Lexi Webster
Austrian supermarkets are a great place to find souvenirs, snacks, and meals. They offer a wide range of products, from traditional Austrian sweets like Mozart balls and Manner wafers to pre-packaged Austrian baked goods such as Linzer tortes, strudels, and punschkrapfen. You can also find local specialties like dry sausage, fresh bread, cheeses, and spreads. For those who enjoy cooking, Austrian supermarkets provide a budget-friendly option to purchase ingredients for self-catering meals. Additionally, they offer a variety of drinks, including Austrian wines, beers, and Schnapps, as well as coffee and cappuccino. With well-known chains like Billa, Spar, and Merkur, and unique items like chocolate boxes from Altmann & Kühne, Austrian supermarkets cater to both locals and tourists alike.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Food | Mozart Balls, Sacher Torte, Linzer tortes, strudels, punschkrapfen, dumplings, Kaiserschmarrn, dry sausage, Hauswürstel, Gugelhupf, Marmorkuchen, Fleischkäse Semmel, Schnitzel Semmel, Butterbreze, potato salad, jam, honey, chocolate, Manner wafers, mayonnaise, ketchup, bread, cheese, spreads, coffee, cakes, pre-packaged Austrian baked goods, Austrian ham, Milka chocolate, Zotter bars, sweets, pickles, compotes, mustard |
| Drinks | Austrian wine, beer, Schnaps, coffee creamer |
| Other | Glasses, sunglasses, wallets, clothing, jewellery, antlers, bags, vases, tableware, tea sets, mugs, umbrellas, flip flops, books, snow globes, candles, lamps, chandeliers, porcelain, art |
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What You'll Learn
Traditional Austrian sweets
The Sachertorte is a beloved Austrian dessert and one of the country's most famous traditional sweets. It is a rich chocolate cake with layers of smooth apricot jam and dark chocolate icing. Legend has it that the original recipe was created by a young apprentice named Franz Sacher in the early 1800s for Prince Wenzel von Metternich. Today, the Sachertorte is a trademarked recipe exclusively served at the Hotel Sacher in Vienna. Its popularity has sparked numerous imitations, but none match the luxurious taste and texture of the original.
The Mozart Ball, or Mozart Kugel, is a quintessential Austrian treat. These smooth chocolate spheres with a marzipan centre are wrapped in foil featuring the composer's face—red for milk chocolate and blue for dark. They are available in almost every good supermarket in Austria, as well as in gift shops, train stations, and airports. The original Furst Mozart Balls can only be found in Salzburg, the composer's homeland, where the treats were first created.
Another traditional Austrian sweet is the Buchteln, a type of sweet yeast roll that originated in the country. They are light and airy, with a buttery texture, and are served with vanilla custard sauce or filled with apricot jam.
The Grand Guglhupf is a sweet cake made and packaged on-site at the Grand Hotel Wien, featuring Klimt's "The Kiss". The hotel also offers a special holiday package that includes a two-night stay, a bottle of champagne, the Grand Guglhupf cake, a walking tour, and tickets to the Klimt exhibition at the Belvedere.
Other traditional Austrian sweets and desserts include the Salzburger Nockerl, a divine Austrian specialty of three towering peaks of cloud-like meringue served on a bed of warm raspberry sauce; Linzer cookies, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread cookies sandwiched with jam; and Apfelstrudel, a flaky pastry filled with spiced apples, raisins, and cinnamon.
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Local wines
Austria is best known for its elegant white wines made from indigenous grape varieties. The country has a rich history of winemaking, with records dating back to the Roman period. Today, it is considered one of Europe's best-kept wine secrets, boasting many artisanal producers with a strong emphasis on quality.
The Austrian wine map is divided into three main regions: Niederosterreich (Lower Austria), Burgenland, and Steiermark. Each region offers distinct characteristics that influence the wines produced there. Niederosterreich, in the north-east, is the largest wine-producing area, renowned for its elegant whites and cool-climate reds. Burgenland, located in the east, is known for its red wines made from Blaufrankisch, St Laurent, and Pinot Noir grapes. Steiermark, in the south, has a warmer and drier climate, contributing to its own unique wine styles.
When shopping in Austrian supermarkets, you'll find a variety of local wines to choose from. Look out for Gruner Veltliner, Austria's most important grape variety, accounting for about a third of the country's vineyards. It produces spicy and peppery white wines with stone fruit notes. Another popular choice is Riesling, used for both sweet late harvest wines and dry white wines. If you prefer red wines, approximately 30% of Austria's wine production fits the bill, with peppery Zweigelt and spicy Blaufrankisch being the most common varieties.
While exploring the wine offerings in Austrian supermarkets, don't forget the bubbly! Sparkling wine from Austria is called Sekt, and it makes for a delightful change of pace. Austrian supermarkets are licensed to sell alcohol, so you'll have no trouble finding local wines to suit your tastes and pair perfectly with your meals.
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Austrian literature
During the Enlightenment, which took hold in Austria around 1720, literature took on a more educative and instructional role. This was also a time when the ancient classic cultures of Greece and Rome inspired Austrian writers, artists, and poets. Freemasonry and criticism of the clergy were also strong influences on Austrian literature during this period. Satire emerged as a popular literary genre.
In the 18th century, the works of Goethe and Schiller elevated German literature to a higher calibre. However, in Austria, the imperial state censored books mercilessly. Empress Maria Theresa's 'Chastity Commission' aimed to uphold public morals, but it also stifled intellectualism. Goethe's novel, "The Sorrows of Young Werther", was banned in Austria due to its depiction of a young man's ecstatic love and suicide, which spawned copycat suicides across Germany.
