Summertime, the princess cake gets tough competition from the equally delicious strawberry cake (jordgubbstårta). Most modern incarnations include a thin layer of raspberry jam, though the original Swedish princess cake recipe from 1948, found in Prinsessornas Nya Kokbok (The Princesses’ New Cookbook), does not. This mound of gorgeousness is enrobed in green marzipan, often with a pink marzipan rose as the crowning glory. This globe-shaped layer cake is a well-balanced affair, consisting of a light-as-air sponge cake base topped with vanilla pastry cream and lashings of fluffy whipped cream. Sweden’s national cake – if there were such a thing officially – is the princess cake (prinsesstårta).
So where to begin when presented with a brimming smorgasbord of Swedish baked goods? These four fika classics are a good start: Swedish fika classics – from princess cake to cinnamon rolls A lot of passion and skill go into each slice of cake.Įven if you were to replicate the Swedish fika custom in another country, you’d struggle to relive the experience since the quality and variety of cakes and buns found in Swedish cafés are unsurpassed, if we may be so boastful. Anyone who’s ventured into a Swedish café can attest to the fact that the quality is incredibly high. Swedes are considered to have a sweet tooth, and this has probably contributed to the country’s flourishing patisserie culture. Sweden’s top-notch patisserie tradition of today The arrival of patisseries in Sweden in the 19th century cemented the tradition as a coffee-and-cake-custom enjoyed with friends. Over the years, however, the accompanying baked treats – often called fikabröd (fika bread) – became just as important, along with the social aspect of the custom. Originally, it was the coffee itself, which was introduced in Sweden in the 18th century, that was considered the actual fika.
So, when did this ritual first surface? The word itself is believed to be a reversal of the syllables in the word kaffi, the old spelling of coffee. A fika out in the woods or in a nearby park is a popular pastime on a sunny day.
#Fika the art of the swedish coffee break worldcat free
And thanks to Sweden’s unique right of public access, you’re free to fika almost anywhere.
A clever move, since a spot of fika can be therapeutic, promoting wellbeing and productivity.įika, which is so well-established that it’s used as both a noun and a verb, can be had indoors or in nature. So ingrained in the Swedish psyche is the custom that some companies add a clause to contracts stating that employees are entitled to fika breaks. And the social aspect is as important as the delicious pairing of steaming coffee and sugary pastry – Swedish cinnamon buns being arguably the most popular fika accompaniment. “Let’s do fika,” is one of the most uplifting messages you can receive from a long-lost friend. Somewhat simpler and more spontaneous than the Brits’ afternoon tea tradition, Swedish people of all ages and genders are partial to the custom, enjoying it casually at work with colleagues or opting for a more elaborate outing with friends at the weekend.
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