Swiss Souvenirs

Watches

Switzerland is a source of world-class watches. Some models are sold only in Switzerland, so many travelers like to come here to choose a watch.

The hallmark of Swiss watches is the precision of their assembly, together with finishing by skilled craftsmen, which has kept Swiss watches popular all along. Famous watch brands include Rolex, Cartier, Patek Philippe, IWC, Bernhard H. Mayer, MIDO, Chairos, Schaffhausen, OMEGA, Tissot, Tag Heuer, Cimier, Longines, Oris, Vacheron Constantin and Swatch

If you like Swiss watches, you will hear the terms "Swiss Made" and "Made in Switzerland". The two are different. "Swiss Made" is a mark showing that the watch has components or parts made in Switzerland, in the proportion set by Switzerland, which is about 60% or more, and that it has been checked for quality and production by Swiss authorities.

The watch brand itself may come from any country. "Made in Switzerland" means the watch is produced in Switzerland, in a factory located in Switzerland, using only parts made in Switzerland. This includes both famous brands and watches well known within Switzerland itself.

(Source: https://www.mushroomtravel.com/page/swiss-watch/)

Freitag bags

The word Freitag comes from German, pronounced "fry-tahk", and means Friday. This bag brand was founded in 1993 by two designer brothers, Markus and Daniel Freitag, who wanted a bag that was sturdy, waterproof and beautifully designed.

The two got their idea from the view out of their kitchen window: trucks and old tarpaulins that were past their use but still in good condition. The brothers began to turn them into bags.

If you are interested, you can buy Freitag bags at Freitag Tower, the largest Freitag store in the world, located in Zurich. The building is made of shipping containers stacked on top of each other, or you can browse the products first at https://www.freitag.ch/en

www.freitag.ch

Swiss Army knives

This is a knife designed to combine many tools in one, such as a screwdriver, scissors, bottle opener, can opener, pen and many other designs.

These tools are all housed inside the handle, and thanks to the mechanism of various pivots, they can be opened out and folded away. Swiss knives have long been popular for everyday use and as souvenirs. You can buy Swiss folding knives at the Victorinox shop (https://www.victorinox.com/global/en/Victorinox/Visit-Us/Our-Stores/Victorinox-Flagship-Store-Z%C3%BCrich/cms/flagship-store-zurich)

It is the most popular brand, with many franchise stores that are easy to find.

(Images from the Victorinox website at the link above)

Chocolate (all photos from https://www.beyond-boarders.com)

Another very famous treat of Switzerland is chocolate. Swiss chocolate is regarded as the best-quality chocolate in the world.

Besides tasting fondue, a popular choice for travelers, buying chocolate to enjoy and to give as souvenirs is well worth it. Popular chocolate brands include

Toblerone was first made in 1908 by Theodor Tobler and Emil Baumann in Bern. Its distinctive feature is chocolate mixed with almonds and honey, shaped as triangles joined in a row, looking like a line of mountains. The Toblerone logo shows the Matterhorn peak, which is a symbol of the city of Bern.

Cailler (Cailler) was first made in 1819 by Francois-Louis Cailler, and later joined with Nestle to produce chocolate. You can buy this brand at the Maison Cailler chocolate factory in Broc, north of Lausanne (website : https://cailler.ch/en/maison-cailler)

This factory has an impressive story: on 15 April 1935 (B.E. 2478), the Nestle company respectfully invited King Rama VIII and King Rama IX, together with the Queen Mother, to visit the chocolate and condensed milk factory, and each of them was presented with a box of chocolate as a keepsake.

Frey (Frey) was created in 1887 by Robert and Max Frey. It is a smooth, sweet chocolate that emphasizes mixing in nuts for a more enjoyable crunch, though there are also flavors without nuts. It is the best-selling chocolate in Switzerland, under the giant retailer Migros, and is the only chocolate brand that says everything is produced in Switzerland.

Lindt (Lindt) was created in 1836 by a confectionery merchant named Spr?ngli in Zurich, and has a chocolate exhibition at the top of Jungfraujoch.

It is also displayed at the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne. Today Lindt has chocolate bars where you can choose the intensity of the chocolate, such as 70%, 85% and 99%, to please those who like their chocolate rich and intense.


Teuscher (Teuscher) was created in 1932 by Dolf Teuscher and can be bought in Zurich and Geneva. Zurich is the main production base of this chocolate brand, with more than 100 varieties.

Its distinctive feature is chocolate balls filled with various flavors of jam, all in one box, made with natural ingredients and no chemicals or preservatives.




Läderach (L?derach) is a chocolate that represents authentic Swiss home-made chocolate. You can buy it in shops at major train stations such as Zurich, Bern, Basel and Lucerne. You can visit the museum at http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/chocolate-factories/laederach-chocolate-adventures.html



Villars (Villars) was first made in 1901 in Fribourg, focusing mainly on selling to tourists. It is a chocolate with many flavors and sizes to choose from, made with unique ingredients. Today it is run by Alexandre Sacerdoti with about 140 employees.

(website : https://www.villars.com/FR/en.html)



Other interesting Swiss foods include Raclette, Schnitzel, Saffron Risotto, Swiss Cheese Fritters (Malakoff), Rosti and more.



Cheese

Switzerland is also famous for its cheese, with many varieties, such as

Emmental (Emmental) is made in villages in the Emmental valley, east of Bern, from fresh cow's milk from cows fed on herbs in the meadows. The outside of the cheese is light brownish yellow, and the inside is yellow with typical holes caused by carbonic acid during fermentation, which has become the signature of this cheese. It is known as Swiss cheese because the Swiss were the first to make it. This cheese is popular for fondue, sandwiches and pies.

Gruyère comes from the town of Gruyères in the canton of Fribourg in the west of the country. It is a large, round cheese, shaped like a pound cake, with a slightly sweet and salty flavor and a pleasantly chewy texture.

Appenzeller is a product of the Appenzell region in eastern Switzerland. It is made using a special method in which the cheese is washed with a herbal brine, giving it a slightly strong aroma that is the distinctive trademark of this type of cheese.

Tête de Moine is made from fresh milk from the Jura region in the northwest of Switzerland. It is an especially hard, dense cheese, so it has to be shaved into thin curls first, using a special cutting tool called a "girolle". It is often sprinkled over other dishes as a garnish.

Wine Swiss wine is not very well known because it is more expensive than French wine and is not produced in large enough quantities. In terms of quality, however, Swiss wine is considered first-class. The main vineyards are in the west and the south or southeast, along the Rhône Valley, and in the growing areas around Lake Neuchâtel. You can find it at restaurants, general stores and in supermarkets.