Some notable Austrian authors include Franz Kafka, Joseph Roth, Rainer Maria Rilke, and Thomas Bernhard. Heinrich von dem Tuerlîn (or Türlin) is also an important figure in Austrian literature, known for his 30,000-line poem "Diu Crône", written in Middle High German.
When visiting Austria, you can find many interesting items in supermarkets, including various sweets and treats. Mozart balls, chocolate spheres with a marzipan centre, are a quintessential Austrian treat, wrapped in foil featuring the composer's face. Sissi Talers, a combination of apricot-marzipan and truffle cream coated in milk chocolate, are another popular choice. For those who prefer wafers, the Neapolitan hazelnut wafers created by Josef Manner in 1898 are a classic Viennese treat.
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Pre-baked cakes
Austrian supermarkets offer a wide variety of pre-baked cakes and other sweet treats. These are often packaged and ready to eat, making them a convenient option for those who want to try Austrian classics without having to bake them from scratch.
One of the most famous Austrian cakes is the Sacher torte, which can be purchased at the Sacher Hotel or from a cafe. However, for a more economical option, you can find pre-packaged Sacher tortes at supermarkets. Another classic Austrian cake is the Linzer torte, which can also be found in supermarkets. These cakes are typically made without artificial ingredients and preservatives, so they may surprise you with their delicious taste.
If you're looking for something a little more unique, you can find pre-baked cakes with interesting flavour combinations, such as layers of apricot on a bed of vanilla cheesecake and shortcrust pastry, topped with crumble, or layers of plum with the same base and an almond crumble topping. For a tangy twist, there are also cakes made with lemon, lime, and satsuma sponge layered with light creme fraiche frosting.
When in Vienna, you can visit supermarkets such as Billa and Spar, which are conveniently located in the city centre, to find a variety of pre-baked cakes and other Austrian specialties. You can also check out the Manner store in Stephansplatz for their famous Neapolitan hazelnut wafers, a bite-sized treat that has become synonymous with the Viennese lifestyle.
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Local souvenirs
When in Austria, you will be spoilt for choice with the variety of local souvenirs available to buy. Here is a list of local souvenirs that you can find in Austrian supermarkets:
Mozart Balls
The Mozart ball is a famous Austrian sweet, made from pistachio marzipan and nougat, encased in dark chocolate. The sweets are wrapped in foil featuring Mozart's portrait and are available in most supermarkets. The original Mozart balls, made by the Furst family since 1890, are only available in Salzburg. However, you can find copycat versions, such as the Mirabell balls, in supermarkets across Austria.
Manner Neapolitan Hazelnut Wafers
Manner Neapolitan hazelnut wafers are a popular and inexpensive snack in Vienna. The bite-sized wafers, with a hazelnut cream and chocolate filling, are wrapped in vintage-style strawberry pink packaging. They can be found in most supermarkets and Manner stores.
Austrian Hams
Austrian hams are a great souvenir option and can be purchased from the deli section of supermarkets.
Austrian Condiments
Austria is known for its variety of condiments, including mustards, mayonnaises, and curry mango sauces. You can find these specialities in the aisles of Austrian supermarkets.
Austrian Wines
Austria is famous for its wine-making culture, and you can find a variety of local wines, such as Gruner Veltliner, in specialist wine stores and bigger supermarkets.
In addition to these edible souvenirs, you can also find traditional Austrian clothing, enamel jewellery, crystal items, and handcrafted wooden carvings in local markets and stores.
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Frequently asked questions
Traditional Austrian foods that can be found in supermarkets include:
- Mozart Balls: chocolate spheres with a marzipan centre, wrapped in red or blue foil.
- Manner wafers: bite-sized neapolitan hazelnut wafers.
- Fleischkäse: a thick slice of polony, often served in a bread roll with mustard.
- Schnitzel: can be bought frozen or in a lunchtime snack roll.
- Punschkrapfen, Linzer tortes, and strudels: pre-packaged Austrian baked goods.
- Hauswürstel: dry, cold-smoked sausage.
- Sacher torte: a famous Austrian cake.
- Staud's jam: a classic Viennese company, producing jams, pickles and compotes.
- Austrian wine: try Grüner Veltliner, the country's most popular dry white wine.
Non-food items that can be found in Austrian supermarkets include:
- Zotter or Milka chocolate bars.
- Mayonnaise in a tube.
- Beer: try Ottakringer, which claims to produce "the original Viennese beer".
- Schnapps: a distilled alcoholic drink, particularly popular in apricot and plum flavours.
- Condensed milk: both the sweetened and caramel varieties can be found in cans.
Many of the food items listed above make great souvenirs, including Mozart Balls, Manner wafers, and Staud's jam. Other souvenirs that can be found in Austrian supermarkets include:
- Sacher torte merchandise: the Sacher Hotel sells a variety of items related to the famous cake.
- Kaiserschmarrn mix: a traditional Austrian pancake.
- Snow globes: the snow globe was invented in Vienna and can be purchased from the original manufacturers.
- Books: larger bookshops will have Austrian novels translated into English, such as "The Piano Teacher" by Elfriede Jelinek.
Yes, there are many other recommended places to buy souvenirs in Austria, including:
- Altmann & Kühne: a traditional confectioner selling chocolate and pralines in beautifully packaged boxes.
- Billa and Spar: typical Austrian supermarket chains.
- Weingut Cobenzl: a vineyard that won first prize in three categories at the 2021 Vienna Wine Awards.
- MPreis: an "upmarket" supermarket chain.
- The Sisi Museum: dedicated to Empress Elizabeth, who has become a cult figure in Austria since her assassination in 1898.
- The Architekturzentrum: sells unusual, useful gifts such as portable portfolios.
- The Museum of Applied Art: sells a variety of products for people and their homes, including vases, tableware, and tea sets.
