Finland

Lohikeitto is a creamy Finish salmon soup, similar to laxsoppa in Sweden. Apart from chunks of salmon fillet, it traditionally incorporates diced potatoes and carrots cooked in a flavorful, buttery broth infused with fish stock and cream. This comforting winter dish is generously seasone... Read more

The crispy, golden Finnish meatballs are traditionally made with beef, with the occasional addition of ground pork. The meat is frequently seasoned with allspice and combined with a mixture of breadcrumbs, eggs, and onions. Although they appear in numerous varieties throughout the country, Finnis... Read more

Gravlax is a Scandinavian dish consisting of raw, salt-cured salmon that is traditionally seasoned with dill. Originally, the dish was made by fishermen who used to bury the salt, sugar, and dill-rubbed salmon above the line of high tide and leave it to ferment. At the time, it was chara... Read more

Munkki, translated as monks, are popular Finnish deep-fried doughnuts made with buttery, cardamom-flavored, leavened dough. They are usually shaped into round forms that are occasionally complemented with sweet and fruity fillings, or in the shape of thick rings rolled in fine sugar. Num... Read more

Similar to a porridge or a pudding, mämmi is a traditional dish prepared with a combination of rye flour, rye malt, and water. After it has been soaked, it is typically seasoned with dark molasses syrup, and the mixture is then baked in the oven until it develops a thick consistency and a da... Read more

Rieska is a Finnish unleavened flatbread that has been prepared across the country since ancient times. At its simplest, the bread consists of flour, water, and salt, although the ingredients for its preparation vary from one region to another, as do its texture and thickness, ranging from thin, ... Read more

Munavoi is a simple Finnish spread consisting of whipped butter combined with mashed hard-boiled eggs. Characterized by a unique coarse texture and a mild, buttery flavor, it is only lightly seasoned with salt and pepper. Apart from Finland, where it is usually spread on bread or served atop ... Read more

Mustikkapiirakka is a traditional blueberry pie originating from Finland. The crust for the pie is usually made with a combination of flour, butter, sugar, eggs, and baking powder. The dough is pressed into a tart pan, pricked with a fork, and pre-baked. It is then topped with fresh blueberries (... Read more

Kalakeitto or fish soup has been a staple of traditional Finnish cuisine for a long time. Although there are numerous ways to prepare this classic Finnish specialty, it typically consists of cleaned and filleted fish chunks and diced vegetables that are simmered in a rich, buttery fish broth. Car... Read more

Considered an essential part of the Finnish food culture, hernekeitto is a thick split pea soup cooked with pork that is traditionally prepared and served every Thursday throughout the country. Followed by a delicious pannukakku – an oven-baked pancake served with a big spoonful of... Read more

Originally a creation of Roman-Catholic monks, and now popular internationally, kringle is a delicious flaky pastry, usually shaped as a pretzel and filled with various ingredients. It was primarily introduced in Denmark, under the influence of Austrian bakers, and later it spread throug... Read more

Karjalanpiirakka is a traditional pasty consisting of various fillings wrapped in a thin rye crust. It is traditionally formed into an oval shape, and the top is always left open to showcase the creamy filling that is nowadays mainly prepared with rice or barley porridge and mashed potatoes. When... Read more

This traditional Finnish licorice gets its unusual flavor from the ammonium chloride salt. Believed to have originated as a cough medicine, today it is traditionally enjoyed as a salty, sharp-flavored candy that is usually black in color and comes in different flavor combinations and various shap... Read more

Leipäjuusto or Juustoleipä is a Finnish cheese characterized by the sound it makes against the teeth when one bites into its firm and chewy body, which is why it’s also known as Finnish squeaky cheese. The cheese is made from cow’s or reindeer&rsqu... Read more

Raejuusto is the Finnish version of cottage cheese. This semi-soft, low-fat cheese is made from cow’s milk and has a high content of protein. It is typically served on its own, sprinkled over salads and soups, or combined with olive oil, cucumbers, and black pepper.... Read more

Viili is a traditional fermented milk product that is often classified as a yogurt. It has a mild flavor, and it can have a thick viscose texture or a creamy consistency, more similar to standard, commercially made yogurt varieties. Viili is usually made with cow milk, and it is a type o... Read more

