural monument. Also sold are portraits, animal figures made of chocolate. Chocolate began to be produced in the country at the end of the nineteenth century, and since then the recipe has not changed, which captivates connoisseurs of goodies.
Shakotis
An original gift from Lithuania may be shakotis. Unusual dessert looks very much like a tree with sticking branches. Dessert has an amazing history of origin. In the era of the Commonwealth, the queen arranged competitions between cooks. She promised a good reward to someone who cooks a new and unusual dish.
A young chef took part in the competition, who accidentally came up with such an unusual dessert. The Queen highly appreciated his efforts, having awarded and taken them to the royal cuisine. Shakotis cooked on an open fire. The treat has an unusual shape and taste. In the country, it is a traditional wedding treat. For such cases, shakotis is supplemented with chocolate and icing.
Bakery products
Lithuania is famous for baking. Delicious bread is prepared here. Bakery products can be purchased at bakeries and in the market. They are prepared according to old recipes, so they are incredibly tasty.