A complete list of Finnish favorites to sample on your vacation to Finland
I think food says a lot about the people who make and eat it. I’d use the same word to describe Finnish food as I would the Finns themselves: hearty. The Finns are a resilient stock who make simple, filling, and delicious food that sustains them through the dark winter. Then in the sun-filled summers, they rush to pick the season’s bounty – blueberries, cloudberries, cranberries, lingonberries, and mushrooms. Fish are caught and then marinated, pickled, cured or smoked to be enjoyed throughout the winter. Food isn’t coated in spices – just a pinch of salt and pepper. The food takes like what it is.
While in Finland, I’d encourage to eat like a Finn. This list is a good place to start.
Breakfast foods
Bread is served at every meal, including breakfast, in Finland. While known for ruisleipä (rye bread), I found every bread to be fresh and delicious. In fact, I’m still dreaming about the cranberry sourdough bread that I had on the lunch buffet at Nova Skyland Restaurant at Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. So good!
Speaking of buffets, most hotel breakfasts will be served as a buffet. Use the opportunity to try some Finnish specialities: blini (pancakes), köyhät ritarit (Finnish version of French toast), riispuuro (rice porridge), lihapiirakka (meat pie), and karjalanpiirakka (Karelian pasty with rice).
I almost forgot, the cinnamon rolls, or korvapuusti! I dare say that Finnish cinnamon rolls are better than what you’ll get in the States. They’re not dripping with gooey icing but instead sprinkled with rock sugar. We did a fair amount of sampling in Finland. The best ones that we tasted were at the cafe next to the Toy Museum on Suomenlinna Island, where owner Petra makes them fresh each morning.
Soups
This first time that I tried lohikeitto (salmon soup) was a memorable moment. My family and I were on an all-day, guided ice fishing trip near Ivalo inside the Arctic Circle. The temperature was around -5°F, and I was bundled up in five layers of clothing. At lunchtime, we circled around a campfire, trying to get our frozen feet as close to the flames as possible. The guide handed me a wooden bowl of salmon soup that his wife had prepared the night before. It was in that moment that I understood the Finns deep affinity for soup. I slurped it down and immediately asked for a second helping.
Of course, you don’t have to brave sub-zero temperatures to try lohikeitto. Its served inside comfortable, warm restaurants across the country.
Other favorite Finnish soups: hernekeitto (pea soup), kanttarellikeitto (mushroom soup), siskonmakkarakeitto (sausage soup), and valkosipuli (garlic soup).
Fish
In three weeks of traveling in Finland, I never had chicken, but I probably had more lohi (salmon) than all my previous years combined! Honestly, take a walk through Vanha Kauppahalli, or Helsinki’s Old Market Hall (Eteläranta 125), and you’ll see cases of every preparation imaginable.
Finns also enjoy Arktinen char (Arctic char) and silli (herring).
Meat
Also at the Old Market Hall, you’ll see poro (reindeer). While it’s a bit pricey, Finns do eat reindeer. I’ve had the traditional preparation which is like a stew served with mashed potatoes and lingonberries. (Lihapullat muusilla ja puolukkahillolla is the meatball version. Yes, it’s similar to what they serve at IKEA.) I’ll admit, it’s not my favorite. I actually prefer smoked reindeer. You also can buy it crispy, like a chip.
Finns love their makkara (sausage), cooked over an open flame. In three days of camping at Nuuksio National Park, I was served sausages three times!
Desserts
Many of the desserts (and cocktails, for that matter) in Finland are berry-inspired. Finns regularly forage in the forest for berries during the summer: wild bilberries (blueberries), lakkoja (cloudberries), karpalot (cranberries), and puolukoita (lingonberries). Leipäjuusto ja lakkahillo is cheese bread and cloudberry jam, typically served with coffee. (Fun fact: Finns consume more coffee per capita than anyone else in the world – 26.5 pounds per person per year!)
I also tried mustikkapiirakka (blueberry pie) while in Finland, but I have to say, I prefer American blueberry pie which has far more fruit. Finnish blueberry pie is more like a coffee cake.
Candy
Salmiakki (soft licorice) is the Finn’s favorite candy. Ammonium chloride is added to give it a distinctive, salty taste. Fazer is the most well-known chocolate brand. It’s really quite good. If you fly Finnair, you may get Fazer chocolates as you depart.
Drinks
As I mentioned above, Finns utilize their berries and berry juice in many cocktail concoctions – all of which were very yummy. The Arctic margarita with lingonberries at the Arctic Restaurant in Rovaniemi was memorable, as was the Blue Sky (Lapponia Blueberry Liqueur plus blueberry juice) served on Finnair.
KidTripster Tip: In case you’re wondering, the drinking age in Finland is 18 years old.
Finally, I strongly suggest trying tyrni, or sea buckthorn. A shot of this citrus drink is equivalent to the vitamin C in 20 oranges! It’s quite sour but can be mixed with other juices. It’s certainly easier than eating a bag of oranges!
This writer received some complimentary activities for the purpose of this review. However, all opinions expressed are solely her own.
Pin to Pinterest & Read Later
