If you’ve ever visited Karlovy Vary, you’ve probably come across Karlovy Vary wafers (Karlovarské oplatky) — round, crisp wafer discs with a thin layer of sweet filling. But have you ever wondered why these wafers are everywhere and what makes them so special?
The first written mention of Karlovy Vary wafers dates back to 1788. A local guidebook described women serving them with tea to spa visitors near the colonnades.
But the real origins are older. The wafers are believed to be inspired by church communion wafers. According to legend, a monk in Teplá monastery improved the recipe by adding milk, sugar, nuts, and spices between thin dough layers using a waffle press.
By the 19th century, wafers became a popular light dessert recommended to spa patients between treatments.
The first factory-made spa wafers weren’t made in Karlovy Vary, but in Mariánské Lázně in 1856. However, Karlovy Vary quickly became the wafer capital.
In 1867, Barbara Bayerová opened the town’s first wafer bakery. She perfected the modern method: ultra-thin dough with flavored filling in the center. By 1899, her company exported the wafers across Europe.
Which flavor is your favorite — hazelnut, vanilla, cinnamon, or chocolate?
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