1. Chocolate
Taste of Ukraine: Ukrainian chocolate brand Sisters A. Chocolate produces ethically and sustainably sourced chocolate products. Photo: Sisters A. Chocolate/Instagram
The chocolate craze in Ukraine started over 150 years ago when the first chocolate factory opened its doors in the western city of Lviv. From their first bites of chocolate bars and bonbons, Ukrainians were hooked, so much so that they continued forging the chocolate scene, which has since grown into a successful chocolate industry.
You may have heard about Ukraine's chocolate giants, like Svitoch and Roshen, but did you know that there are many artisanal chocolate brands that create their products from "bean to bar" and are recognized on the international stage as the best? One such shop is Sisters A. Chocolate, a terroir chocolate brand founded and owned by two sisters, Olena and Oleksandra.
Quite recently, Sisters A. Chocolate took part in the international chocolate contest from the Academy of Chocolate. Their products dominated the 2024 competition and won six awards: one gold and five silver. Their gold medalist was Madagascar Mava Maliolio, a dark 75% chocolate — a great starting point for you to try out this brand and Ukrainian craft chocolate in general. Visit their website to find other types and flavors!
2. Dried meat snacks
Best Ukrainian food: RyabChick offers two flavors: pepper–paprika and honey–mustard. Photo: ryabchick.ua
Since the rise of healthy eating and fitness movements, which became even more popular during the pandemic, everyone has been obsessed with protein. Eating protein helps you stay full longer and can support your health in many ways, including building muscle.
One way to get all that protein is to eat healthy dried meat snacks, which have become increasingly popular in Europe, including Ukraine, where more snack brands of this kind are entering the market.
This includes RyabChick, a young Ukrainian brand that produces air-dried chicken slices with up to 81% protein, using just chicken and spices. Their quality and innovation didn't go unnoticed — at the International Food & Drink Event (IFE) in London, RyabChick was named "Best Meat/Poultry Product" at the prestigious 2024 World Food Innovation Awards.
If you lack protein in your diet and want a nutritious and convenient snack you can eat on the go, you can try RyabChick.
3. Cheese
Taste of Ukraine: Zinka is a unique cheese brand from Ukraine that uses only goat milk in its products. Photo: Zinka/Instagram
Ukrainians have been making cheese for 5,000 years since they first domesticated animals. Because cheese has been part of Ukrainian life for as long as anyone can remember, it has found its way into traditions and celebrations. In some regions, people even make little cheese horses for weddings, believed to be a good luck charm.
Ukraine's cheese industry is a mix of local, small-scale farms that make craft cheeses and larger factories that produce well-loved, mainstream products. No matter the scale, local cheesemakers make sure that their milk is ethically sourced and of high quality, so the animals are well-cared for and the cheese tastes impeccable.
The growing list of awards Ukrainian cheeses have won at the World Cheese Awards, the largest cheese competition globally, shows they're not just good — they're among the best. Over the last two years, 21 Ukrainian cheeses have been recognized with medals at this competition, including the most consistent award-winning one — the Ukrainian goat cheese brand Zinka. Zinka cheeses won gold, silver, and bronze in 2023 and silver and bronze in 2024. You should have a taste!
Find out how to support Ukrainian craft food producers here.
4. Honey
Best Ukrainian food: Honey Heritage is a family-owned and award-winning Ukrainian honey brand. Photo: 100 Shop
Ukrainian bees are legendary. They teach kids social responsibility, help fundraise money for the army, and make excellent honey that people worldwide appreciate and love. In 2024, they brought $43.5 million in export revenue to Ukraine's treasury. Think about it — Americans alone buy 11 tons of Ukrainian honey daily!
Ukrainian beekeepers, who've revolutionized the profession with new inventions, are also famous for their craft, which they constantly prove by collecting awards at international competitions. In 2021, Ukrainian honey brands made a clean sweep at the prestigious London Honey Awards, winning five gold, three silver, and one bronze medal.
We want to highlight one award-winning brand for you to try — Honey Heritage, which took the platinum prize at the same festival in 2023 for its linden honey. Founded by Mykola Stasiuk in 1949 in the western village of Rybne, the family business keeps bees and produces honey near the Black Forest. They offer so many kinds of honey — acacia, linden, buckwheat, honeydew, and more — and experimental honey creams with cacao powder and berries. You'll find something to your liking.
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5. Craft beer
Taste of Ukraine: Varvar is a craft beer brand, brewery, and chain of beer pubs in Ukraine. Photo: Varvar/Intagram
You may be surprised to see beer on the best Ukrainian food list. Hear us out as we provide you with at least two arguments. In the past, beer was called "liquid bread," and today, according to some classifications, like the NOVA system, beer is considered a fermented food. Not convincing? Let us slide with this one, and we will recommend the best Ukrainian beer you can find on the market.
Ukraine has a big beer industry, with Kyiv, Chernihiv, Lviv, and Ternopil home to major brands like Obolon, Lvivske, Opillya, and Chernihivske. At the same time, craft breweries in these cities and beyond have been making a name for themselves, winning international awards, and expanding the country's beer culture.
A prominent one that recently was noticed and awarded six medals, including gold, at the 2024 International Beer Challenge is Varvar, a craft beer brand from Kyiv that has brewed a wide range of beers — lagers, stouts, IPAs, ales, and more — since 2015, and even collaborated with Sisters A. Chocolate to create a chocolate, cherry, and juniper stout. Sounds intriguing? You can order Varvar's beer sets to try different styles.
