# What is worth buying at a Romanian supermarket or local market, and what are the Christmas and Easter food traditions?

> Romanian supermarkets are cheap and the markets are better. What to buy, what zacusca and mici actually are, and why December smells of pork.

- Source: https://clevertourists.com/resources/what-to-buy-at-a-grocery-store-in-romania
- Authors: Evan & Clara, Clever Tourists (first-hand, from years of travel across 20 countries)
- Published: 2025-12-29

Romania is one of the cheapest places in Europe to shop, and the gap between supermarket and market is wide. **Kaufland**, **Carrefour**, **Mega Image** and **Profi** are the chains; the **piata** is where produce, cheese and preserves are actually bought. Much of what is distinctive is preserved in jars, which makes it unexpectedly good for a suitcase.

## Zacusca, and the jarred shelf

**Zacuscă** is a roasted vegetable spread of aubergine and red pepper, cooked down for hours and jarred. It is eaten on bread and it is the single best thing to bring home: cheap, sealed, and impossible to find made properly abroad.

**Murături** are pickled vegetables, usually cucumbers, cauliflower and peppers together, and **varză murată** is whole fermented cabbage, sold in bags and used for *sarmale*.

**Dulceață** is a thick fruit preserve, made from everything from figs to green walnuts. The walnut version is the one to look for.

## Cheese, polenta and the everyday diet

**Telemea** is the brined cheese, similar to feta but saltier, sold by weight at the market and in packs in supermarkets. **Cașcaval** is the yellow semi-hard cheese, smoked or plain.

**Mămăligă** is polenta, made from cornmeal, and the cornmeal itself (*mălai*) is worth buying.

**Mici** are the small grilled sausages, sold raw in supermarkets to cook at home. They are the standard Romanian barbecue item and the supermarket version is legitimate.

**Cozonac** is the sweet bread for Easter and Christmas, and **pască** is the Easter cheese bread.

## December is about pork

The Christmas season here centres on pork, prepared at home in a tradition that many families still follow. The supermarket shelves respond with everything needed for sausages, pâté and preserved pork.

**Sarmale** — cabbage rolls with pork and rice — are the Christmas and Easter dish, and the ingredients are grouped together on the shelf in December.

Spring brings **mărțișor** and the first wild greens, and Easter brings lamb and *drob* (a lamb offal loaf).

## Drink and practical notes

**Țuică** and **palincă** are plum brandies, often homemade and often very strong. Commercially bottled versions are fine and travel well.

**Vin fiert** is mulled wine, sold at winter markets, and the wine itself is inexpensive and improving.

**Cards** are widely accepted in supermarkets and increasingly in smaller shops, but markets and rural shops are cash.

Supermarkets are open long hours including weekends; small town shops keep shorter hours and often close on Sundays.

Our [Central Europe guide](https://clevertourists.com/guides/central-europe) covers where to go in the region, and the [Transfăgărășan road guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/transfagarasan-road-open-dates-driving-guide) covers the drive.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is zacuscă?

A roasted aubergine and red pepper spread, cooked down and jarred, eaten on bread. It is the most useful food souvenir from Romania because it is cheap, sealed and travels well.

### What are mici?

Small grilled minced-meat sausages, sold raw in supermarkets to cook at home. They are the standard Romanian barbecue food.

### What do Romanians eat at Christmas?

Pork in various forms and sarmale, cabbage rolls with pork and rice. The supermarket shelves in December are organised around it.

### Is Romania cheap for groceries?

Yes, among the cheapest in the EU, especially for produce, cheese and preserved goods bought at a market rather than a supermarket.