Mozart balls
This round chocolate-covered sweet filled with marzipan, pistachio and nougat is the gourmet speciality of Salzburg, the composer's home town. Since 1890, Salzburger Mozartkugel have been made by hand in the original confectionery run by the Fürst family in Salzburg, but various companies now produce Mozartkugel products. Those sold in Viennese shops are usually made by the Mirabell company. The balls are available in a wide variety of sizes and packaging. And don't worry, most supermarkets, train stations, airports and souvenir shops sell Mozart balls.
The Sachertorte
But the most famous Austrian delicacy is certainly the Sachertorte, the Sacher pie. This pastry was created in 1832 in Vienna by an apprentice named Franz Sacher for a party given by Prince Wenzel von Metternich of Austria. It consists of a chocolate sponge cake with a layer of apricot jam and dark chocolate icing. You can enjoy it anywhere in Austria and even take it home with you. In Vienna, the Demel patisserie and the Hotel Sacher offer this cake in different sizes, in small individual versions or in larger or smaller versions to share. These pastries are beautifully packaged in beautiful boxes that are easy to carry and give as gifts. Alternatives to the Sachertorte are theImperial Torte and the Gugelhupf, a kugelhupf.
Manner Wafers
Another must-have in the gourmet souvenir department are the Manner Wafers(Manner Schnitten), a Viennese institution and a cheap and easy-to-carry little souvenir. The wafers were invented in 1898, the Manner wafer is still made according to the same recipe and consists of five layers of wafers and four layers of hazelnut cocoa cream. The Manner label is recognisable by its pink packaging with the Stephansdom cathedral logo. The founder of Manner, a humanist who wanted to make a sweet treat available to everyone, opened his first shop in the shadow of the cathedral with individual wafers, and the company still has its headquarters and factory in Vienna. But Manner doesn't just make wafers, the company has branched out into the cocoa and wafer flavoured Schnittenfahrt beer. You can find Manner shelves in all supermarkets, train stations and airports. But for a real Manner immersion, go to the company's flagship store in the city centre (Stephansplatz 7).
Pumpkin seed oil
It is the black gold of Styria. Pumpkin seed oil - Kürbiskernöl - is a speciality of the province of Styria, which is said to produce the best pumpkin seeds in the world. The process for extracting extra virgin pumpkin seed oil is still traditional. First, the seeds are roasted. They are then crushed in a hydraulic press to produce a dark green or even black oil, hence its nickname, then filtered and bottled. We appreciate its nutty flavour. Like olive oil in Provence and in the Mediterranean countries, roasted pumpkin seed oil is widely used in Styria, in vinaigrette, in marinades, in pastries, with soup or even on a scoop of vanilla ice cream... In addition to its delicious hazelnut flavour, it is appreciated for its many health benefits. But to preserve them, do not heat it too much, it destroys its essential fatty acids. It is available at farmers' markets and delicatessens throughout Austria.
Swarovski crystal jewelry
The company was founded in 1895 by Daniel Swarovski. Its headquarters are still in Wattens, in the Tyrol, near Innsbruck, and it is still the Swarovski family, now in its fifth generation, that owns the group and protects a secret manufacturing process. In Wattens, the birthplace of the brand, a unique space is dedicated to bling-bling and art, to crystals that make you happy and to a magical world where water, perfume, music and artists' works are all combined. Even though the brand's jewellery can be found all over the world, it makes sense to bring back an Austrian piece, and you'll only find some of them in Austria, in Wattens, in the boutique.
Freywille enamels
If Swarovski shines too brightly for you, you may be tempted by enamel jewellery. You can always find them in souvenir shops and museum shops with an art nouveau or expressionist theme. For the most beautiful pieces, visit one of the Freywille shops. The Freu wille factory was founded in Vienna in 1951 by the artist Michaela Frey. At first she produced decorative enamel articles before turning to jewellery.
A snow globe
Austria is known for the Christmas magic of its towns and villages during the festive season. But did you know that snow globes originated in Austria? They were invented in the 19th century by Erwin Perzy, a manufacturer of surgical instruments. An accidental creation, in fact, while he was working on developing a surgical lamp in a glass ball with different processes to produce a very bright light. This powder that falls to the bottom of the ball reflecting the light... "It looks like snow," Erwin Perzy marveled. The snow globe was born. The object quickly became very popular and Perzy opened the first shop in Vienna with his brother. The family business is still going strong and you can buy them in the factory shop on Schumanngasse 87 in the 17th district, in a myriad of different designs, including the Prater Ferris wheel, St. Stephen's Cathedral, Empress Sissi, etc. These authentic balls are hand-painted and mounted with glass. The original Viennese snow globe manufacturer also has stands at various Christmas markets every year. You can also stop by the snow globe museum in Vienna, where you can learn more about its birth. Here you have 350 models in the shop, from the kitschy to the classy.
Souvenirs featuring local celebrities
These are the most numerous and the most popular! Top of the list: those bearing the effigy of Empress Sissi. The Sissi Museum inside the Hofburg Palace, a shrine housing more than 300 items from her daily life, has a gift shop where you can buy the full range of Sissi items, from fridge magnets to the elegant Sissi Stars, hair jewellery adorned with Swarovski crystals in the shape of stars worn by the empress. Mozart memorabilia rivals Sissi's in terms of variety. In addition, there are souvenirs that evoke Beethoven, Strauss, Schubert and Klimt.
A journal holder
Finally, deliciously vintage, come back with a memory of the good times spent in Austrian cafes reading the newspaper or watching others do so while enjoying your Viennese coffee and pastry while rejoicing that here the smartphone is not the emperor! The provision of a range of newspapers in a newspaper holder for easy reading, while consuming, is an integral part of the local café culture. You can find them in shops, made of bamboo or wood, in three different sizes. In Vienna, Café Sacher and Café Prückel sell the traditional versions.
Austrian clothes
In the 19th century, it was the uniform of the servants. The traditional Dirndl dresses have since become an important part of the Austrian identity. Tostmann Trachten in Seewalchen am Attersee, Upper Austria, is the right place to get authentic Dirndl dresses made in Austria. Since 1949 and until today, the outfits sold there are made exclusively in the company's own workshop. Men can buy the typical leather breeches, Lederhosen
. But don't be fooled, you won't have the opportunity to wear these outfits, except for a costume ball or a beer festival! On the other hand, buying a traditional Loden, a green woollen coat, is quite reasonable. This one is timeless and unwearable. The best place to buy high quality and tasteful traditional clothing is Loden-Plankl in Vienna. Also, an Austrian-style boiled wool jacket is a nice piece to bring back from your stay. The 100% natural boiled wool is very warm and almost waterproof. Buy your Walkjanker at Giesswein Walkwaren and Salzburger Trachtenoutlet in Vienna.
