Native nosh

Favorite foods

With fresh Arctic air, rich soil and abundant water sources, both Finland and Canada benefit from naturally grown, nutritious foods. Vast forests are perfect for picking wild berries, foraging for mushrooms and hunting game. But Finns and Canadians also crave comfort foods to keep them happy through the long, harsh winters.

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Korvapuusti

Cinnamon buns

While their Nordic neighbours have their own versions of the cinnamon bun, Finns believe theirs is the best. Korvapuusti translates as slapped ear, the origin of which is disputed but may refer to its flattened shape. The buns are made from cardamom-flavored dough and filled with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar. Finns usually enjoy korvapuusti with their beloved coffee. They like them so much that they celebrate National Korvapuusti Day on the fourth of October each year.

Poutine

Comprised of French fries and cheese curds topped with a peppery gravy, Poutine originated in the province of Quebec in the 1950s. Derided as junk food for decades, it gained respectability when top chefs reinvented it for their fine-dining restaurants. Now this staple comfort food is Canada’s national dish, with annual poutine festivals held across the country. The name may come from a Québécois slang word for mess, or perhaps the English word pudding.

Terva

Edible tar

In Finland, tar is not just for the roads – it’s also used to flavor food and drink! Although some types of tar are dangerous to ingest, Finns have a penchant for an edible tar called terva. Made from tree sap extracted from burning wood, terva gives a smoky flavor to ice cream, sweets, licorice, chewing gum, lemonade and beer. An acquired taste, terva is highly nostalgic for many Finns. Terva ice cream is considered the best introduction because it has a sweet, caramel-like taste.

Maple taffy

Maple syrup is synonymous with Canada and features in many traditional recipes. Made by heating the sap of maple trees to form a concentrated extract, maple syrup comes in four grades – Golden, Amber, Dark and Very Dark – according to when it is harvested. A whopping 91% of Canada’s maple syrup is produced in Quebec, where winter is not complete without maple taffy, or tire d’érable. This sweet treat is prepared by boiling maple syrup, pouring it in a strip over fresh snow and then rolling it around a wooden stick to make a lollipop – delicious!

Karjalanpiirakka

Karelian pasty

Karelian pies or pasties originated in the province of Karelia, which straddles the Finnish-Russian border. Designed to fit in the hand, they feature a crust made from rye flour with a filling of potatoes, rice porridge or carrots. Finns enjoy them hot, smothered with egg butter (munavoi), which is a mixture of butter and chopped hard-boiled egg. With their elliptical shape and crimped edges, Karelian pies are unique to Finnish cuisine and a much-loved snack for hungry Finns.

Butter tarts

Quintessentially Canadian, the butter tart is not merely a sweet delicacy but an object of cultural pride. It consists of a filling of butter, sugar, syrup and egg, baked in a pastry shell until it is semi-solid with a crunchy top. Some recipes insist on the addition of raisins – and others walnuts or pecans – but this is a matter of heated debate in Canada! Popular across the country, the butter tart is adored in Ontario, where numerous festivals, bake-offs and bakery tours are held in its honor.

From freshly grown produce to indulgent treats, at Cimcorp, we believe it is our responsibility to develop solutions that enhance product freshness and food safety across the supply chain, on behalf of food & beverage companies and connoisseurs the world over.

Read more at visitfinland.com and destinationcanada.com.