Austrian Delights: What To Buy When Visiting Austria

Austria is a country with a rich history, beautiful scenery, and some of Europe's most traditional traditions. The country's magnificent history and cultural essence are reflected in its arts, crafts, interiors, and distinctive cuisine. From unique stools to the famous Waltz dance, delicious fried beef steak, hot dogs, and aromatic apple pie, Austria has something for everyone. Here is a list of the top things to buy in Austria:

- Swarovski Crystals: Swarovski is a 126-year-old luxury brand specialising in crystal products such as jewellery, watches, and crystal creations. Their products are considered a treasure of Austria and are more popular than gold, second only to diamonds.

- Coffee: Austria is famous for its cafes and delicious coffee. You can buy pretty little coffee bags as gifts or to enjoy yourself. Some popular coffee brands include Franziskaner, Kapuziner, and Kaisermelange.

- Traditional Boys Suspenders: Traditional boys' suspenders are very popular in Austria and make for a meaningful gift, especially for those with small children.

- Austrian Pottery and Porcelain: Augarten porcelain factory offers a wide variety of designs, with most pieces heavily influenced by decorative patterns, motifs, and symbols from Vienna and Austria.

- Mozart Balls: These chocolate balls are a traditional Austrian treat. Wrapped in foil featuring Mozart's face, they are milk or dark chocolate on the outside with a marzipan centre.

- Austrian Beer and Beer Mugs: Austria has a variety of savoury beers, and you can also find crafted beer mugs with impressive designs to add to your collection.

- Sacher Torte: This traditional Viennese cake is a must-try when in Austria. You can buy a whole cake or individual slices from Café Sacher Wien to enjoy or gift to someone special.

- Austrian Wine: Austria is known for its wine, with popular varieties including white wine Gruner Veltliner and red wines Blaufrankisch, Zweigelt, and St Laurent.

- Traditional Austrian Costume: Tracht, the traditional Austrian costume, is designed with simplicity using wool, leather, and linen. It is worn during special occasions like weddings and festivals, showcasing bold traditional colours.

- Lobmeyr Glassware: Lobmeyr, a family-run business since 1823, offers unique and limited-edition ornaments, crystals, glassware, barware, and wine glasses.

Austrian chocolate

Mozartkugeln

Also known as Mozart Balls, Mozartkugeln is a ball-shaped chocolate with a colourful core of pistachio, marzipan, and nougat, covered in dark chocolate. Mozartkugeln is a traditional Austrian chocolate created in 1890 in Mozart's birthplace, Salzburg, by Paul Fürst. Mozartkugeln is a popular souvenir due to its distinct taste and packaging featuring Mozart's face. You can find Mozartkugeln in most souvenir shops and supermarkets across Austria, especially in Salzburg.

Zotter Chocolate

Zotter is a well-known Austrian brand that produces innovative and sustainable chocolate. They offer a variety of flavours, such as milk chocolate with grey poppy cream, walnut praline, and cinnamon. Zotter chocolates are made from bean to bar at their in-house factory in Austria and are Fair Trade verified. You can purchase Zotter chocolates from their stores and outlets across Austria, including their flagship store in Riegersburg, Styria, and select supermarkets in Vienna and Graz.

Manner Wafers

Manner wafers are a famous and must-try sweet snack in Austria. The company, Manner, has over 27 years of experience in making these wafers, which consist of layers of hazelnut cream and chocolate. Manner wafers are widely available in supermarkets, convenience stores, and souvenir shops throughout Austria, especially in Vienna, where the company is headquartered.

Mirabell Mozart Balls

Mirabell Mozart Balls are another variation of the traditional Mozartkugeln. They come in clear boxes, showcasing the colourful chocolates inside. You can find Mirabell Mozart Balls in many souvenir shops across Austria and online.

Heindl Chocolates

Heindl offers a variety of chocolates, including orange wedges, marzipan sticks, Mozart balls, and Sissi Thaler. Their products are available in many Austrian supermarkets and can also be purchased online.

