WHAT TO BRING FROM KALININGRAD AS A GIFT - 15 BEST SOUVENIRS

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The westernmost city of Russia, which until 1945 belonged to Germany and bore the name of Königsberg, today welcomes guests with traditional European churches and Gothic castles. Naturally, it is simply impossible to leave this extraordinary place without memorable gifts for family and friends. So that you don’t waste precious time on the trip, don’t rack your brains over the choice of souvenirs and don’t buy ordinary magnets with a choh, we have prepared a list of the best things to bring from Kaliningrad as a gift.

Amber souvenirs

The informal capital of the yellow warm stone is the village of Yantarny, which is located 50 km from Kaliningrad. Fundamental deposits of Baltic amber, found in 1872, are located on the Zemland peninsula. Today, about 85% of the world's reserves of the sun gem, which is more than 50 million years old, are mined on the coast. That is why amber is here at every step. Local craftsmen make not only jewelry from it.

In specialized stores, you can buy figurines, paintings, panels, boxes, dishes, watches and business accessories made from this organic mineral. For true fans of the sun stone, we recommend visiting the Amber Museum in the Dona Tower - a red-brick landmark in the center of Kaliningrad. Exhibits in 28 rooms acquaint visitors with the history, methods of extraction and the artistic value of forever hardened resin. A salon of amber souvenirs is open at the museum.

Succinic acid cosmetics

Cosmetics are always a good gift for women. Kaliningrad natural cosmetics with a sun stone are doubly good.

The main component of the care products - succinic acid - is a natural biostimulant and has the widest spectrum of action:

neutralizes free radicals
restores water-salt balance
increases skin elasticity
fights breakouts and reduces severe acne
saturates cells with oxygen
relieves puffiness
removes toxins from the upper layers of the dermis
improves the tugor of the epidemic
brightens age spots
evens out complexion and skin relief
reduces allergic symptoms
accelerates cell metabolism

One of the best companies producing care products with succinic acid (creams, masks, lotions, shampoos, oils, scrubs, soaps) is Amberlin. The cost of cosmetic products varies from 200 to 2,300 rubles.

Antique

The former Königsberg cherishes its history. In the ancient city, you can find both attributes of Tsarist Russia and silent witnesses of the history of East Prussia and World War II: Meissen porcelain, wardrobe items of the last century, orders, bronze statuettes, rare coins and soldiers' helmets. Fans of antiquity will also appreciate the exclusive amber jewelry with insects permanently frozen inside.

You will find rare items in Kaliningrad not only in city museums, but also in antique shops. Flea markets located near the Central and South Bazaars are popular among tourists. Along with moth-beaten things, priceless artifacts are sold here: pre-revolutionary books, vintage decorations, old Christmas tree decorations, fine dishes, icons, badges, German silver from pre-war times and even awards of the Third Reich.

Homlins

Homlins are true masters of amber craft. They are the ones who are able to create beautiful products even from a small piece. Like all unusual heroes, they hide from prying human eyes. All you need to know is that they have one important rule: to work only with natural materials, which they, by their hard work, extract in the Kaliningrad region.

These are local herbs, wood, clay and, of course, amber! Thus, their secret of longevity is revealed. Few people know, but these creatures live for several millennia. Yes, the homlins saw incredible historical events, they saw how the Vikings drank local tea, and the crusaders built castles from local clay.

Homlins still remember the recipe for Konigsberg marzipan, which became famous all over the world, and amber ... Amber is a message from the era of dinosaurs and the main symbol of the Baltic States, which is more than 40 million years old.

Homlins keep secrets of fine work in secret, but want to share their products. In their workshop you will find a lot of interesting, beautiful and unusual for yourself and loved ones.

Official website for souvenirs: homlins.com. We recommend visiting the workshop in the ancient astronomical bastion.

Smoked eel

To visit Kaliningrad and not bring the famous Baltic eel as a gift is the crime of the century. According to true gourmets, the main gastronomic attraction of the city is characterized by tender meat with a low fat content. The most popular way to prepare delicious fish is traditional smoking. The carcasses are gutted, kept in brine and placed in a well-heated oven.

In order not to buy his Chinese “colleague” instead of a native of the Baltic, take the choice of a fish store seriously. Remember: real smoked eel, caught in the waters of the Kaliningrad region, has an amber-golden belly, firm white meat and a delicious smoky aroma. For such delicious specimens, it is best to go to the Curonian Spit, where a long sea inhabitant can be purchased in the heat of the heat - from local fishermen.

Koenigsberg klops

German cuisine is respected in the city. The proof of this is the Königsberg klops, a favorite dish of the honorable resident of the city of Immaniul Kant. The recipe for tender minced meat balls was first published in 1805 in the "Prussian Cookbook". Later in 1885, when German housewives became familiar with the meat grinder, the dish was modernized and turned into an analogue of modern meatballs.

Original meatballs made from minced veal, anchovies, eggs, onions, cream, softened bread and spices, plentifully poured with lemon sauce, can be tasted in restaurants of national German cuisine. And if you want to bring a traditional dish as a gift, then go to one of the central supermarkets. It sells semi-finished Prussian meatballs, packaged in vacuum packaging or tin boxes.

Sea buckthorn products

The Kaliningrad population of sea buckthorn is known for its high oil content (4.5%). Like no others, bright orange berries are rich in trace elements, vitamins A, B, K, P, fatty and organic acids. This makes the healing product an effective assistant in the treatment of bronchitis, sinusitis, dermatitis, eczema, stomach ulcers, colitis, diseases of the pancreas and duodenum.

You can find healthy berries in stores fresh, mashed, dried and frozen. There is also jam made according to a special Kaliningrad recipe. But the hit of sales is undoubtedly sea buckthorn oil, the price of which on the Baltic coast is an order of magnitude lower than in other regions of Russia. The average cost of a 100 ml bottle is about 230 rubles, a package of 100 gelatin capsules is 150 rubles.

Marzipan

According to a German legend, in 1407, the city of Lübeck ran out of flour. Enterprising bakers began to make almond bread. This is how marzipan (translated as "March bread") was born - an elastic mass made of grated bitter almonds and sugar syrup. In the Middle Ages, it was sold in pharmacies as a remedy for stomach problems and to increase potency. Today, fragrant figurines, bars and sweets are welcome guests on the tables with a sweet tooth.

In Königsberg, the first marzipan factory appeared in 1809.The Prussian delicacy was popular not only in its homeland - it was exported to tsarist Russia as well. The traditional German dessert is delicious and healthy. Almonds are high in vitamins and minerals. Despite these properties, you should not get carried away with sweetness: it is unlikely that your teeth will like the 35% sugar included in the product.

Mineral water

The former Königsberg is rich not only in amber deposits. In Zelenogradsk, Kaliningrad, Gusev and Svetlogorsk there are 9 enterprises producing and bottling bromine, calcium-sodium, chloride and drinking water. And in the city of Slavsk there is even an outdoor natural pool with mineral water, which is extremely popular among both tourists and local residents.

You can also buy healing water in local stores. So if you are traveling by train or car, stock up. The best choice will be "Svetlogorskaya", indicated for the treatment of diseases of the thyroid gland, digestive organs and the nervous system, and clean as a tear, balanced "Zelenogradskaya Nastya", which is mined from a depth of 245 meters.

Cognac

Wine and Cognac House "Alliance-1892" is known far beyond the city limits. Since 1997, it has been producing alcoholic beverages of the highest quality. The most popular brainchild of the plant, which annually wins awards at international exhibitions, is the Old Königsberg cognac aged in oak barrels, famous for its long velvety aftertaste and delicate aroma with floral notes. Only French distillates are used in the production of the drink.

Another famous representative of the glorious cognac family - "Old Tilsit" - a visiting card of the Kaliningrad winery. The noble nectar pleases its fans with its vanilla flavor and floral-fruity aroma. The price will not disappoint either: a bottle of 4-year-old cognac with a capacity of 0.5 liters costs about 650 rubles.

