As I walk into the 3 story market brimming with vibrant produce, meats and sausages aplenty, rows of souvenir shops and a variety of other goods for sale I sigh in relief as I spot my tour guide Virág, who will make sense of the chaos and provide insight into the history of Hungarian food and drinks.

Considering we began the tour at 10 in the morning I was surprised when our first stop was to get a drink, no, not water instead we really started in style by smashing down a shot of Unicum. Hungary’s very own liquor made from a secret recipe that is over 200 years old with 42 different herbs. It was originally created and sold as a cure all in pharmacies with a taste similar to Jägermeister but with a smoother aftertaste and is still considered for medicinal use.

If you have a sore throat just as a Hungarian what to do and they will recommend Unicum!

If you ever get drunk and hangover in Hungary then I would highly recommend our next tasting for your cure. This is Langos, you can have it topped with savory or sweet ingredients but the traditional serving is with sour cream and cheese. You won’t find it anywhere on the “healthy things to eat” list but it sure would do wonders for anyone suffering from a great night out or just in need of something delicious!

Next stop, MEAT!

As I snap some photos and try to identify the assortment of  cuts on display Virág is busy ordering some samples for us to try. Now, I decided a long time ago that I would try anything once. Now don’t get carried away I am sure you can think of something wild and crazy that I in fact wouldn’t do but as far as foods in another country, I haven’t come across anything I wouldn’t be willing to try at least once.

I really wasn’t expecting to step out of my comfort zone on this tour but I had the opportunity to try not only one but two unfamiliar meaty treats.

Cow tongue and horse, can you tell which two they are?

In order from closest to furthest: 

1: Horse ham- Surprisingly salty, so much so that it wouldn’t matter what animal or cut of meat I didn’t enjoy enough to want it again.

2: Salami with hot paprika- Similar to the pepperoni but much spicier, the paprika in Hungary has a fresher taste and more of a kick.

3: Beef Tongue- Mild tasting and if you didn’t know what it was you probably wouldn’t guess it was tongue.

4: Winter Salami- Good with a stronger flavor, something I could eat on a more regular basis.

5: Grey Cattle- Made from an old beef cattle bred in Hungary, it tasted closest to the pepperoni you would find on American pizza (maybe pizza everywhere but I’m not qualified to make that statement since I haven’t had a pizza with pepperoni on it outside of the US).

From the best paprika in the market to strange vegetables, a display of which mushrooms are safe to consume versus those that would sooner land you in a hospital and the lower level selling seafood and pickled everything this market is sure to entice you!

Did you know? Hungary even provides offices that you can bring in the mushrooms you pick to have them inspected and find out if any of them are poisonous free of charge? How awesome is that!

After stuffing our faces on samples our guide informs us that the next stop is for lunch… what?

Each of us look at the other wondering where the hell we are supposed to fit more food, after a short walk we promptly find the last available table before the lunch rush hits and soon our guide returns with several dishes and we know it is game time. I mustered all my strength and somehow managed to find room to try my very first blood sausage and to be honest I got caught up in all the smells and sauces that I can’t even tell you what exactly was in all of it. I should have taken better notes but my stomach won the battle over my brains and I am remiss (only a little) to tell you that if you want to know just exactly what I ate and how insanely good it is then you are just going to have to board your own plane and get your butt to Hungary!

Now that we are all really stuffed and begin to waddle down the street after Virág it is time for dessert, but not to fret I was prepared! I always have room for dessert and quite honestly if the others didn’t that only meant there was more for me!

When you are visiting Hungary it is absolutely necessary that you try Kürtőskalács which means chimney cakes. It is a pastry wrapped around a wooden cone shaped pin and cooked over a fire or coals with cinnamon and sugar. I don’t understand why this traditional Transylvanian dessert isn’t taking over the world already!

Just in case that wasn’t enough we also stopped at a little cafe for some desserts of the fancier nature.

It has become clear to us that this is not a sprint it is a food marathon and the finish line is in sight just after our wine tasting at Borbíróság, a fun and beautiful wine bar with unique decor. I personally loved all the wino influence including wine cork infused table centerpieces and stair case. Each wine we tasted was from a different region in Hungary and even though I love wine I know very little about it so this tour was the perfect time for me to ask questions. Virág actually studying at the University of Viticulture and Enology with the plan (and destiny) to have her own wine label. If there were ever a girl to tell you all the in and outs of Hungarian wine it is Virág not only is she so knowledgeable but she is passionate about Hungarian wine.

I didn’t just Taste Hungary I full out stuffed my face with all the tastes of Hungary and whole heatedly recommend that you sign up for your very own tour!

Which of the many new tastes and flavors would you want to try?

Editor’s Note: Mountains of thanks to Taste Hungary for providing me with a discounted tour however the opinions, as always, are my own.