Czech supermarket must-buys: 12 things worth taking home

The best Czech souvenir is rarely in a souvenir shop. It is a few shelves along from the bread, in a supermarket that locals use every day, at a price that does not carry a "Prague" mark-up. The trick is knowing what to pick up.

The shortlist

Cheese first

Czechs eat a great deal of cheese, and the supermarket cheese counter is more interesting than it looks. Olomoucké tvarůžky is the one with the reputation: a small, soft, pungent cheese made in Moravia that has legal protection under EU rules as a regional product. Fans eat it fried, with onion and bread, or cold with beer. Newcomers tend to brace themselves. The smell is stronger than the taste.

Hermelín is the gentler option, a white-mould cheese you can eat as it is. Pubs pickle it with onion and peppers; we explain that in our guide to Czech bar snacks. Niva is the blue one. Eidam and its cousins are the everyday sandwich cheese. And tvaroh, the fresh curd, goes into desserts and cakes.

Sweet things that travel

The Czech sweet shelf runs to wafers. Karlovarské oplatky (Karlovy Vary wafers) are the large, round, spa-town kind, and the name is protected. Hořické trubičky are rolled tubes with a cream filling, also protected. If you see Štramberské uši (ear-shaped gingerbread biscuits from Štramberk), they also carry protected status, but they are more common at markets and gift shops than in supermarkets.

Studentská pečeť and Tatranky are the nostalgic ones. Ask a Czech adult what they ate after school and these two come up quickly. Kolace and buchty are fresher and sold at the bakery counter; see Czech sweets and pastries.

What to leave on the shelf

Not everything labelled Czech is worth carrying home. Bottled tourist sets of mixed spirits in souvenir packaging cost more than the same bottles bought separately, and a bag of generic "Prague" biscuits is usually the same biscuit with a different wrapper. Fresh pastries and soft cheeses are lovely on the day and sad by the time you land.

Look instead at the shelf where Czech shoppers stand. If a product has a tired-looking regional brand, a plain label and a queue of pensioners in front of it, it is probably good.

Spreads, jars and pantry

Pomazánkové máslo is a flavoured butter-type spread, sold in tubs. Czech lunchboxes and breakfast tables use it. Jars of pickled sausage (utopenci) are a bar snack. Sauerkraut (kysané zelí) is sold fresh in bags. Caraway (kmín) and marjoram (majoránka) are the two spices you will see in the soup and meat recipes.

Mustard, horseradish (křen) and tubes of tomato paste are cheap and reliable. For recipes that use them, see our classic dishes.

Drinks

Czech beer in bottles and cans is sold everywhere, including regional brands that you will not find abroad. Our guide to Czech beer styles tells you what to look for on the label. Kofola, the Czech cola, is in most chillers; its story is in our Kofola article.

For spirits, Becherovka is the herbal bitter, and plum brandy is the country spirit. See Becherovka and Czech spirits. Moravian wine is available at decent shelf prices, with sparkling wine a Czech habit; see Czech wine regions.

Mineral water is a quiet national habit. Mattoni is the best-known brand, and supermarkets stock many local waters, some still, some lightly sparkling.

A simple route through the store

Start with the cheese counter, where staff will cut and weigh to order (ask in deka). Move to the sweet aisle for wafers and chocolate, then the dry goods for spices, mustard and jars. Finish with drinks, so the glass is at the top of your bag and not the bottom. Check best-before dates on anything you plan to carry for more than a few days, and keep receipts if you want to claim anything back at a later stage.

If you are staying in a flat, one trip is enough to build a basic Czech pantry: caraway, marjoram, a jar of mustard, rye bread, a wedge of cheese and a bag of potatoes.

How to shop

Large shops open early and close late, but not every day: shops over a certain size must close on a list of public holidays, so plan ahead (as of 2026; check the official source). Smaller neighbourhood shops and late-night večerky (corner shops) stay open longer. See our guide to Czech public holidays for dates.

Bring a bag. Weigh and bag loose produce where the shop provides scales and labels, as some chains do. At the till, the cashier will ask whether you want a bag (sáček), which costs a small amount.

Returnable glass bottles, especially beer bottles, carry a deposit (záloha), and you get it back at the shop that sells them. Deposit rules for other bottles vary, so check the sign at the shop.

Packing and giving

For gifts, choose items that stay flat and keep: wafers, chocolate, tea and spice jars. Pack tvarůžky in a sealed bag inside a box, unless you want your suitcase to say hello first.

If you are cooking for yourself, shop at the supermarket for the basics and at a market for fresh produce. The comparison is in our farmers' markets guide.

Frequently asked questions

Which Czech supermarket product is the best souvenir?

Wafers from Karlovy Vary and Hořice travel best. Sealed cheese is a good choice for the right audience.

Is Olomoucké tvarůžky really that smelly?

It has a strong aroma, stronger than its taste. Keep it sealed and eat it fresh.

Do supermarkets sell Czech wine?

Yes. Czech and Moravian wines are on the shelf, in a range of styles and prices.

Can I return bottles?

Glass bottles with a deposit can be returned to the shop that sells them. Check the sign for anything else.

Are supermarkets open on public holidays?

Large shops must close on certain holidays. Smaller shops may open. Check the official list for the year.