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Credit: Visit Finland/Olli Oilinki
Food
Finnish food is of high quality, pure and healthy. Our normal diet is based on healthy ingredients such as fish, whole grains, berries and root vegetables as well as low-fat dairy products. The growing season in Finland is very short and intense. Our northern location provides plants with up to 24 hours of light in the summer, giving them a unique flavour.
These days you can enjoy world cuisines in Finland, but do go local while you’re here, and you’ll be in for a treat! The Finnish cuisine at its best combines our traditional foods with modern methods and the principles of New Nordic Cuisine using local, wild and seasonal produce.
Foraging
In Finland, we have what's known as 'everyman's right', also called the 'right to roam'. You can pick flowers, wild berries, and mushrooms freely in natural areas, which are not private yard areas, agricultural production fields or nature reserves.
Picking mushrooms and berries is a popular pastime in Finland but there are also wild herbs that you can pick. I learnt to identify which mushrooms and herbs to pick from my mother who in turn was taught by my grandmother.
The use of forest-grown ingredients is one of the key elements of Finnish cuisine. And if you visit Finland during the harvest season you find stalls at market places and halls filled with fresh berries and mushrooms straight from the forests.
Ask us about including a foraging tour and/or cooking class in your trip to Finland.
Credit: Visit Finland
Superfoods
Superfoods are so named for the great number of beneficial nutrients they contain.
Blueberries can have beneficial effects for our immune system and our metabolism. They contain high amounts of antioxidants, flavonoids, polyphenols, vitamins, minerals such as potassium, zinc, copper, and magnesium, and fibers.
Lingonberry is another berry you find in the Finnish forests. They are rich in compounds that function as antioxidants, including manganese, vitamin C and vitamin E.
Wild sea buckthorn grows in the coastal regions of the Gulf of Bothnia and the Åland Island. It is one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C, it also contains high doses of carotenoids, vitamin E, amino acids and dietary minerals.
Local wild plants like angelica, roseroot, nettle and spruce sprouts are also turned into tasty healthfoods. Birch sap is also used by some for detoxing the body.
To find out more about our superfoods include a foraging tour or wild herbs workshop into your travels!
Credit: Visit Finland/Vastavalo
Top restaurants
Finnish food culture is known for its pure flavours and minimalistic aesthetics. The top restaurants in Finland take you on an unforgettable culinary journey with their most creative ways of using local seasonal ingredients.
The renowned Michelin guide lists 24 restaurants in Finland - most of them located in Helsinki apart from Restaurants Kaskis in Turku.
Have a look at the White Guide Nordics as well for further restaurant recommendations.
360°EAT GUIDE is the only restaurant guide in the world that rates both gastronomy and sustainability. Nolla Restaurant in Helsinki is listed on the guide. Nolla means ‘Zero’ and this incredibly friendly neighbourhood restaurant is all about zero waste. They don’t accept packaging from their suppliers; their uniforms are made from discarded bed linen; and they have their own composter and microbrewery.
There are many amazing restaurants outside Helsinki, too, and we can help you find them!
For example the Saimaa region offers amazing culinary experiences. When you see food products with D.O. Saimaa (Saimaa Designation of Origin) labels you know the product or ingredient has been produced in the Saimaa region in accordance with high quality criteria.
Credit: Visit Finland/Arctic Light Hotel
Traditional foods
Due to our history Finnish food has been influenced both by Sweden in the west and Russia in the east.
We encourage you to taste some of our traditional foods while travelling in Finland. Or even better join a class to learn how to make them!
Rye bread is loved by the Finns. It is an excellent choice for those looking for a healthy option as it’s made from sourdough and is high in fibre.
When visiting a local cafe, you cannot go past 'Korvapuusti', our version of the cinnamon bun. Another tasty treat is 'Karjalanpiirakka', a Karelian pastry. Originally from the Karelia region in the eastern part of Finland, this rye crust pastry filled with thick rice porridge is enjoyed with 'munavoi', a spread made out of chopped hard-boiled eggs and butter.
If you visit Lapland, you will most likely be served some 'Poronkäristys'. This sauteed reindeer dish is served with a side of mashed potatoes and lingonberries.
Another favourite dish is 'lohikeitto' or salmon soup. In addition to salmon, the soup also usually contains potatoes, carrots, and leeks and is garnished with dill. Best enjoyed with some rye bread!
Credit: Visit Finland/Julia Kivela
