Korvapuusti and Coffee Culture

Finns drink more coffee per person than anyone in the world, and the ritual comes with korvapuusti, the slapped-ear cinnamon and cardamom bun. The pulla dough scented with cardamom, rolled with cinnamon and pearl sugar, is the national pastry, and the coffee break, or kahvitauko, is a daily institution.

The main sights

• Korvapuusti - the cardamom-cinnamon bun, its name meaning a slapped ear.
• Pulla dough - the sweet cardamom-scented dough behind Finnish baking.
• The coffee break - the daily kahvitauko, even written into working life.
• Cafe culture - the roasters and old and new cafes of the cities.

When to go

Year-round; the coffee break is a daily rhythm, and a warm bun is especially good in the cold and dark. Any bakery or cafe delivers, from village to city roaster.

Things to know

It is a simple pleasure, a bun and coffee, rather than a grand food experience, so enjoy it as the everyday ritual it is. Filter coffee, strong and plentiful, is the norm rather than fancy espresso, though city roasters have raised the game. The bun is best fresh and warm.

Nearby

Cafes across Helsinki and the Pyynikki doughnut tower in Tampere are classic stops; it pairs with any market visit.