Pirker's Lebkuchen

As I write, I am staring at my last package of Pirker gingerbread cookies. Devastated is too strong of a word, but none other comes to mind when I think about taking that last bite. Why do these delectable cookies with the completely unfamiliar name sadden me so you ask? Because they're from Vienna, Austria. And I'm in Rogers, Arkansas. My husband and I were on our honeymoon (expect a lot of foreign product reviews to come!) and went to Oktoberfest on our last 2 days. While there, we saw a lot of people wearing these gingerbread heart cookies around their necks. Kinda like how we would wear Smarties necklaces and bracelets when we were kids. Walking around the booths (which are exactly what you would imagine them to be) we saw a stall that had all of these heart cookie necklaces displayed (I attached pictures below). Seeing my curiosity, the woman walked from behind the counter and we started calling. She explained that the heart necklaces were a tradition. When younger, parents would buy them for their kids, and as those same kids got older, their purchasers also changed. In German, these cookies ranged from sweet "You're the best" that a child would get from their grandparents, to "You're hot" that those of the opposite sex would buy. Sometimes to get the girl's attention, like "You're sexy", other times to keep it, "I love you". As I explored the booth more, I saw that they had all types of gingerbread products and the woman told me that Pirker owned their own bees and the cookies were made using their own honey. Even though everything was pre-packaged, the cookies were unbelievably fresh. We bought a package (I attached a picture. It's not the prettiest picture, but they are the best cookies) and ate them on the walk home. We couldn't believe these cookies. They are amazing, delicious, and every other adjective you want to throw in there. Thick, chewy, soft, flavorful. Cookie perfection. We made plans to return the next day. I am so happy and so miserable that I discovered these cookies. Now that I'm in the States, I'm going to buy them and ship them from Europe. When you find something that is so good that you can't stop thinking about it, it prompts you to share it with others. And so here I am. Pirker, if you happen to read this, know that your cookies are life-changing. No, not like getting married or buying a house, but in the more simple, happier way. And what could be better than that?

You think the trade is not doing so well in Corona times, but that does not seem to apply here, we have already been overnight guests at the 4 star Hotel Pirker and then tried to order online then the response was purchase on account only for regular customers yes when you are at You regular customers when I buy a house made of gingerbread? Tried to clarify this by e-mail, but apparently you don't bother to write any feedback. So what is possible in today's time with a traditional company can only be traced back to the prosperity, the bitter thing is that it is still in Mariazell, where faith is very important and then it deals with people. Yes, the gingerbread can't be that good that I'll buy something again.

We were able to look into the bakery. It was very interesting to experience the production process of the gingerbread and to discover how much manual work is behind it, but also how much artistic skill is required when decorating.

Woow, sooo good gingerbread for the great price. Really recommended and delicious 🥰😋

Great gingerbread shop with a large selection. The gingerbread are all very good and of high quality.