What to eat in Finland: 15 Traditional Finnish Foods to try (and where to find them!)

Last updated on September 12th, 2024

From Lohikeitto to korvapuusti, Finland is overflowing with delicious foods. And we’re sharing the top 15 traditional Finnish foods that you must try while exploring Finland. 

It’s no secret that a big part of why we love to travel is the FOOD! In our opinion, one of the best ways to experience a new culture is through its cuisine. Many local dishes tell a story about the country’s history, traditions, and natural environment.

And Finland is no exception! Finns have traditionally been hunter-gatherers, so a large part of traditional Finnish cuisine includes ingredients that can be acquired from the earth. Like wild game, fish, berries, and mushrooms, to name a few. But over the years, Finnish cuisine has taken on outside influences like Russia and Sweden, which add some twists.

Before our two weeks in Finland, we had never tried Finnish food. But we quickly fell in love with its warm, comforting dishes, sweet treats, and salty bites. And if you’re wondering what to eat in Finland, we’ve gotcha covered! In this guide we’re sharing 15 traditional Finnish foods that you must try while in the country. Plus, where to try them!

1. Lohikeitto

While the rest of this list may be in random order, Lohikeitto was easily our favorite dish in Finland! This creamy salmon soup is loaded with salmon, potatoes, carrots and leeks, and dill. It reminded us a bit of a hybrid between clam chowder and potato soup, but a bit thinner. 

And since it’s very warm and comforting, it is the perfect dish to try if visiting Finland in the winter!

2. Korvapuusti (cinnamon rolls)

Korvapuusti is a Finnish take on a cinnamon roll. And oh boy, are they delicious! But we’re not the only ones that think so. They are so beloved in Finland that they have a national day to celebrate them on October 4!

The word korvapuusti translates to “slapped ears.” And it bears this name because it is rolled up and cut into triangles, and then smashed down so when it bakes, it takes the shape of what looks like a slapped ear.

They are a bit different from American cinnamon rolls. Not only is cardamom included with cinnamon, but they are also topped with pearl sugar instead of icing.

3. Lihapyöryköitä (Finnish meatballs)

Like its next door neighbor Sweden, Finland has a delicious take on meatballs, called Lihapyöryköitä. These meatballs include some spices, like allspice or nutmeg, and are usually served with gravy, mashed potatoes, lingonberry jam, and often pickles. 

The mix of the savory from the meatballs, sweetness from the jam, and tang from the pickles is the perfect combination!

4. Karjalanpiirakka (Karelian pies) 

Karelian pies are small Finnish pies with a thin, crispy shell that is filled with comforting rice porridge or mashed potatoes. And then most commonly topped with munavoi, or egg butter, which is a mix of hard boiled eggs and butter.

These pies originate from the Karelia region in southeastern Finland. After the Winter War (1939-1940) when Russia attacked Finland, this area became split between Finland and Russia. But Karelian pies are considered to be one of the top traditional Finnish foods to try in Finland!

5. Leipäjuusto (Finnish squeaky cheese)

Another one of our favorite Finnish foods was Leipäjuusto, which is Finnish squeaky cheese. This cheese is made from fresh cow’s milk cheese and then is baked, grilled, or pan fried, which gives it brown spots. It’s served warm and gooey with a cloudberry jam (delicious!) and bread. 

The cheese is bouncy, squeaky, and a hint of savoriness, which pairs perfectly with the sweet and tart jam. It’s the perfect snack!

6. Muikku (vendace fish)

Muikku is vendace fish, which is found in the clear waters of Lake Saimaa, Lake Puruvesi, and other lakes in Finland. 

The most common way to eat this small fish is lightly breaded and fried, with some lemon and a garlic sauce. 

And you eat it whole, bones, eyes, and all! Which isn’t something we’re used to, but since it’s so small, we didn’t notice any bones.

While we both enjoyed these, Adam especially loved them (I struggled a bit with the whole eyeball thing). He compared them a little bit to fish french fries, since they are salty and a little crunchy. 

Fun fact: Muikku is such a big deal in Finland that when Finns are posing for photos, they say “muikku!” instead of “cheese!”

7. Mustikkapiirakka (bilberry pie)

Another must-try traditional Finnish food is mustikkapiirakka, or bilberry pie. If you’re like us and have never heard of bilberries, they are the northern European version of blueberries. 

And mustikkapiirakka is sort of like a mix between a tart and cheesecake. It has creamy filling, with bilberries mixed in, and encased in a shortbread crust. We have seen different iterations of how it is prepared, but we can guarantee any version you try will be delicious!

8. Salmiakki (salty licorice)

Salty licorice, known as salmiakki, may be the most polarizing food item in Finland. But it’s also quite possibly the thing that is most synonymous with Finland! 

This licorice candy is made of licorice root, mixed with ammonium chloride (which is found in cough medicine 😬) that has a very distinct flavor. 

It’s hard to describe it, but to us, it tasted like very salty medicine. After chewing on it for a few minutes, it gave our mouth a slight numbing, tingly sensation. It’s definitely an acquired taste, so maybe after a few tries we’d really like it! 

9. Poronkäristys (sauteed reindeer)

No trip to Finland is complete without trying poronkäristys! This is the traditional dish of the Sámi people, who are the indigenous people of Finland. It consists of reindeer meat, served with potatoes and lingonberry jam. 

And while you may associate reindeer with Santa, in the Sámi culture, reindeer herding is their traditional occupation and source of livelihood, with reindeer providing meat, hides, and antlers, as well as transportation.

11. Ruisleipä (Finnish rye bread)

Arguably the most staple food item on a Finnish dinner table is rye bread, or Ruisleipä. This dates back centuries and you can find it alongside many meals in Finland, including with lohikeitto.

It can come in a variety of shapes, like a regular loaf or in a flat round disk with a hole in the middle. And it’s great with butter and vegetables, dipping it in your soup, or with just plain butter on top!

13. Fazer chocolate

While in Finland, you need to pick up some Fazer chocolate, which has been making chocolate in Finland since 1922. You can instantly recognize it with its signature blue wrapper!

They sell a wide variety of chocolate flavors, plus candies, like salty licorice. We always loved when hotels or our Airbnb hosts had Fazer chocolate waiting for us when we arrived!

15. Finnish sausages

While sausages are not unique to Finland, one of our favorite things to do in Finland was roast sausages! This appeared to be a pretty comon activity across the country, with lots of communal fire pits at local parks. 

When enjoying your Finnish sausage make sure to eat it with Finnish mustard, which is quite a bit different than yellow American mustard. It has a brown appearance (which resembles peanut butter to us) and is a bit sweeter.

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