THE HAIRY GIRAFFE… IN FINNISH LAPLAND
Traditional cuisine in Finnish Lapland is closely linked to the ancient way of life of the Sami people, who have long depended on hunting, fishing, and reindeer herding for their survival. Reindeer is a significant source of food in Lapland, and its meat is used in many preparations, such as reindeer stew, reindeer sausages, and drying the meat for preservation.
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Reindeer stew
In addition to reindeer meat, fish also plays an essential role in traditional Lappish cuisine. Lakes and rivers are abundant with fish like salmon, trout, and Arctic char, which are prepared in various ways, including smoking, drying, in soups, and baked dishes.
Salmon chowder
Wild berries like lingonberries, blueberries, cloudberries, and blackberries are also common ingredients in many recipes, adding a sweet and tangy touch to traditional dishes.
Cranberry and white chocolate cake
We also discovered the traditional Sami cheese known as juusto or leipäjuusto. It’s made from curdled reindeer, cow, or goat milk and is characterized by its firm texture and characteristic “squeak” when bitten into (similar to Quebec’s cheese curds in poutine). Once prepared, leipäjuusto is often served warm, grilled in a pan or over a fire to get its distinct brown or charred marks, then drizzled with berry syrup or honey for a surprising sweet-savory contrast.
Juusto, here in coffee
Another excellent surprise was the karjalanpiirakkas. These are tartlets made from a mixture of rye and spelt flour filled with a rice pudding preparation. Usually served on festive days, unfortunately, we could only find frozen versions. They didn’t look very appealing, but they were still excellent.
While most typical Finnish foods we tried were enjoyable, one of the Finns’ favorite treats (and that of their Nordic neighbors), salmiakki, a salty licorice candy, didn’t quite win everyone over in our group. It’s very bold in flavor (you really have to be a fan of aniseed taste) and extremely salty. Its taste in the mouth is quite peculiar. If you’re a fan, they also have a chocolate version with salmiakki – a chocolate bar with a taste of licorice and salt. We’ll let you form your own opinion on that one.
Find all our other articles about Finnish Lapland (detailed itinerary, Travel Reflections, and Sámi culture…) here:
