Last Updated: August 27, 2022
Unique Romanian Souvenirs (From Cheese to Jewelry)
Are you packing for a trip to Romania? Be sure to leave some room in your luggage for souvenirs. The Balkan nation has a long tradition of crafting handmade items such as hand-carved wooden figures. Pottery is also prominent as well as porcelain and glass objects. Textiles stand out too, with embroidery, traditional clothing, and rugs featured.
You’ll find the best shopping for unique Romainian souvenirs in the capital city of Bucharest at shopping areas such as Magheru Boulevard or the Bucuresti Mall in Vitan. But no matter where you go in Romania, look for unique items like the following.
Beads
You’ll likely see jewelry made of small, colorful beads in the Romanian shops. The necklaces are called zgardans and they’re traditionally made for women to wear on special occasions. The beads are sewn onto a thin strip of cloth in various color patterns. Although they’re an old tradition, the beaded necklaces have a traditional look and go well with casual clothing. Making these necklaces is time-consuming and painstaking, so they are very fairly priced at 25 USD and under. Take a few back home for gifts.
Horezu Ceramics
Beautiful and intricately painted, Horezu ceramics originated in the Southwestern region in Romania of the same name. The tradition is centuries old and has been kept alive by local artisans. The distinct geometrical patterns painted on the clay bowls, cups, plates, and trays include items from nature such as flowers, animals, and fish. The colors are a combination of earthy shades and brilliant reds. The colors and patterns evoke a sense of harmony. Pack these carefully, for they represent knowledge and skill passed down for generations. They are highly regarded both in Romania and abroad.
Hand Painted Eggs
Easter is an important holiday in Romania, and you’ll find hand-painted eggs all year long. They come in lots of different designs all intricately painted on the shell of an emptied egg taking great care not to break them. The ones who do the painting, usually women in the rural areas, are masters of the art. The process takes several hours so it’s surprising that they are relatively inexpensive. Hot wax is incorporated to isolate the layers of coloring done in steps. The shell is treated with a special varnish for protection. Pack them carefully.
Dracula Memorabilia
The Dracula novel published in 1877 by Bram Stoker tells the story of Jonathan Harker’s stay at the castle of a Transylvania nobleman, Count Dracula. As you can imagine, the country has capitalized on the character and you’ll find plenty of Dracula Merchandise all around Bucharest and in the Transylvania region. It’s all tacky but unique, and you certainly can’t “count” (pardon the pun) on finding it anywhere else, so be sure to pick up a piece or two to remember your trip to Romania.
If you want to visit Dracula Castle which in reality – without the Hollywood fame! – is called Bran Castle, you can do that on a day trip from Brasov. Just make sure you don’t go on a tour that will serve you phony and tacky stories that have nothing to do with reality since Bran Castle is Romania’s #1 tourist attraction thanks to its Dracula fame and unsuspecting tourists coming from all over the world to see it.
Handmade Crafts
Craftsmanship has long been a tradition in Romania. The locals still make these items, and they are the most popular souvenirs that tourists buy. In addition to all the painted eggs, you’ll find things made of ceramics, porcelain, glass, and silver. Embroidered items are also popular. But perhaps the most unique and endearing handcrafts in Romania are the wood carvings. Wood carvings to look for include geometric forms, decorative figures, musical instruments, utensils, and boxes. Pick up a few of them and connect with a part of history.
Glass Painted Icons
For an authentic piece of Romanian art, glass-painted icons are a good choice. The art is native to the region of northern Maramures in Transylvania. Simple pheasants perfected the art centuries ago, and the craft has been passed down generation after generation. The craft is sometimes referred to as naïf and rustic. The native talent is admired by all art skeptics. The painted icons depict Christian teachings and episodes from the Bible such as the Birth of the Savior, the Crucifixion of Christ, the lives of Saints, and the Annunciation.
Walnut Jams
Jam-making is also a long tradition for Romanians. Grandmothers and matriarchs of the family pride themselves on making the jams from difficult recipes incorporating fruits and flower petals. The process is long and laborious. One of their favorite and most unique jams to make is made from green walnuts. But you’ll also find jams made of locally sourced fruits such as peach, blackberry, and plum. The jams are delicious, and if you pick up a jar, you’ll be glad you did.
Plum Brandy
A potent plum brandy known as Tuica is the drink of choice all over the country. Like ouzo in Greece and whiskey in Ireland, it’s somewhat the national drink. Made of fermented plums, the brandy has a clear yellowish color, a distinctive flavor, and is very strong. Pick up a bottle, wrap it in clothing, and take it home to safely toast the Romanians.
A Traditional Veil
One of the most unique Romanian souvenirs you’ll find is the traditional veil. Long ago the veils, called maramar, were worn by women for protection from the sun. Today, they’re mostly used as decor, however, if you travel to the rural areas, you may see them still worn. The veils are crafted of see-through fabric, silk, and gold thread embroideries. They’re available in markets and gift shops across the country. They come in a variety of colors and designs. Some of them are floor length. Take one home and hang it in the house for a great conversation starter about your trip.
Nasal Cheese
Image courtesy of Vlad Trifa, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
Nasal Cheese is a Romanian delicacy not to be missed, even if you don’t take any back home. It resembles Brie or Camembert and pairs deliciously with a rich red wine. It’s produced in a cave near Nasal, Taga in the Transylvanian county of Cluj. The unique flavor is the result of a certain bacteria found in the cave along with the temperature conditions. An old legend claims that freshly made cheese was once hidden in a cave to hide it from servents, and the result was Nasal cheese. The conditions are said to be unreplicable anywhere else in the world. A good reason to take some home.
About the Author Anna Timbrook
Anna is the co-owner of expert world travel and can't wait to share her travel experience with the world. With over 54 countries under her belt she has a lot to write about! Including those insane encounters with black bears in Canada.
