Authentic Polish Snacks in UK Supermarkets: The Complete 2026 Guide

The packet of Lajkonik Paluszki had been sitting on my desk for three days. I kept walking past it, meaning to add it to the tasting notes, but colleagues kept helping themselves. By Friday, there were four sticks left. This, incidentally, is how I know they're good—office snack theft is the most honest review system I've encountered.

If you've ever wandered past the European Continental aisle in Tesco and wondered what exactly you should be picking up, or you're trying to recreate that authentic Polish snack spread you had at a friend's house, this guide covers everything worth knowing. I've tested my way through more Polish snacks than I'm comfortable admitting, and here's what's actually worth your money in UK supermarkets.

What Makes Polish Snacks Different?

Polish snacks occupy an interesting space in the UK market. They're not exotic enough to feel adventurous, but they're distinct enough from British equivalents that you notice the difference immediately.

The first thing you'll observe—and I mean this literally, before you even taste anything—is the portion sizing. Polish snack manufacturers seem to operate on the assumption that you're feeding a family, not snacking alone at your desk like some sort of snack-reviewing hermit. A 300g bag of Paluszki is standard. For context, a bag of Walkers crisps is typically 25-50g.

What separates authentic Polish snacks from their UK equivalents comes down to three things: salt balance, texture, and what I can only describe as "seriousness." Polish pretzel sticks and crackers don't mess about with unusual flavours or gimmicks. They're salted. They're crunchy. That's the deal. And somehow this simplicity works.

The Essential Polish Snacks to Try

Paluszki (Salted Sticks)

Let's start with the obvious. Paluszki—literally "little fingers" in Polish—are thin, crispy pretzel sticks that have been a Polish staple for generations. Lajkonik has been making them for over 100 years, which means they've had time to perfect what is essentially a very simple product.

What are Paluszki exactly? They're baked (not fried) salted sticks with a satisfying snap when you bite them. The texture sits somewhere between a breadstick and a pretzel—crispy on the outside with just enough give inside. Good Paluszki shouldn't shatter into a thousand pieces when you bite them. That's the test.

Where to buy: Tesco stocks Lajkonik Salted Sticks 300g. Sainsbury's has the 130g Lajkonik Pretzels for around £1.00. Waitrose carries them too, though at a slight premium (£1.45 for 130g).

The verdict: Essential. If you buy one Polish snack, make it these.

Precelki (Mini Pretzels)

Same manufacturer, different shape. Lajkonik Precelki are small traditional pretzel shapes rather than sticks. The taste is nearly identical to Paluszki, but the shape affects how you eat them—these work better for dipping.

I ran an informal taste test with these versus standard supermarket own-brand pretzels. The Lajkonik version won convincingly. Better salt distribution, superior crunch, and that slight yeasty background note that suggests actual baking rather than industrial processing.

Where to buy: Tesco, Sainsbury's, and Waitrose all stock these. Prices hover around £1.00-£1.45 for 130g.

Ptasie Mleczko (Chocolate-Covered Marshmallow Bars)

Moving into sweets territory. Ptasie Mleczko—which translates rather beautifully as "bird's milk"—is one of Poland's most recognised confectioneries. Each piece is a small chocolate-covered bar filled with soft, marshmallow-like mousse.

The texture is unlike anything British confectionery offers. It's not quite marshmallow, not quite mousse. Light, airy, and slightly bouncy. The chocolate coating provides the structural integrity that the filling lacks.

A single pack contains around three dozen bite-sized bars. They disappear faster than you'd expect.

Where to buy: Less common in mainstream supermarkets. Your best bet is Polish delis, larger Tesco stores with expanded Polish sections, or online through Amazon UK. E.Wedel is the brand to look for.

Sezamki (Sesame Snaps)

Here's an interesting one. Sesame seeds aren't native to Poland, but Sezamki has become such a fixture in Polish snacking culture that most Poles consider them authentically Polish. These are thin sesame brittle bars—crunchy, sweet, and absolutely covered in seeds.

Unitop, based in Łódź, is Europe's largest Sezamki manufacturer. You might know them as "Sesame Snaps" or "Sesame Thins" in the UK—same product, different marketing.

What I didn't love about my first packet: the sweetness. If you're expecting a savoury snack, the honey-sugar coating catches you off guard. But once you know what you're getting into, they're genuinely addictive.

Where to buy: Widely available. Most supermarkets stock them, often in the health or free-from aisles rather than with other Polish products. Check both locations.

Pierniczki (Gingerbread Cookies)

Poland takes its gingerbread seriously. Toruń, in particular, has been producing gingerbread since the medieval period. Kopernik (named after Copernicus, who was born in Toruń) is the traditional brand.

Pierniczki are small gingerbread cookies, often covered in chocolate or filled with fruit jam. They're denser than British gingerbread—more cake than biscuit—with a pronounced spice mix that includes ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom.

Where to buy: Larger Tesco stores, Polish delis, Amazon. Look for the Kopernik brand.

Polish Savoury Snacks Beyond Pretzels

Kabanos

Technically a meat product rather than a snack, but kabanos occupies snack territory in Polish culture. These are thin, dry-cured pork sausages—smoky, chewy, and intensely flavoured. Think of them as Poland's answer to jerky, except better.

Sokolow and Morliny are the brands you'll find most often. Tesco has a dedicated Polish kabanos section, and based on my entirely unscientific observation of shopping baskets, they're popular.

Where to buy: Tesco Polish Food section stocks several varieties. Expect to pay around £2-3 for a pack.

Note: These are pork products, so not suitable for everyone.

Polish Pickles (Ogórki Kiszone)

Not a snack in the British sense, but absolutely a snack in the Polish sense. Fermented cucumbers—proper sour pickles, not the vinegar-brined kind you get in most UK jars.

