Food in Finland

Authentic, simple and pure. Three terms that perfectly represent Finnish cuisine.

Indeed, the Finns are accustomed to working with what their land and lakes provide. Organic and responsible food is therefore a given for this people. For a Finn, it is normal and customary to eat foods that come from their country, and even from their garden or balcony.

Anecdote in passing. Did you know that since 1948, children's school lunches have been free? This allows children and young people, from a very early age, to learn to eat healthy, local food together.

What do we eat in Finland?

First of all, it is important to know that, as in many countries, within the country, people do not eat the same thing depending on the region where they live. For example, in the east of the country, people will eat more stews and pies than in the west.

Eating according to the seasons

The season for growing food and gathering is very short in Finland, and even shorter in the north of the country. But you will see, they know how to preserve their food so that they can eat it all year round, even in the winter under -30° ❄️

Spring

Northern Finland has long summer days and short winter days. These long, bright summer days allow for optimal growth and development of the plants. Also, in summer, there is a big difference in temperature between day and night. These two things combined make vegetables and berries taste more full-bodied and typical in the north than in the south.

In Finland, in the south of the country, spring arrives at the end of April while in the north, you have to wait for the snow to melt, it arrives only at the end of May. This means that the growing season for vegetables and plants lasts 6 months in the south and only 3 to 4 months in the north.

An extremely short period compared to other countries like France or Spain!

Summer

In Finland, summer is the season for celebrating the midnight sun. Indeed, on June 21 the sun descends toward the horizon and immediately rises again without disappearing below it — it is already dawn!

New potatoes are part of every summer meal, sometimes served boiled with dill and accompanied by herring or trout.

Summer is the best time to practice smoking fish and cooking food over a wood fire.

Autumn

When autumn arrives, it's harvest time! Grab your baskets to gather mushrooms and berries!

As mentioned above, the harvest period is very short, lasting only a few weeks before the arrival of winter. It is therefore important to quickly gather mushrooms and wild berries and to harvest wheat and root vegetables.

Root vegetables have always been part of the Finnish diet. They are easy to grow in a short period of time and store extremely well for eating during the long winter months.

Winter

With the arrival of winter, stews, soups and casseroles are simmering in Finnish kitchens, to the delight of gourmets!

Some cereals like rye will hibernate under the frozen ground. Once harvested, this rye will have a stronger and more authentic taste thanks to its long cold period.

Another advantage of the cold is that it reduces the installation and proliferation of diseases and insects on the crops. This implies that the food is not or hardly treated.

In winter, you can also enjoy a homemade croque-monsieur and a hot berry juice served in Kupilka! That way you can be sure your drink will stay warm for longer. 👍🏼

Some additional information about Finnish cuisine

A plate like no other

You’ll notice this if you go to Finland: Finns like to have their whole meal on a single plate. It is therefore divided, with vegetables or salad on one side and potatoes, meat, or fish on the other.

Free and healthy food

In all schools and workplaces, food is free. The government's approach ensures that the Finnish people have access to healthy food.

Alternative foods to meat and everyday products

• Because of climate change, Finns are rethinking their diet. To counter mass meat production, the company Gold&Green Foods was founded and developed an alternative to replace meat with an oat-based food called "pulled oats".
• Gluto is a company that offers fresh pasta made exclusively from rice and corn flours. They do not contain any dairy products, eggs or gluten.

What about pesticides?

Because of the long winter and extreme cold, crops require far fewer pesticides than in warmer climates. The cold weather also contributes to a more limited use of antibiotics in livestock farming than the European average.

Everyone's right

In Finland, everyone can move freely through forests and other natural areas. This right allows anyone to travel freely in the forests, over the hills or on the many lakes found in the country. Therefore, anyone has the right to pick berries and mushrooms in any natural area, regardless of who the owner is. Their permission is not required.

Fishing in Finland

Many Finns have a summer cottage by a lake. Indeed, the thousands of blue lakes offer an excellent opportunity for fishing, swimming or boating.

Lake Päijänne, the second largest lake in Finland, serves as a source of drinking water for Finns living near Helsinki.

In Finnish lakes, people fish for:

• Perch
• Whitefish
• Roach

Fish is an excellent source of protein, vitamins and calcium.

Fishing is not only done when the weather is good! In winter, it's called ice fishing. You cut a hole in a frozen lake and then drop a line into it.

Finnish bread

Finns are very careful about the bread they eat. They like fresh bread from their bakeries, baked with Finnish flour. Fresh rye bread is a safe bet in Finland!

Rye bread

Authentic Finnish bread! It is a national food of Finland. It is the most common variety of bread in grocery stores.

Island bread

Dark and sweet bread, typical of the coastal areas of southern Finland and the Aland Islands. The sweetness of the bread comes from the malt. It goes very well with salmon gravlax with a little dill and lemon.

Karelian pirogue

These are rice cakes cooked in a very thin rye crust. It takes a certain amount of practice to get the shape of this East Finnish specialty right.

Unleavened bread

Rieska or unleavened bread is a bread made from barley. It is very soft and much appreciated warm with butter. It is a specialty of northwest Finland.

Nettle on your plate

Another superfood from Finland is nettle! It is the most widely used edible wild plant in Finland. The young shoots and leaves are the best parts of the plant. You should also know that once cut, the nettle continues to produce new leaves.

Nettle is rich in iron, zinc, calcium and vitamins!

The world-famous cumin

A quarter of the world's cumin is produced in Finland. Finland's unique and exceptional light produces a very tasty cumin that is highly prized by the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

Cumin spice is used in baking, in marinades and to spice alcohol.