Ears, gingerbread, wafers, tubes and fritters – Discover new flavors and inspiration!
Official titles sound formal but basically indicate that the items originate from a specific region or place. The Czech Republic currently has several dozen of such registered designations. In the list, you can find not only Olomouc cheese, South Bohemian Niva cheese, Třeboň carp, and a variety of beers, but also several types of sweets. Which ones are they?
The oldest tale: where did Štramberské uši come from?
According to legend, in the year 1241, savage invaders from the east attacked Štramberk, plundering the area and cutting off ears and hands from the locals. The people of Štramberk managed to seek refuge in a fort they built quickly on Kotouč Hill. Additionally, they dug through the dam of a nearby pond at night, causing the water to wash away the enemy camp. The Tatars drowned, leaving behind only a few bags of ears that they were going to take home as spoils. To commemorate their famous victory, the locals hold a grand pilgrimage on the day of the Assumption of Mary and bake the so-called Štramberské uši from flour, sugar, honey, and various aromatic spices. These treats taste like gingerbread and are shaped like ears after being removed from the oven. They can be filled with all sorts of sweet fillings and creams for those with a sweet tooth – Štramberské uši have been baked for nearly 800 years. Out of all foods with protected geographic designations, they are undisputedly the oldest.
Pardubický perník: a delicacy from the 16th century
When people mention Pardubice, most instantly think of the famous gingerbread. Records of the first gingerbread maker date back to 1515, and by the 16th century, there was already a gingerbread guild. However, sweet treats made from honey, flour, and pepper might have been produced long before that. It is a certainty that Empress Maria Theresa confirmed the right to make gingerbread for Pardubice in 1756, and by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the first large industrial manufacturers emerged. Even today, you can find numerous bakeries and cafés in the town, where you can choose from beautifully decorated and varied shapes of gingerbread pieces. One of the places known for making excellent gingerbread is the Janosh bakery. Here you can taste award-winning products from many competitions, such as the winner of the Regional Food competition of the Pardubice Region and Mls Pardubice. Another producer of gingerbread with the protected designation Pardubický perník Jaja can be found on 17. November Street. And there is also a nice gingerbread shop at the Pardubice main railway station, offering a very rich selection of Pardubice gingerbread.
Lázeňské oplatky: a treat over 200 years old
Lázeňské oplatky, a sweet treat made of two crispy thin wafers filled with various fillings, can be tasted in many places. In Luhačovice, Karlovy Vary, Teplice nad Bečvou, and Mariánské Lázně, although the hazelnut, vanilla, cocoa, or nougat-flavored wafers taste similar, only two varieties have received protection as products with a geographical indication: Mariánské and Karlovy wafers. It’s said that the first mentions of this sweet delicacy appeared in the West Bohemian spa town in the 18th century, but only in 1856 did industrial production start in Mariánské Lázně. The history might be a bit different, as the first wafers were supposedly not meant for the sweet-toothed spa clientele but were for guests from the Premonstratensian monastery in Teplá. It is said that a clever cook invented this special dessert, finding a new use for the wafer bakers that were normally used for baking hosts. And here’s a fun fact that might surprise you: Karlovy Vary wafers even have healing properties because medicinal water from the Vřídlo spring is used in their production. The Karlovarské trojhránky also have protective designations.
Hořické trubičky: a treat from Napoleon’s era
While not much is known about the history of Štramberské uši, gingerbread, or lawn wafers, we do know exactly when the first Hořické trubičky were made. It was in 1812, when injured soldiers who were returning from Napoleon’s Russian campaign found shelter in the picturesque town of Hořice. Among them was the personal chef of the French emperor, who, grateful for his rescue, revealed to his caretaker the secret of making Napoleon’s favorite treat. Since then, the secret of Hořické trubičky has been passed down from generation to generation. They are handmade in Hořice, and an authentic trubička is rolled from two wafers, filled with melted butter and bee honey, and dusted with a mixture of sugar, cocoa, cinnamon, and nuts. You can find this beloved treat in many bakeries in Hořice, and you can also take a stroll along the special Trubičková Path. Each September, the town hosts the Festival of Hořické trubičky.
Valašský frgál: traditional pastry from the Beskydy
In the past, when housewives from Valašsko made unsuccessful pastries, they referred to them as frgály. However, that is no longer the case; on the contrary, frgály have become much-loved treats. These giant pastries (since the proper “real” Valašský frgál must be at least 30 centimeters in diameter) have been baked using the same recipe for several centuries. Their charm lies in the thin dough and generous amounts of fragrant filling – the most common fillings are pear, cottage cheese, poppy seed, apple, and plum jam, but you may also find less common frgály with apricot, walnut, blueberry, or pumpkin filling. At the Resort Valachy, which includes three hotels in Velké Karlovice, you can not only buy frgály but also sign up for a baking course and make your own frgál under the guidance of local bakers. One more interesting note – in 2023, the English culinary website Taste Atlas from London rated Czech frgály as the fourth best cake in the world.
A selection of the best annual culinary festivals
If you want to try your hand at baking frgály, gingerbread, or wafers from the comfort of your own home, we wish you luck with that. However, for those who prefer to buy ready-made treats, they can visit one of the many culinary events that are successfully held every year: Among the popular events is the Gastronomic Festival of M. D. Rettigová, which takes place in May in Litomyšl. Here, delicious bábovka is regularly featured, with baking competitions held for it.
Early July in Velké Pavlovice is reserved for the beloved Meruňkobraní. Apricot pastries, dumplings, apricot brandy, apricot wine… and other apricot specialties celebrate the tradition of growing apricots in this region. After all, the large Pavlovice variety originates right from here. In mid-July, the sweet dishes made with blueberries are celebrated in the traditional Borůvkobraní in South Bohemia’s Borovany. Blueberry cakes, dumplings, jams, and other delights will also include the sale of garden blueberry seedlings.
The Fruit Dumpling Festival is an annual event at Konopiště Castle. It takes place in early August to honor Archduke Ferdinand d’Este, who particularly enjoyed this dish. The Strudel Festival invites you to Mníšek pod Brdy every September. Besides delicious strudels, you can expect a musical and theatrical program. Café Páv organizes the Poppy Festival at Ploskovice Castle at the start of September. This is a celebration of a crop that has a long-standing tradition in the Czech Republic. You will find poppy seed cakes and pastries, along with poppy seed cosmetics as well.