When buying chocolates in Austria, remember to check the expiration dates to ensure freshness and look for reputable brands and intact packaging. Enjoy your sweet journey through the world of Austrian chocolates!

Austrian wine

Austria is known for its wine-making culture, and it is considered one of the best wine-producing countries in the world. Austrian wines are mostly dry white wines, often made from the Grüner Veltliner grape, although some sweeter varieties are also produced. About 30% of Austrian wines are red, made from Blaufränkisch, Pinot Noir, and Zweigelt, a variety that is sometimes called Zweigeltblau.

The Grüner Veltliner grape is the dominant white grape in Austria, producing generally dry wines ranging from short-lived Heuriger wines to Spätleses with a long life. The ancient Welschriesling variety is used in the noble rot dessert wines of the Neusiedlersee, and it also makes undistinguished dry wines for drinking young, as does Müller-Thurgau (Rivaner). The Neuburger grape was supposedly found as flotsam in the Danube in the 1850s, but it is now known to be a cross between Silvaner and the ancient Roter Veltliner. Frühroter Veltliner is also known as Malvasier, suggesting a link to the Malvasia grape family of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Zweigelt, sometimes called Zweigeltblau, is a Blaufränkisch x St Laurent cross, and now accounts for nearly half of Austria's red wine. It can be made into powerful wines for ageing, and is also made into a lighter style for drinking young. Blaufränkisch is Austria's champion age-worthy red wine with a vein of acidity and big tannins. They are often a little harsh when young, but become wonderfully subtle and lush with age. Expect blackberry, tart cherry, and an elegant citrus-like spice in Blaufränkisch wines, along with a pronounced burst of tannins in the mid-palate.

Austrian beer

Austria is a beer-lover's paradise, with a rich history of brewing and a wide variety of beer styles. Here's what you need to know about Austrian beer and why it should be on your list of things to buy when visiting Austria:

History of Austrian Beer

Austria has a long and illustrious history of brewing, dating back to the 13th century. The oldest existing brewery in the country, Brauerei Hofstetten, was established in 1229 and has been crafting traditional styles such as Märzen for generations. Austrian beer has been intimately tied to German beer traditions, heavily influenced by their neighbouring country while also drawing inspiration from the United Kingdom.

One pivotal moment in the history of Austrian beer came in the 19th century with the introduction of lagering. Anton Dreher, a brewer in Schwechat, began maturing beer in cold cellars, a process now fundamental to creating pale lagers, the most popular beers globally. Dreher combined this technique with Vienna malt and hot air kilns to create the Vienna lager, an Austrian beer style with a complex history that is gaining popularity once again.

Local Beer Styles

• Märzen: Arguably the national beer of Austria, Märzen is similar to its Bavarian cousin, the Bavarian Helles. However, Austrian Märzen tends to be more golden-amber in colour and has a sweeter taste due to the use of caramel malts. It also has a stronger malt character, showcasing notes of bread and spice rather than grassy herbs and citrus. Being the most popular style, you'll easily find Märzen on tap at most bars across the country. Recommended brews include Augustiner Bräu Kloster Mülln's Märzen (Salzburg), Brauerei Hirt's Hirter 1270er (Micheldorf, Carinthia), and Stiegl's Stiegl Spezial (Salzburg).
• Vienna Lager: Also known as amber lagers due to their colour, these are rich, big-bodied lagers that pair perfectly with a cosy evening in a pub. Traditionally served in large dimpled mugs, Vienna lagers are making a comeback, with several brewers trying to adapt Dreher's original recipe to modern tastes. Recommended brews include Hofstettner's Granit Bier (Sankt Martin, Lower Austria) and Schwechater's Wiener Lager (Schwechat, Lower Austria).
• Zwicklbier: This is not a specific style but a process where the beer is not filtered, resulting in a misty or cloudy appearance due to the floating yeast. While some breweries brew Zwickl intentionally, it is often simply an unfiltered version of their core beers. Zwickl is best enjoyed fresh, and while bottled versions are available, trying it straight from the tap is a treat. Recommended Zwickl beers include Braucommune Freistadt's Freistädter Bio Zwickl (Freistadt, Upper Austria) and Pinzgau Bräu's Pinzga' Zwickl (Bruck an der Großglocknerstraße, Salzburg).

Popular Beer Brands

When it comes to popular beer brands in Austria, here are some you should know:

• Gösser: Based in Leoben, Styria, Gösser is one of the most common brands of beer found in Austria. They brew a variety of beers, including a helles (light lager) and a Weissbier (Hefeweizen).
• Ottakringer: Hailing from Vienna, Ottakringer is another widely consumed beer in Austria, especially in the eastern states. It has achieved cult status, and the company even named one of its canned variants "16er-Blech," reflecting the fact that Ottakring is the 16th district of Vienna.
• Stiegl: Founded in 1492, Stiegl is the most popular beer in Austria that isn't owned by Brau Union. They brew a helles, a Weissbier, and specialty beers like a grapefruit Radler. Their brewery in Salzburg features a large museum dedicated to beer and beer-making, ending with a visit to the pub for a complimentary drink.
• Egger: There are two breweries with this name in Austria. One is based in Egg, Bregenzerwald, in Vorarlberg, and the other is in Lower Austria. A lawsuit between the two resulted in an agreement where the Egger from Vorarlberg is sold in its home region, while the rest of Austria enjoys the brew from Lower Austria.
• Mohrenbräu: Established in 1834, Mohrenbräu is Vorarlberg's oldest brewery and the market leader in the region. However, there has been some controversy surrounding its name and logo, which some consider racially stereotyping.

Where to Buy Austrian Beer

When in Austria, you can purchase beer at supermarkets, convenience stores, and souvenir shops. If you're looking for a specific brand or a wider selection, it's best to visit the breweries or their dedicated stores. Additionally, Vienna and Salzburg have several new craft breweries that follow the American craft brewery model, offering unique and innovative beers.

So, when visiting Austria, be sure to indulge in their delightful beer offerings. Whether you're a fan of traditional styles or eager to explore the latest craft creations, Austrian beer will surely delight your taste buds!

Austrian porcelain

One of the most renowned places to purchase Austrian porcelain is the Augarten Porcelain Manufactory in Vienna, which offers a variety of designs, many featuring decorative patterns, motifs, and symbols from Vienna and Austria. Another well-known brand is Royal Vienna, which can be found in antique shops and on Etsy. Their products include vases, plates, and pitchers, often featuring portraits and gilt details.

When shopping for Austrian porcelain, you can find both vintage and modern pieces. Vintage pieces may be signed or feature the name of the manufacturer, such as MZ Austria, Royal Vienna, or Victoria Carlsbad. It's important to carefully examine vintage porcelain for any cracks, chips, or other imperfections.

In addition to Augarten and Royal Vienna, there are several other brands and manufacturers to look out for, including Bawo & Dotter, O & EG Royal Austria, and Carlsbad Austrian Porcelain. Whether you're looking for a special gift or a memorable souvenir, Austrian porcelain is a beautiful choice, known for its delicate decoration and elegant colours.

Austrian glassware

One of the most famous glassware brands from Austria is Zalto. Zalto glassware is from a tiny village in Austria close to the Czech border. The original design came from the mind of Father Hans Denk over 20 years ago. He was inspired by the tilt of the Earth and how using the Earth's angles in his design influenced the presentation of the wine. The glass is lighter, thinner, and more elegant in appearance, and the lip of the glass is so thin that the wine is delivered more directly to the palate. The entire Zalto line is dishwasher safe and resistant to clouding and scratching.

Another famous glassware brand from Austria is Sophienwald. Each glass is mouth-blown, handmade, and therefore always unique. The glasses are characterized by lightness, delicate elegance, and high sommelier ability, making them excellent for a broad base of Austrian and international wines.

You can also find a wide range of Austrian glassware on Etsy, including vintage and antique pieces.

Frequently asked questions