Fika! The Swedish Tradition You'll Want to Adopt for Yourself

One of my favorite things to do when I travel is learn about nuances that make each culture unique. Even better is when I find one related to food and drink! I recently traveled to Stockholm, Sweden, where I found a great sip for travelers heading to that part of the world. Enter: Fika.

a plate with three small sweet bites — Sampling the Swedish treats!

Fika essentially translates to “coffee break”. Moreover, it is a time of the day that Swedes set aside to socialize and enjoy a warm Cup of Joe with a sweet treat on the side. And yes, Fika always includes a sweet treat.

Here are two things I learned about Fika:

The coffee is AMAZING. You know how the Italians are praised for their love of espresso? And Brazil is known for its infinite blends of quality coffee? Well, I’ve determined that the Swedes’ contribution to the coffee world is severely underrated. My Fika coffee was one of the best cups I’ve ever had!
Don’t underestimate the sweets. Sure, it is easy to look in the display of homemade Fika specialties and say, “Eh, I’ve had pastries like that before. I’ll pass…”. Okay, maybe not. But still, while some of the sweets may look simple in nature, they are some of the best sugary bites that will ever enter your mouth. Each bite I tried ended up tasting completely different, and much better, than I ever expected. My personal favorite was a cardamom roll…similar to a cinnamon roll, but SO much more delicious. (Check out Bakery & Spice in the Vasastan district in Stockholm for a fresh, homemade cardamom roll, and many other baked specialties.)

A rack of freshly baked bread — Fresh baked bread at Bakery & Spice, Stockholm.

If you’re looking for some authentic Fika in Stockholm, be sure to go to Rörstrands Slott in the Vasastan district. This former castle-turned-local-hangout will offer a dose of history along with your Fika. You may even have the chance to enjoy your coffee in the dungeon! The chocolate ball was my favorite bite, but you can’t go wrong with anything you try. They have full meals as well.

Caitlin and Tucker enjoying fika — Enjoying Fika in the dungeon!

Personally, I wouldn’t be mad if America decided to incorporate Fika into the everyday routine. It’s hard to imagine a better treat in the middle of a workday!