Beer

If your friends prefer lighter alcohol, buy them a gift or two bottles of Königsberg lager - a drink with a rich taste and a long history. Its roots go back to 1910, when a brewery appeared in one of the districts of Koenigsberg - Devau. Its products were in accordance with the Bavarian Pure Beer Act of 1516, according to which true foam should consist only of water, hops and barley malt.

The old German brewery, which became part of the PIT company in 1998, continues to produce a traditional drink brewed in accordance with strict canons. But not only amber ambrosia from the Königsberg brand is filling the shelves of city stores. Popular varieties include Ostmark, Pete and Doctor Diesel.

Chocolate from Europe

The best souvenir for those with a sweet tooth is chocolate. But not the usual Russian one - you can buy it in any supermarket near your home. True connoisseurs of delicacies will surely appreciate the European dessert, created at the factories of the world's most famous manufacturers. And where else to buy overseas sweets, if not in Kaliningrad - the westernmost point of the country!

The city's shops and pastry shops boast a good range of Swiss, Belgian and German chocolatiers. Here you will find elite bitter bars from the famous Bremen company Hachez, sweet figurines from Hagen Hussel and hand-made Belgian sweets Pierre Marcolini and Passion Chocolate. And the breathtaking masterpieces made by Zurich craftsmen will delight even the most picky gourmets.

Handicrafts

The handicraft products are also saturated with the European spirit. Tilde dolls invented by the Norwegian Tony Finnanger are popular. Those traveling on New Year's holidays buy the charming heroes of Hoffmann's Christmas tales as gifts. Linen products differ from Russian ones.

Clothes, bedding and towels made using Western technologies are thinner and whiter than domestic ones. Local gift shops are filled with cat figurines of all shapes and sizes. And it is not surprising, because the Konigsberg cat is the unspoken symbol of the city. And also as a keepsake from the trip, they often bring cute works of ceramic artists: animal figurines and candlesticks in the form of German half-timbered houses.

Clothing and haberdashery from Western Europe

Good news for shopaholics. Due to the unique location of the city, the products of companies from neighboring European countries are widely represented in shopping centers. It would be wrong to say that prices on the Baltic coast are much lower than those in St. Petersburg or Moscow. But the selection of products of democratic brands from Poland, Lithuania and Germany here significantly exceeds the range of stores in the two capitals.

The best time to hunt for clothes and footwear of European manufacturers is the period of sales. Traditionally, stores are cleared of old collections in the second half of January and the end of July. Do not ignore the discount centers: Style and Fashion, Occasion Outlet, Babylon and Brand Stock Outlet.

Souvenirs from the Curonian Spit

What to bring from the sandy coastal strip connecting Russia and Lithuania if not the most delicious smoked eel? Here you can find gourmet goods from local fishermen and specialized stores. In addition to delicious fish, souvenirs related to the popular attractions of the Curonian Spit National Park are sold in this picturesque region.

Ornithological station "Fringilla" offers to admire the pristine nature and learn a lot of interesting things about the life of birds. You will be reminded of your visit to the reserve by skillfully made figurines of birds, as well as key rings and T-shirts with the image of birds. The second "must have" of the Curonian Spit is the Museum of Russian Superstitions. Souvenirs are appropriate here: funny little houses, mischievous kikimors, shaggy goblin and graceful mermaids.

Where to buy souvenirs

When combing the city in search of memorable gifts, avoid street stalls and small shops. Their prices are unfairly high, and the choice is poor. In addition, in such places, you can easily buy a fake or an expired product (if we talk about edible presentations). That is why experienced travelers are advised to buy Kaliningrad souvenirs in specialized stores.

Amber:

"Amber Legend" - Leninsky Prospect, 17-19
"Yantarny Yuvelirprom" - st. Teatralnaya, 23-27

Antiques, handicrafts, cosmetics:

"Collector" - st. Korabelnaya, 1
"Koenigsberg glass" - 1st floor of the shopping center "Clover", Victory Square, 10
Modigliani - Leninsky Prospect, 24
Manufactory "Belotelov" - st. Proletarskaya 27

Sweets, alcohol, food: