The Tula pryanik — a spiced honey cake stamped with decorative wooden moulds — is one of Russia's most famous regional foods, and Tula takes considerable pride in it. The Pryanik Museum, a small but enthusiastic affair in the city centre, tells the full story of how the recipe evolved over centuries, how the carved wooden printing boards were made, and how pryaniki were traditionally used as gifts, dowry items, and offerings at festivals.
The highlight is the tasting session at the end of the tour, where visitors sample freshly made pryaniki with tea brewed in — naturally — a samovar. Pryaniki of every size are sold throughout the city, from palm-sized pieces with painted pictures to enormous decorative slabs. If you are bringing back souvenirs, this is the most authentically Tulan thing you can buy.