The fermentation gives them a complexity that quick-pickled cucumbers can't match. Sour, salty, with that slight funk that fermentation brings. Krakus and Pudliszki both make solid versions.

Where to buy: Tesco Polish section, most Polish delis.

Where to Buy Polish Snacks in the UK

Major Supermarkets

Tesco has the most comprehensive Polish section of any UK supermarket. They've dedicated significant shelf space to Eastern European products, and the range has expanded noticeably over the past few years. You'll find Lajkonik products, kabanos, pierogi, and a decent selection of sweets. Their Polish Food section online mirrors what's available in larger stores.

Sainsbury's stocks key items—Lajkonik pretzels, some sweets—but the range is more limited. Worth checking if it's your nearest shop, but don't expect the depth of Tesco's offering.

Waitrose carries Lajkonik products and some premium Polish items, typically at slightly higher prices. The quality is consistent.

Morrisons has an online Polish Food Shop section within their European Food category, stocking items like Sokolow sausages.

ASDA varies significantly by location. Some larger stores have good Polish sections; others barely acknowledge that Poland exists.

Price Comparison: Lajkonik Paluszki

The Tesco 300g bags offer the best value if you know you'll eat them. And you will.

Polish Delis and Specialist Shops

For the full experience, Polski Sklep (Polish shops) remain unbeatable. Nearly every mid-sized UK town has at least one, and they stock products you simply won't find in supermarkets—fresh baked goods, a wider range of meats, regional specialities.

The advantage of specialist shops goes beyond selection. Staff actually know the products. I've had entire conversations about the relative merits of different kabanos manufacturers that would get blank stares at a Tesco.

Online options: Europa Food XB, Sweet Poland, and Amazon UK all offer Polish groceries with delivery. Useful if you don't have a Polish shop nearby, though you'll pay more for shipping.

Tips for Getting the Best Polish Snacks

1. Check the world food aisle AND the regular snack aisle. Supermarkets are inconsistent about where they shelve Polish products. Lajkonik pretzels might be with the crisps or with the Eastern European foods.
2. Look at pack sizes before comparing prices. Polish products often come in larger formats than British equivalents. That "expensive" 300g bag might actually be better value than the "cheap" 130g one.
3. Buy pretzels in bulk if you like them. They have decent shelf life (several months), and price per gram drops significantly in larger quantities.
4. Visit Polish delis for fresh products. Supermarket Polish sections excel at shelf-stable items but can't match specialist shops for fresh baked goods, meats, and refrigerated items.
5. Ask Polish colleagues for recommendations. If you work with anyone Polish—and statistically, you probably do—they'll have opinions. Strong opinions. And they're usually right.
6. Try before you buy in bulk. Not everything translates across cultural taste preferences. Some Polish sweets are sweeter than British palates expect. Test with smaller quantities first.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Paluszki?

Paluszki are traditional Polish salted pretzel sticks—thin, crispy, baked snacks that have been popular in Poland for generations. The name means "little fingers" in Polish. Lajkonik is the most recognised brand, making them for over 100 years. They're vegan, contain around 12g protein per 100g, and have a satisfying crunch that distinguishes them from softer breadsticks.

Where can I buy Polish food in the UK?

The most accessible option is Tesco, which has dedicated Polish food sections in most stores and a comprehensive online range. Sainsbury's, Waitrose, and Morrisons stock selected items. For the widest selection, visit a Polish deli (Polski Sklep)—most UK towns have at least one. Online, try Europa Food XB, Sweet Poland, or Amazon UK.

What Polish food does Tesco sell?

Tesco's Polish range includes: Lajkonik pretzels and Paluszki, kabanos and kielbasa sausages, pierogi (dumplings), pickles and sauerkraut, Tymbark juices, Polish chocolate and sweets, Winiary cooking products, and various canned goods. Larger stores have more extensive selections than smaller Express formats.

Are Polish snacks healthy?

It depends on the snack. Lajkonik Paluszki are baked (not fried), vegan, and contain 12g protein and 5g fibre per 100g—reasonable nutritional credentials for a snack. Sezamki (sesame snaps) offer healthy fats from sesame seeds but are high in sugar. Kabanos are high in protein but also high in sodium and saturated fat. As with all snacks, moderation applies.

What's the best Polish snack to try first?

Start with Lajkonik Paluszki (salted sticks). They're widely available, reasonably priced, and universally appealing—crispy, salty, and satisfying. If you've ever enjoyed a pretzel, you'll like these. They're also the snack that best represents Polish snacking culture: straightforward, quality-focused, and unpretentious.

Is Polish food cheaper than British equivalents?

Sometimes. Polish products often come in larger pack sizes, which can offer better value per gram even if the headline price looks higher. Lajkonik Paluszki, for example, typically cost less per 100g than equivalent British or American pretzel brands. However, specialist Polish delis may charge premium prices for imported items that aren't available in supermarkets.

Final Thoughts

Polish snacks occupy a sweet spot in the UK market—authentic enough to feel like a genuine discovery, available enough that you don't need to hunt for them, and affordable enough to experiment without commitment.

My desk is currently home to 14 different Polish snacks in various states of testing. (My colleagues have stopped commenting.) The standouts remain the classics: Lajkonik Paluszki for everyday snacking, Ptasie Mleczko for something sweet, kabanos if you want something more substantial.

"But Tom, I just want one recommendation." Fine. Buy a bag of Lajkonik Salted Sticks 300g from Tesco. If you don't like them, I'll be genuinely surprised. If you do, the Polish aisle awaits.

Compare prices across UK supermarkets with Grocefully's snack comparison tool—because the best snack is the one you didn't overpay for.