Have a break, have a Fika!

There are many traditions in Sweden and the Nordic countries that make them very interesting for the traveller in all of us, who is always looking for new and exciting experiences. One such beautiful tradition in Sweden is referred to as Fika—the Swedish coffee break. Coffee culture is always an intriguing thing to discover while travelling, especially if you live for your perfect daily cup of coffee.

Fika (pronounced fee-ka) represents a moment in time or a break in which you can enjoy a cup of coffee (along with a delicious pastry, of course) with friends/co-workers or even on your own. The term can be used as both a noun and a verb. It is a slang word that is originated from the word “kaffi,” the former spelling of the word coffee in Swedish. The concept is a sort of ritual for the Swedes. They leave everything they are doing and go to the nearest café to enjoy Fika at least once a day. It is so important and interesting that a book has been written about it (Fika: The Art of the Swedish coffee break, by Anna Brones and Johanna Kindvall). This is a book solely dedicated to explaining Fika, including illustrated recipes for the Swedish pastries.

The traditional yet unofficial times for Fika are 10 am and 3 pm, when the cafés are filled entirely and it probably would be really hard to catch someone on the phone. For them, Fika is basically an art form and now you know why Sweden’s 10 million inhabitants account for one percent of the world’s consumption of coffee. The concept is gaining popularity worldwide. Apart from the delicious pastries and coffee, people are re-embracing the idea of enjoying beautiful company while taking your coffee breaks, as opposed to having it quickly on your way to work or during work. Here are some of the delicious pastries and desserts perfect for fika during your next visit to Sweden.

The Art of Fika

By Amal Ghali