Traditional and fun Czech sweets

If you are interested in trying some traditional Czech sweets, these are three cult things you can try while you are in Prague. Or you can take them home as a cool and easy-to-pack gift. All of them you can find in any supermarket or grocery store. Price of each is less than 1.50 euro (35 Czech Crowns)

Who is writing this?

As you can see I am not a food blogger using all the professional props. My name is Dana and I am a local Prague guide designing various types of tours and activities for Prague visitors. Besides guiding I also like writing about Prague and help travellers to learn about the city from the local´s perspective. Today about traditional Czech sweets.

traditional czech sweets
Dana, guide for Prague Behind The Scenes tours and the author of this blog post.

Antiperle: Czech “Tic-Tac” from the communist times

Antiperle is a cult Czech mint candy. Actually something like a local Tic-Tac produced in Czechoslovakia during the communist times. When we couldn´t buy the real western stuff, we were sucking Antiperle instead. They look like little pearls and there is also a very sophisticated opening system on the side (don´t try to open the whole top lid!). And how does Antiperle taste? Similar to Tic-Tac, it has a mint flavour, just more sweet. Definitely don´t  expect a fresh wind storm in your mouth. Just a light breeze…Perfect last minute souvenir.

traditional czech sweets
Traditional Czech sweets: Antiperle, Czech Tic-Tac.

Piknik, Jesenka, Pikao: condensed milk in a toothpaste tube

This is something I have never seen in the whole world. Honestly. Piknik looks like toothpaste but it’s actually condensed milk packed in a tube. You suck it right from the tube. It’s extremely sweet and soooo good. And addictive. Even if your tongue is already burning from the sugar and your mouth muscles hurt like hell, you can´t stop sucking it until the tube is completely empty…There are also other versions called Pikao (condensed cacao milk) and Jesenka (condensed cream). All fun!  

traditional czech sweets
Piknik: don´t show these Czech sweets to any nutritionist!

Hašlerky: Czech herbal hard candy

The most traditional and most likely the oldest Czech hard candy made according to a secret formula and produced in the Czech Republic (Czechoslovakia) for more than 100 years. It´s a herbal drop with no artificial additives. It also helps when you have a sore throat or when you are losing your voice (that’s why the product was named after a very famous Czech singer from the beginning of the 20th century, Karel Hašler). The drops are black as there is an activated charcoal in them and licorice. When I was a kid and I was ill, the first natural aid was actually drinking hot milk with two melted Hašlerky.  

traditional czech sweets
Hašlerky: traditional Czech hard candy made according to a secret formula.
traditional czech sweets
Hašlerky cost ca 1 euro (around 25 CZK).

All these three items you can easily find in any Czech supermarket (Albert, Billa, Lidl).


Dana, owner and guide for Prague Behind The Scenes | small-group tours and experiences.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or want to tour with me: dana@praguebehindthescenes.com

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