Top Tatra National Park Food & Drink: A Delicious Guide

Top Tatra National Park Food & Drink: A Delicious Guide

Tatra National Park Food

Visiting Tatra National Park? You know, it’s a place shared by both Poland and Slovakia, and that means it has double the opportunity for awesome views and some seriously good grub. Let’s check out some of the eats and drinks that will totally make your trip something to write home about. What you put in your belly is, actually, a very significant thing when you’re racking up steps and taking in sights.

1. Oscypek: Smoked Cheese Heaven

Oscypek Smoked Cheese

So, first off, there is oscypek. I mean, this isn’t your average cheese. Produced in a very traditional way from salted sheep’s milk, this smoked cheese is like a flavor explosion, usually. Found mostly in the Polish side, it’s typically a seasonal treat available during late spring all through early autumn. Trust me, grilled oscypek with cranberry sauce? You are so, so missing out. You see stands along the trails. Grab one fresh, and you won’t regret this at all.

2. Kwasnica: A Soup That Warms the Soul

Kwasnica Soup

Kwasnica, wow. If you’re visiting during cooler months, you know, or any time you just want that deep-down warm feeling, you might need to hunt down a bowl of kwasnica. What’s kwasnica, then? This traditional sauerkraut soup has a smoky flavor coming from the kinds of meats they throw in. Typically pork, anyway, it is an actual bowlful of comfort after a long day hiking. Some local places, very few to be frank, still make it in huge wooden barrels like they used to.

3. Pierogi: Dumpling Delight

Pierogi Dumpling Delight

Alright, let’s talk pierogi! That is like Poland’s most celebrated dish, maybe. Imagine these little dumplings stuffed, that, anyway, with everything from potato and cheese, which is a total classic, all through mushrooms and sauerkraut, you might like these. Then there’s the sweet ones, usually stuffed with berries. Then the dough, you know, it’s tender, but these babies get boiled and, more often than not, they get pan-fried with some butter till they are super golden. A mountain of these will never let you down, never. Seriously!

4. Tatratea: A Sip of the Slovakian Spirit

Tatratea

So, for something to sip, that, too, will add some warmth, then, get yourself some Tatratea. That’s a Slovakian herbal liqueur with a pretty high alcohol volume, basically, so heads up! The original is a powerful 52%, but you’ll see it available in many flavors and percentages. It’s sweet but it has notes of tea and spices so it will have you coming back again for another go at it. Local restaurants in the Slovakian side of Tatra National Park are known for pouring it, usually served neat or with a chunk of ice, often. Tatratea may definitely put some extra spring in your hiking shoes. (Please imbibe responsibly, naturally.)

5. Borovicka: A Juniper Taste

Borovicka Juniper Drink

Very okay, Borovicka. It’s similar to gin, and actually a super traditional Slovakian spirit usually made from juniper berries. If you like gin, you know, with its pine and slightly herbal flavor, then, maybe, you need to try this neat. Very many locals tend to drink it straight as a digestif, usually after their hearty meals, which helps in warming the belly, right? Now, some describe its distinctive aroma, often saying that it takes like the forests you’re walking in; you probably have to make the decision as to whether this potent stuff will work for you.