Ukrainian pretzels for tea Ukrainka "Boats", 340g

Throughout Ancient Rus' and in Ukrainian lands, pretzels, bagels, and baranki were essential attributes of traditional tea drinking. Houses were often decorated with bundles (strung on twine) of pretzels and baranki. This emphasized the family's prosperity, comfort, and hospitality of the home.

Bundles of pretzels and bagels can often be seen in paintings by Ukrainian artists, who captured scenes of national abundance. Thus, Ukrainian pretzels are part of the broader East Slavic tradition of baranki, which shaped the custom of tea drinking, where these dry, crispy confections were served with a hot drink.