Food in Sweden is tied to both daily life and cultural traditions. People eat food not only to satisfy hunger, but also to spend time together. One important tradition is called fika. Fika is a small break during the day, typically during the afternoon, to drink coffee and eat a sweet pastry with friends or coworkers. Fika can be anywhere from school and work to cafes. Through fika, I learned how much Swedes value slowing down and enjoying time together each day.
1. Kanelbulle
Kanelbulle is the equivalent of a Swedish cinnamon roll. Kanel in Swedish means cinnamon, and bulle means bun, hence cinnamon bun. This is a traditional Swedish pastry that you can find in every bakery across the country. These buns are soft, very sweet, and covered in white sugar.
2. Swedish meatballs
Anyone who has ever gone to the food court at IKEA (Swedish furniture store), has probably seen these. Swedish meatballs are a hearty meal, perfect for winter. The meatballs are served in gravy and are similar to what we eat in the US. However, with the meatballs, it is traditional to also serve lingonberry (a Swedish berry that tastes similar to cranberry sauce), mashed potatoes, pickled cucumber, or peas!
3. Princess cake
