A handmade Christmas elf is gifted with every order πŸŽ„πŸŽ

Can a Kupilka be called a kuksa?

Before talking about Kupilka, let's briefly return to the kuksa to explain what it is. A kuksa is a cup hand-carved from birch burl in the Sami tradition. In this article we will see that Kupilka is not a kuksa because it does not follow Sami traditions. However, Kupilka has created new traditions and added value to Finnish products!

Anne-Laure CompainAnne-Laure Compain

Anne-Laure Compain

Nature Lovers
Published on 4 March 2022 (Updated on 30 October 2025) green Kupilka snow Finland Lapland

What is a Kupilka?

The Kupilka brand offers industrial kuksa models. But that's not all! The Kupilka range is extensive and includes various kitchen utensils such as:

  • Cups
  • Plates
  • Cutlery
  • Knives

The Kupilka Company

The history of the Kupilka

The first Kupilka cup created was made according to ancient traditions by Kuisma in 1775, to allow him to taste the drink he had created.

Nearly 200 years later, a Finnish family who knew and mastered the art of carving cups for more than 20 years decided to create an ethical and ecological company. It was 1996 and the Kaasinen family was developing a "green" business at a time when it was not common. But, convinced of these ecological values, the Kaasinen family persevered and became the first company in Finland to use green electricity for all its production.

At the same time, another environmental issue was on the minds of researchers at the Wood Technology Centre. And so was born KARELINE, a brand new material made from wood from Finnish forests.

The combination of this new wood and this green electricity made it possible to create the Kupilka range.

It was not until 2003 that Kupilka released the KUPILKA 21 : the classic cup that is nothing less than the modern version of the cup carved in 1775.
Interested in Kuksa crafts and Finland? 🌳

Soak up the essence of Finnish craftsmanship as you explore the history and manufacture of this traditional mug and Finnish traditions. By subscribing, you'll receive weekly updates on kuksa.

The manufacture of Kupilka

KARELINE

KARELINE is made of:

  • 50% natural wood cellulose fibers from Finnish forests
  • 50% polypropylene used as an adhesive

The advantage of this material is that it is durable over time; it ages very well without losing quality. It goes without saying that Kupilka products are therefore not biodegradable. However, at the end of their life, Kupilka products can be recycled, burned, or returned to the production plant to be reused.

Some Kupilka products

tasse-kupilka-21-marron-7
tasse-kupilka-37-marron-5
tasse-kupilka-30-marron-0
tasse-kupilka-12-marron-7
tasse-kupilka-5-marron-7
tasse-kupilka-12-marron-0

What is the difference between a kupilka and a kuksa?

The advantages and disadvantages of each

KUPILKAKUKSA

QUALITY

Industrial

Handmade

MATERIAL

Kareline

Birch Burl

ORIGINS

Finland

Scandinavian countries

WASHING

Dishwasher

Clear water

MICROWAVE

βœ”οΈ

βœ–οΈ

CONSERVE HEAT

βœ”οΈ

βœ”οΈ

CONSERVE FRESHNESS

βœ”οΈ

βœ”οΈ

ATTACHE

Rope

Reindeer leather

DECORATION

βœ–οΈ

Reindeer antler

So Kupilkas are not authentic kuksas but rather the modern, industrial alternative. πŸ’‘

Buy your Kupilka now

Discover on our store our Kupilka

kupilka 12 brown

Kupilka 12 cl brown

Brown cup 12 cl made with Kareline ideal for a double espresso.

kupilka 21 brown

Kupilka 21 cl brown

Brown mug 21 cl made with Kareline for any type of drink.

kupilka 37 brown

Kupilka 37 cl brown

Brown mug 37 cl made with Kareline for big thirst.

Christmas Game, win wooden kuksa cups

Experience an authentic and traditional Christmas with our giveaway! Try your luck to win one of our handmade wooden kuksa cups, specially selected to brighten your holidays.

Join the game
jeu-noel
Play our Christmas game

For Christmas, try to win one of our 3 favorite kuksa. A handmade wooden mug to celebrate the festive season. πŸŽ„

To enter, add your email address below

Contest results on December 21. πŸ€

final-jeu-noel

Cookies

We and selected third parties use cookies or similar technologies for technical purposes and, with your consent, for experience, measurement and marketing.