So much variety in the bread section at the Finnish grocery store! 

When I first moved to Finland the bread selection at the grocery store simply wowed me. There is so much variety and many different interesting pastries and bread. Even the most basic croissant is flaky and delicious. In the U.S., unless you go to a specialty bakery you can’t find delicious bread.

This time, I picked out five different Finnish breads in the grocery store to introduce. Keep in mind there are more kinds of bread than pictured here! 

🍞Korvapuusti 

These are Finnish cinnamon rolls. Compared to the American concept of cinnamon rolls they are less sweet and the texture is like a bread roll. The flavors are also unique in that the dough is flavored with cardamon. All breads that are made with sweet cardamon dough are called pulla in Finnish. There are many different pullas at the grocery store with various fillings and flavorings, so check them out! 

🍞Karjalanpiirakka 

Also known as Karelian pies, these have rye crusts and filled with rice or mashed potatoes. Here is some interesting history on these pies (link).  Fresh from the oven and topped with an egg butter mixture is the best way to eat them. I also personally eat them cold when I’m busy and still enjoy them! 

🍞Ruisleipa 

This is rye bread! I feel that in Finland people eat less white bread and more dark colored bread. I like rye bread because of it’s flavor and texture. It is slightly chewy and crunchy on the outside. The best way I enjoy eating these is with butter, cucumbers, and cheese. Another interesting thing about this bread is that they come in all shapes and forms. I’ve seen circular ones with a hole in the middle, rectangles, circles, and cute heart shaped ones when you cut them. 

🍞Lihapasteija

These are meat pies with a filling of rice and minced meat. The outside is a kind of flaky butter pastry. I find that these are interesting because of the concept of filling a pastry with rice. 

🍞Lihapiirakka 

This is a deep fried meat pie with the same filling as the lihapasteija. Instead of the flaky pastry dough, this one uses doughnut dough. I find that these are very filling and great for when I’m not in the mood to eat a sweet doughnut.  

There are many more types of Finnish bread at the grocery store! Be adventurous and try out as many breads as you can. If you’ve tried any of these let me know how you like them! 

If you’re interested about life in in Finland check out 5 best things about Finnish apartments or Helsinki Budget Gift Guide: Some affordable ideas!