Soul of Wander

One thing I absolutely loved, (and adjusted quite well to) in Sweden was the charming tradition of Fika! (pronounced “fee-ka”)

What is Fika? Well its enjoying an evening tea or coffee, accompanied with something sweet, both of which Sweden’s got in plenty! As you can probably already tell, I’m more of a tea person, and was thrilled at the endless selection of fragrant teas, ranging from the fruity to spicy, served in huge cups, with a little strainer. But I must admit there is something unmatched about that steamy earthy aroma’s of brewing coffee. This unfortunately is as far as I go with coffee, I love the smell but never quite got used to the taste…

Endless shelves of all things sweet and baked, from the cream centered to the crunchy! I usually don’t eat sugary or baked things, but its different here. Breads and cakes are fluffy and light, and even the stickiest chocolate or caramel is not tooth achingly sweet! It’s a perfect balance of sweet and savory, the way all well baked treats should be!

 

 

Sweet street side treats

The best part is that you have plenty of charming little candle lit café’s in which to have your Fika, even in Malls and at the central station (yes, you read that right, candle lit cafe in the middle of the central station) ! Aside from pastries and a hot steamy cup’s of something, theres also the option of a chilled glass of wine or beer.

Café Culture is strong here, and all over Europe I suppose. These are more than just places to eat and drink, they are places friends and family gather, spend time together and engage in conversation, or just relax, sketch or read something. There is such a pleasant ambiance in these cafe’s, I think its definitely my favorite and most memorable bit about the cities of Europe.

I wish I could have remembered the names of all the pastries, but my favorite one was this type of tart with berries or sometimes fruit, served with a side scoop of vanilla and cream….Anyone know the swedish name for this?

After having Fika everyday in a different cafe’s for about a week, evenings back home seem duller…perhaps I shall continue this sweet tradition of Fika .