Swedish influence on Estonian food

I really like the Scandinavian concept of hygge - indulging in simple cosy comforts that creates a sense of well-being. There are many little rituals I enjoy doing on a daily basis - drinking a good cup of coffee in the morning, reading in the afternoon and illuminating my home with candles at night. They all bring small amounts of happiness. During a recent trip to IKEA I went in search of some new candles as bargains can always be found after the Christmas period. I purchased some really nice vanilla scented candles and also a packet of Swedish ginger biscuits and a bottle of mulled wine. Later when I tried the biscuits and wine at home, I was surprised to find they tasted remarkably similar to piparkoogid and glögi. As I was unable to visit Estonia last Christmas, to taste these familar flavours again, instantly brought a smile to my face. It also made me wonder what other Swedish foods resemble what I consider traditional Estonian food.

 

 

Estonia and the Scandinavian nations of Sweden and Denmank have a long shared history that dates back to medieval times. Estonia was part of the Swedish empire for centuries until Sweden lost territory after its defeat in the Great Northern War (1700 -1721). It makes sense that Swedish influence found its way into Estonian cuisine. Even though many centuries have passed, and one occupier replaced another until freedom was achieved, some things from the ‘good old Swedish times' remain present in modern-day Estonian cuisine.

Similar Estonian Swedish foods

If there is one common food item that can be found everywhere in Estonia and in Sweden, it is undoubtedly cinnamon rolls (kaneelirullid in Estonian) and  (kanelbullar in Swedish). All bakeries sell these delicious buns and they can even be found in IKEA stores all around the world. Estonians and Swedes share a passion for using cardamom, ginger, cinnamon and cloves in their baked goods.

Baltic herrings and black bread. Considered a national dish in Estonia, it is also very popular in neighbouring Sweden. Unfortunately over the centuries this species has been overfished and stocks in the Baltic Sea have dwindled markedly.

Open sandwiches. These are equally popular in both Swedish and Estonian cultures and are known as võileib in Estonian and smörgås in Swedish. They are typically served as appetisers at parties and gatherings, often as part of a buffet / smörgåsbord.

Easter Buns. While a lot of countries celebrate Shrove Tuesday by eating pancakes, people in Estonia and Sweden prefer to eat cream buns. Known as vastlakuklid in Estonian and Semla in Swedish, these buns are soft and fluffy and filled with whipped cream and various other toppings.

It is interesting to note that many Estonians have Swedish ancestry and it's quite possible that some of those old family recipes passed down from generation to generation, might have originated from across the Baltic Sea.