Lappish food culture

A definite must eat on any trip to Rovaniemi is the dessert known as bread cheese (“leipäjuusto”), a type of soft cheese fried after initial preparation. Served with fresh cloudberries or cloudberry jam, it is a hearty dessert with a distinct, sweet taste. Some call it squeaky cheese due to the sound it makes when chewed.

Finns love their baked goods, and it would be a shame not to have a taste! A local Lappish staple pastry is a soft barley flatbread called “rieska”, usually enjoyed with butter. Several types of sweet pastries are also characteristic to Lapland, one of the most recognizable being the “kampanisu” that directly translates to “comb scone” due to its comb-like shape.

Reindeer husbandry is a form of livelihood that dates back centuries in Lapland, and the animal is an essential part of Lappish cuisine. Sautéed reindeer served with mashed potatoes and fresh lingonberries or lingonberry jam is the most classic dish, but no parts of reindeer go unused: the meat is served as fillets, cold cuts, jerky, mince and sausages, just to name a few examples.

The forests of Lapland are abundant with wildlife, and the natural areas around Rovaniemi are no different. Game birds, waterfowls, and the kings of the forest: elk and bear all make mouth-watering dishes with seasonal wild produce.

Hunting in Finland is regulated and based on respecting nature, and Finnish hunters recognize their responsibility by adhering to the rules.

Lapland is famous for its pure waters and the amount of fish in them, making it a popular destination among fishermen. Rovaniemi is situated at the confluence of two major rivers, and consequently has long fishing traditions.

Salmon, trout, pikeperch, and arctic char among others are the fish commonly found on plates in the north. The iconic fish dish of Lapland is salmon soup, available in several restaurants in Rovaniemi.

From late July until September, quite a few cars are parked on the sides of roads around Rovaniemi and Lapland; that’s locals gone berry picking in the forests and on the bogs. The cloudberry is the crown jewel of Lapland’s berries, but bilberry (northern blueberry), lingonberry and cranberry are all wildly healthy and desired catches.

The most common side dish in Lapland is definitely potato prepared in a number of ways. Surprisingly to some, Lapland has its own potato variety, the oval-shaped almond potato. Other typical root vegetables used as side dishes are carrots and turnips. The herb angelica found in Lapland is used as flavour for pies and ice cream.