When it comes to Ukrainian souvenirs, it’s easy to get lost among the rows of embroidered shirts and salo magnets found on Kyiv’s winding Andriyivsky Uzviz, the city’s ultimate souvenir market. But there are plenty of exceptional gifts from Ukraine that will amaze tourists from abroad.
‘Perepichka’ T-shirt
Often referred to as the Kyiv-style hot dog, the Kyiv perepichka is sold at one place only at the corner of Bohdana Khmelnytskoho and Khreshchatyk streets. Serving deep-fried dough stuffed with sausage since the 1980s, the joint remains extremely popular. A low price of Hr 6, a central location and brand loyalty make for long lines of customers. Now the famous fast food stall makes its own T-shirts. Clan-P online store sells the “Ukrainian vintage bratwurst” T-shirt for Hr 250 at www.clanpshop.com.
Golden bread magnet
A loaf of bread made of gold was discovered in the Mezhyhirya mansion after Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovych fled his residence overnight on Feb 22. A two-kilogram pure gold bread loaf was just one of tens of thousands of presents that journalists and EuroMaidan activists stumbled upon at the palatial estate. Later it became the ultimate symbol of Ukraine’s corruption. The original loaf mysteriously disappeared soon after it was discovered, but its little non-golden replicas can be found as kitchen magnets on Andryivksiy Uzviz and Maidan Nezalezhnosti for Hr 5-10.
Cocktail Hrushevskoho
Molotov cocktails were the main projectiles of choice by the EuroMaidan revolutionaries, who employed them along Hrushevskoho Street in Kyiv. The flammable cocktail quickly became a symbol of the popular uprising. The activists used to stock bottles with flammable liquid, usually gasoline or alcohol all over Maidan Nezalezhnosti in case of a crackdown. Now the bottles with the cocktails are only available as kitchen magnets and key charms sold for Hr 25. They can be found on Andryivskiy Uzviz and online.
‘Wipe your boots!’ rug
Right after the revolution, Kyiv’s souvenir booths started offering rugs that read “Wipe your boots!” with the smiling face of Yanukovych imprinted on it. After Russia’s annexation of Crimea in March a new line of rugs were released with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s face on them. The mats are available on Kyiv’s Maidan Nezalezhnosti and online. The average price is Hr 60.
Kyiv pom beanie
As hot as the weather in Kyiv is now, it may be hard to think about the coming winter. Those who do can buy a dark blue pom beanie with the word ‘Kyiv’ knitted on it. It is both novel and super stylish. Available online at www.joyfactory.com.ua for Hr 180.
Kyiv Post staff writer Olena Goncharova can be reached at [email protected].
