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 undoubtedly the Sachertorte, or Sacher tart. This pastry was created in Vienna in 1832 by an apprentice named Franz Sacher for a party given by Prince Wenzel von Metternich of Austria. It consists of a chocolate sponge cake topped 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 your luggage. In Vienna, the Demel patisserie and the Hotel Sacher offer this cake in a variety of sizes, from small individual versions to larger and smaller versions for sharing. These pastries are beautifully packaged in boxes that are easy to transport and give as gifts. Alternatives to Sachertorte includeImperial Torte and Gugelhupf, a kouglof.
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, Tyrol, near Innsbruck, and the Swarovski family, now in its fifth generation, still 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 bring joy and a magical universe, where water, perfume, music and artists' works rub shoulders. Even though the brand's jewelry can be found all over the world, it makes sense to bring home an Austrian piece, some of which you'll only find in Wattens, Austria, in the boutique.
Freywille enamels
If Swarovski shines too brightly for you, you may be tempted by enamel jewelry. You'll always find them in souvenir stores and museum boutiques with an Art Nouveau or Expressionist theme. For the finest pieces, visit one of the Freywille boutiques. The Freywille factory was founded in Vienna in 1951 by artist Michaela Frey. Initially dedicated to the production of decorative enamel articles, the company then turned its attention to jewelry.
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
They're the most numerous and the most popular! At the top of the list are those bearing the effigy of Empress Sissi. The Sissi Museum inside the Hofburg Palace, a shrine housing over 300 objects from her daily life, has a gift store where you can buy the whole range of Sissi-stamped items, from fridge magnets to the elegant Sissi Stars, hair jewelry adorned with star-shaped Swarovski crystals worn by the empress. Mozart memorabilia rivals Sissi's in diversity. Then there are those evoking Beethoven, Strauss, Schubert and Klimt.
A journal holder
Finally, deliciously vintage, come back with a souvenir of the good times spent relaxing in Austrian cafés reading the newspaper or watching others do so, savoring your Viennese coffee and tasting your pastry, while rejoicing that here the smartphone is not the emperor! An integral part of the local café culture is the provision of a range of newspapers in a newspaper holder for easy reading and consumption. You'll find them in stores, in 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 servants. Traditional Dirndl dresses have since become a major component of Austrian identity. Tostmann Trachten in Seewalchen am Attersee, Upper Austria, is the place to go for authentic made-in-Austria Dirndl dresses. Since 1949, the outfits sold here have been made exclusively in the company's own workshop. Men will be able to buy a pair of typical leather breeches, Lederhosen. But don't be fooled: you won't have much opportunity to wear these outfits, except to a fancy dress ball or a beer festival!
On the other hand, buying a traditional Loden, a green woollen coat, is perfectly reasonable. It's hard-wearing and timeless. Loden-Plankl in Vienna is the place to go for high-quality, tasteful traditional clothing. Similarly, an Austrian-style boiled wool jacket is a great 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.