Rahka is Finland’s equivalent of quark, a kind of fermented dairy product that’s been a staple of the Finnish people’s diet for years. Often compared to thick Greek yogurt, rahka is typically characterized by a tangy, sour-cream-like flavor, while its thick and slightly... Read more

Baltic herring (lat. Clupea harengus membras) is a subspecies of the Atlantic herring, but it is smaller and lives in the brackish waters of the Baltic Sea. It is a schooling fish that feeds on zooplankton and small crustaceans, and typically reaches only 5.5 to 7 inches (14 to 18 cm) in... Read more

Often compared to the Danish havarti, Oltermanni is a Finnish cheese made from cow’s milk. The cheese is characterized by a fresh, pleasant aroma and a smooth, creamy texture which makes it easily spreadable. Its flavor is buttery, rich, and mild. Oltermanni can be used in the prep... Read more

Aura is a semi-soft Finnish cheese made from cow’s milk. It originates from the city of Turku, but since 1935 the production has been transferred to the region of Äänekoski. This blue cheese has a creamy texture and a strong, tangy, salty, and sharp flavor, similar to Roq... Read more

Lapin Poron liha is a meat coming from the reindeer calves which are less than one year old and adult reindeer that graze freely in Finland's reindeer husbandry area. The harsh climate and diverse seasons combined with highly nutritious summer feed make the reindeer meat a unique product. This me... Read more

Lappi is a semi-soft Finnish cheese named after the province of its origin – Lapland. This rindless cheese is made from partially skimmed cow’s milk. It has a smooth, creamy, and firm texture with numerous small holes dispersed throughout its body. Lappi has a mild, sweet fla... Read more

Turunmaa is a Finnish semi-hard cheese produced by Valio Ltd since 1931 in the region of Turku. This rindless cheese is made from cow's milk. It has a creamy and firm texture, while the flavors are mild, slightly sharp, and tangy. Turunmaa is typically left to mature for 7 weeks or more,... Read more

Turun sinappi is a traditional mustard. The production of this mustard started in Turku in 1926, hence the name. It consists of finely ground mustard that's dark yellow in color, along with a variety of spices. There are four main types of the mustard – väkevä (s... Read more

Koskenkorva is a clear Finnish spirit that is distilled from a combination of locally grown barley and unfiltered spring water. Often dubbed as vodka, the drink is produced with continuous distillation, which involves highly developed producing techniques that utilize 100% of the grain&m... Read more

Sahti is a traditional beer that is produced in the regions of Kanta-Häme, Päijat-Häme, and Pohjois-Satakunta. The beer is made with malted barley, other cereal malts, and cereals such as rye, barley, wheat, and oats. Apart from hops, this beer is sometimes fermented with ... Read more

This amber Finnish liqueur is produced with cloudberries—wild orange berries found in the in the Northern hemisphere—that are macerated in a neutral spirit, while the final blend is then enriched with honey and spices such as cinnamon or cloves. Lakka is typically bittersweet... Read more

This beer style evolved from the British porter, and it was partially influenced by imperial stouts. The beers that fall under this category will typically have high alcohol content, usually between 5.5 and 9.5% ABV, while their color ranges from mahogany red to dark brown. They are full-bodied a... Read more

Farmhouse ale is best described as an ancient beer style that was brewed by European farmers who used their grains and hops. These brews were made with techniques that are not used in modern brewing, and because they were brewed in various European regions, the examples are incredibly ve... Read more

Jaloviina is a type of Finnish cut brandy, a type of brandy that has been cut with neutral grain spirit. This Finnish version is based on French brandy and the Finnish spirit. Jaloviina comes in several grades, usually differentiated by the number of stars. One being the lowest, and thre... Read more

Salmiakki Koskenkorva is a popular licorice-based Finnish liqueur with a thick and viscous texture. It is based on Koskenkorva Viina vodka and the salmiakki licorice extract. The drink was first introduced in the 1990s, and it quickly gained a huge following, especially among teenagers. ... Read more

Kaffeost, also known as "coffee cheese," is a traditional coffee beverage from the northern regions of Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Russia, particularly in Lapland. What makes it unique is that coffee is mixed with cheese, which is cut into cubes or slices and placed inside the coffee. The heat f... Read more