What to bring from Ukraine as a gift to family and friends? You can, of course, limit yourself to the standard set of tourists: a magnet, a T-shirt and a mug. Or you can spend a little more time and find a really unique thing.
Food and drink
Sweets will become a universal gift that can be given to both adults and children. Of course, the famous Kievsky cake is unlikely to be delivered safe and sound. But it is recommended to buy gift sets of sweets with whole nuts and other fillings from the Roshen confectionery factory.
Dry jam will become an unusual souvenir for many. This delicacy, traditional for Ukraine, is somewhat reminiscent of candied fruits. In addition to sweets, you can buy honey or nuts. In souvenir shops, these products are always packed in beautiful boxes or barrels depicting national symbols or main attractions.
One of the first associations that arise when Ukraine is mentioned is vodka. It is better to buy a traditional alcoholic drink in specialized stores. First, the risk of buying a low-quality product is reduced to zero. Secondly, drinks are sold there in original glass or clay bottles.
Boiled or smoked bacon will be an excellent addition to the thematic gift. You can buy it in stores or markets. On the latter, by the way, prices are somewhat lower. Especially if you haggle a little. Those who have already traveled to Ukraine more than once say that you can bring with you several cans of local beer, which is of very good quality.
Clothing, textiles, accessories
Ukrainian craftswomen became famous all over the world for the famous embroidery technique on linen and cotton. Nowadays you can find a lot of gift items in shops: clothes; tablecloths; towels. By tradition, the embroidered shirt is made with white and red threads, with a slight addition of black. An interesting feature is the fact that the color and ornament on clothes depends on who they are intended for. For example, black is intended for men and is also a symbol of grief. Dark blue is best for older women. Young girls traditionally wore light blue or white clothes.
Ornaments on embroidered shirts can be very diverse: geometric, floral, or depicting animals and birds. Product prices can vary greatly. Naturally, handmade items are much more expensive.
A traditional gift from Ukraine is a towel, an embroidered towel. It can be used both for its intended purpose and for decorative purposes. In addition, a lot of embroidered products made from natural materials are sold in souvenir shops: bags, belts, cases for phones and laptops.
As a gift for a man, you can buy a braided belt (sash), an embroidered cotton shirt or traditional leather shoes. Women will definitely be delighted with the national decoration - a necklace made of coins and bright stones, which is called monisto.
It may not be the most practical, but an original gift for a man will be a hand-made pipe made of fine wood. Usually such gifts are made to order by the craftsmen. But if there is not very much time left before departure, then you can look for interesting specimens in thematic stores.
Ceramics will become a fairly standard and useful gift. It can be both sets for tea or coffee, and separate items: plates; cups; jugs; dishes. All products are decorated with floral ornaments, so clay kitchen utensils can be an excellent decorative element.
What kind of souvenir can I bring a child from Ukraine?
Without exception, all children will be delighted with a sweet gift. For example, a set of chocolates. Children like dolls in national costumes very much. In stores you can find very expensive porcelain models. However, such a gift is not very practical. Your best bet is to buy a small rag toy.
Boys are unlikely to play with dolls. Therefore, for them you can buy toys made of wood or clay, with patterns in national traditions. Children also like painted clay whistles. There is a large selection of such goods in Kiev, on Khreshchatyk.
In bookstores you can buy very colorful books for children with folk tales. The markets often sell albums with beautiful covers or pictures made by children's illustrators.
Teens are often brought in T-shirts, sweatshirts and other wardrobe items depicting national symbols or major attractions. If a child plays music, you can give him a real Ukrainian bandura - a folk string instrument. In music stores and souvenir shops, there are both gift items and original expensive products.
