Seven things you should eat when you're in Finland
Finland is an exotic arctic country with thousands of lakes and multitudes of forests to rummage through, but what's arguably even more exotic is its diverse gastronomy.
The traditional Finnish cuisine includes everything from sautéed reindeer and blueberry-cloudberry fool to its infamous Karelian pies.
See also: Foods that can kill you: The world's most dangerous dinners
Whether it's Lapland or the beautiful western coastal cities you're interested in, there are some culinary curiosities you just have to try. With the help of Expedia Finland, we've got the ultimate list of the weird and wonderful delicacies everyone should eat when they're visiting this beautiful country.
Bread cheese
This creamy coloured, dark spotted "squeeky cheese" goes by the Finnish name leipäjuusto and is a treat found all over the country but especially cherished in Lapland and western Finland. It's made of cow's milk and served as a dessert with fresh cloudberries and cloudberry jam. It's a match made in the Finnish heaven.
See also: Great British food: Ten regional delicacies
Fish pie
Kalakukko is one of the many fish dishes produced in the land of thousands of lakes, and the cities around the Lakeland area compete over the title of the best one. The city of Kuopio is unofficially the master of the fish dish. The savoury pie is filled with small fresh water fish that are baked in a dark rye bread. The delicacy has fans all over the world and is a must-try for anyone visiting the eastern Finland.
Hole bread
Any kind of rye bread is a must in Finland but the hole bread, known locally as reikäleipä, is special because of its hole. It's doesn't add any extra flavour but the way it's made – baked into flat rings and hung on a pole in the kitchen ceiling to cool down and mature – makes it chewier and that bit more exciting.
Smoked salmon
Smoked salmon may be no stranger to Brits, but when it's freshly caught from the lake and cooked on a plank of wood by an open fire, you can't compare it to the shop bought equivalent. It's perfect for that authentic camping feeling and it beats sausages any day.
Åland's pancake
Finland is full of so many different pancakes and crepes, ranging from rye and barley to blood, that it's easy to lose count. The best? A thick oven pancake baked with semolina and flavoured with cardamom from the island of Åland: a truly mouth-watering experience. Top it with whipped cream and jam and your sweet tooth will have found its match.
Fried vendace
It's no coincidence there is a third fish dish on the list – Finns love fresh water fish of all kinds. Vendace is one of the most sought after fish in the entire country and there are several ways to enjoy it, whether it's in a soup, over BBQ or fried. The fish is rolled in rye, salt and wheat flour mixture and fried on a hot pan in butter and served with a slice of lemon. Head to the Lakeland area and you won't be disappointed.
Black Sausage
Mustamakkara is traditionally served with lingonberry jam andis the ultimate test for not judging a book by its cover – or even by its ingredients, which include blood, barley, bacon and butter. The Finnish word sisu means a mixture of steely determination, bravery, stamina and guts - and as a visitor you'll pass the sisu test by trying mustamakkara.
If you want to find out more about must-try traditional Finnish dishes, check out this interactive map which lists more than 30 of dishes that are only available in the land of Santa Claus. It's a comprehensive guide to the flavours of Finland.
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