Jablunkov Shopping

Budejovicky Budvar known as Budweiser Budvar in 58 countries (Czechvar in the USA) is brewed in Ceske Budejovice. In my opinion it's the best bottled beer (Premium Larger, I mean) I used to buy in Czech. There were two variants of Budejovicky Budvar available in Vecerka grocery: Svetly lezak (with red label, known as Budvar Premium Lager abroad) and Svetle vycepni pivo (with blue label - unavailable abroad). Personally I preferred Svetly lezak.

My short opinion:
Perfect golden colour, malty and sweet, not too bitter, not as heavily carbonated as most pilseners. Top quality.
Budvar draught is Heaven on earth.

What to buy: Budejovicky Budvar - Svetly lezak :-).

What to pay: One glass bottle (0.5 l = 16.91 oz) costed in Oct. 2003:
Svetly lezak - 16.50 Kc ($0.63 = 0.54 euro = 2.43 zl)
Svetle vycepni pivo - 10.50 Kc ($0.40 = 0.34 euro = 1.55 zl).
Add 3 Kc for each glass bottle.

Radegast beer is brewed in Nosovice, eastern part of Czech Republic (called Moravia) since 1567. There were three unique variants of Radegast available in Vecerka grocery: Premium, Original and Birell with alcohol volume content: 5, 4 and 0.49%. Personally I preferred Premium although it was not my favourite Czech beer brand.

My short opinion on Radegast Premium:
Typical czech Pilsener taste, but with less character. Malty aroma with some light perfumy hops. Light bitter in the end. Easy to forget.

What to buy: Radegast Premium.

What to pay: One glass bottle (0.5 l = 16.91 oz) costed in Oct. 2003:
Premium - 12.40 Kc ($0.48 = 0.40 euro = 1.82 zl)
Birell - 11.60 Kc ($0.44 = 0.38 euro = 1.71 zl)
Original - 8.60 Kc ($0.33 = 0.28 euro = 1.27 zl)
Add 3 Kc for each glass bottle.

Velkopopovicky Kozel is brewed in Velke Popovice brewery 15 km out of Prague. There were three unique variants of Velkopopovicky Kozel available in Vecerka grocery: Premium, Pale (Svetly) and Dark (Cerny) with alcohol volume content: 5, 4 and 3.8%. Personally I preferred Premium and Dark.

My short opinions:
Kozel Cerny (Kozel Dark)
It is very sweet and light in body. Lo-alcohol makes it extremely drinkable. It's also lightly carbonated - another plus. Goes perfect with "heavy" Czech food.
Kozel Premium
Great pilsner! Good taste & nice body! One of the best! My recommendation :-) While visiting Czech, do not forget to drink one of the tap.

What to buy: Kozel Premium Larger

What to pay: One glass bottle (0.5 l = 16.91 oz) costed in Oct. 2003:
Premium - 12.40 Kc ($0.48 = 0.40 euro = 1.82 zl)
Dark (Cerny) - 11.00 Kc ($0.42 = 0.36 euro = 1.62 zl)
Pale (Svetly) - 8.60 Kc ($0.33 = 0.28 euro = 1.27 zl)
Add 3 Kc for each glass bottle.

Pilsner Urquell is probably one of the most popular and definetely the most expensive Czech beer brand brewed in Plzen, Czech and in... my hometown, Tychy, Poland as well now - click here.

My short opinion: malty and hoppy aroma and tasted with some hay. Good pilsener, but doesn't live up completely to its reputation and the highest price of all Czech beer brands.

What to buy: Pilsner Urquell or other and... less expensive Czech beer.

What to pay: One glass bottle (0.5 l = 16.91 oz) of Pilsner Urquell costed 19.5 Kc (add 3 Kc per bottle) in local grocery in Oct. 2003. That time it was:
- 0.75 US$
- 0.63 Euro
- 2.87 Polish zloty (hmm... most popular in Poland Tyskie beer costed 2.10 that time).

Hmm... the cheapest (and good) Czech beer brands costed 8.60 Kc that time.

Why I did shopping just in "Vecerka" store? Because enough choice of food, beer and spirits, low prices, good (evening and weekend) opening hours, nice staff, visa credit/debit cards and Polish currency accepted.

What to buy: I was buying Czech beer and spirits in Jablunkov many times. Why? OK, just two reasons:
1. It was and still is (a little bit now) less expensive than in Poland,
2. Czech beer tastes great (if well stored!).

Warning: hmm... it seems that some spirits (vodka) sold in Czech is fake (Finlandia for example) - should it really freeze in my home refrigerator? In Poland, Polish FBI is carried a trial on that subject after mass media information and researches. In Czech? I don't know.

What to pay: From 6.50 to 19.50 Kc for 0.5 l = 16.91 oz bottle of beer in Oct. 2003. That time it was:
$0.25 - $0.75
0.21 - 0.63 euros
0.96 - 2.87 zl (Polish currency - hmm... most popular in Poland Tyskie beer costed 2.10 that time).
Add 3 Kc for each glass bottle.

Value added tax (VAT) - called DPH in Czech - is an indirect tax and is imposed on the sale of goods and services in the Czech Republic (22% for most goods, 5% for some). It is a central element of the indirect taxes system. VAT also is imposed on imported goods.
As a foreign visitor to Czech you are entitled to a VAT/DPH refund on the purchases you export from the country you are visiting if you spend over 1,000 Kc. To be entitled to a refund within the European Union (EU) that is in Czech since 1 May 2004, you have to reside outside the EU.

What to buy: For visitors maybe some walking/hiking shoes if needed. Not the best choice but it changes for better...

Warning: to get VAT back you must spend over 1,000 Kc (in total), you must go through customs up to 30 days after shopping and you must go to refund point up to 6 weeks later.

What to pay: 5% - 22% less: three steps to get DPH (VAT) back:
1. In store/shop
Shop where you see the Global Refund TAX FREE SHOPPING sign or sign as on my picture and simply ask for your TAX FREE check (keep your passport ready).
2. Through customs
When leaving Czech or the European Union, simply show your purchases, receipts and passport to customs officials and have your Global Refund cheques stamped.
3. Collect your refund
You have several choices: immediate cash at one of our Cash Refund Offices, crediting to a chosen credit card or bank account, a bank check sent to a chosen address and even, for certain countries, a cash refund when you return home. My recommendation is to take your refund in the airport (in Prague for example) or border crossing point always when you pass customs (step 2).
MORE (including refund points): follow the link below, please.

Excuse me, it's more Czech than Jablunkov shopping tip - I will transfer it to my new Czech page, soon!

Whenever you look for grocery in Czech Republic look for "potraviny" which means just grocery, food store in Czech language.

They always offered basic food including bread and baked goods, sausage and cold meats, cheese, milk and dairy products. Add Czech beer and spirits. Haha, it's not the USA - there were not seperate liquor stores needed to sell them. Sometimes they sold fresh meat, rarely vegetables and fruits of limited choice which were available in stores signed "ovoce, zelenina" (fruits, vegetables in Czech).

What to buy: Czech beer (better take beer bottles or/and cans stored in a fridge), local cheese. For example sheep cheese called "syrove korbaciki" in mountainous areas of northeastern Czech.

What to pay: Always less than, say in Germany or Austria.

Look at two more stores in Jablunkov main square.
Ovoce, zelenina means fruits, vegetables in Czech language. Quite good choice and reasonable prices (as for Czech). I bought some good apples there once.
Obuv (obuwie in Polish language) means shoes. Excuse, I never got inside there.

What to buy: Czech apples.

What to pay: Cheap area :-) Local fruits esp. apples were much less expensive than imported, say bananas or oranges.