How does Finland taste? 6 tips for the Finnish culinary world
Ready for the wild north? Start with our small tour to the best Finnish flavors and specialties with delicious tips!
1. FINNISH WILD BERRIES
The colorful wild berries are the treasure of the Finnish forests. There are about 50 different natural berries in Finnish forests, of which 36 are edible. Anyone can pick these Finnish superfoods for free in the nature, thanks to the Finnish Everyman’s Right.
The most popular Finnish wild berries are blueberries, lingonberries and cloudberries. Other popular berries include cranberry, sea buckthorn, wild strawberry, arctic raspberry, crowberry, bog bilberry, mountain ash and juniper.
Among the most beloved fine Finnish berry products are cloudberry and blueberry confitures. Enjoy the delicacy with ice-cream, pancakes and yoghurt. Dried berries are perfect snacks and the berry powers give you extra boost in breakfast bowls and smoothies.
2. FINNISH SUPER CEREALS: OAT PORRIDGE WITH RYE BREAD
The Finns love their vast variety of breads and especially rye bread (ruisleipä). In addition to fresh rye bread, the popular bread products include crispy breads and oven-baked rye chips.
Breakfast is not a breakfast without a big bowl of Finnish oat flake porridge with blueberry soup. For fast mornings and snacks, pick an instant oat flakes portion bag with different berry flavors.
3. FISH PIE AND SALMON SOUP
About 103 different fish species are swimming in Finnish lakes and rivers. The most common are perch, pike, salmon and Baltic herring. Fishing is a very popular nature activity in Finland. If you want to catch fish in Finnish waters, you need to buy a fishing permit.
When you visit Eastern Finland, ask for the local fish pie (kalakukko). The traditional fish pie is made from vendace (muikku) in a rye dough crust. Market stalls and supermarkets also sell perch, salmon and meat pies. Don’t forget to try the Finnish salmon soup (lohikeitto). The canned smoked vendace in oil is ready to eat and tastes fantastic on the rye bread.
4. GAME MEAT IN THE FINNISH STYLE
Are you for the wild north? How about 100% reindeer, elk or bear meat from Lapland? The Finnish game meat has its great advantages with a low fat content and a delicious gamey flavor.
Many Finns buy their game meat directly from hunters and Lapland reindeer herders. The Finnish supermarkets have a good selection of game products and ready-to-eat dishes with reindeer and elk meat.
For lunch warm up a bowl or creamy reindeer soup and for an outdoor meal slice elk meat on bread. A true Finnish classic is sauteed reindeer meat (poronkäristys) with mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam. Bon appetit!
5. FINNISH LICORICE AND SALMIAK
If you like licorice you will no doubt enjoy the Finnish licorice products. You just need to know if you want sweet or salty licorice or both.
Finland is a true licorice lover’s paradise – and so are our shops and online shop for sure. A tip: in our Finnish shops in Quedlinburg and Hanau you can also taste our licorice and salmiak products!
Another tip: There is something about combining licorice with divine Finnish chocolate. Our best seller Finnish licorice products include chocolate licorice balls and milk chocolate tablet with salty licorice.
6. DRINK LIKE A FINN – COFFEE SOFT AND SCHNAPPS STRONG
Finns are the heaviest coffee drinkers in the world. We love our filter coffee mildly roasted. But our schnapps we want strong. Some want their vodka pure and others with fine berry aromas.
In Finland, you can purchase alcohol products – stronger than beer – only in Alko stores. In our shops and online shop, anyone over 18 years old can choose from our Finnish bestseller beers, ciders, liqueurs, vodka, gin and more.
Yes, in our both shops there is also a fridge with chilled test bottles. Welcome to discover your favourite Finnish drinks. Kippis!
