What is Swedish fika?

Fika. This is a very unique Swedish concept, but in short, it means taking a break and having coffee and something small to eat, mostly sweet.

Coffee is an essential part of Fika. Some like it black, others like a cappuccino. Most do drink 2 cups. People in the Nordic countries drink more coffee than anyone in the world.

Did you know we do fika in Finland, Norway, and Denmark too? But it has not become a thing, since the coffee breaks do not have a special name. But the idea and concept are basically the same.

In Finland Swedish speaking people just talk about kafferast-meaning a coffee break. Often at workplaces, there are buns and cookies with the coffee. Some places even have their employees bake in turns to have something to "fika".

History of fika

The word originates from a slang term derived from “kaffi,” a word for coffee. Fun thing is that in Finland, the Finn-Swedes in one dialect still have the work kaffi as coffee.

Coffee found its way to the Swedish hearts as early as the 1700s. But in 1746, the king imposed a tax on coffee. People became angry and did not want to pay it. Ten years later, coffee was banned from Sweden! This lead to a black-market situation for coffee drinkers.

King Gustav III had a fear that coffee consumption caused health problems and did not want people to drink it. He failed to prove the unhealthiness of coffee in his "scientific" tests. Coffee had found its way as people's daily enjoyment, and failures of the ban resulted in its removal in the 1820s.

It was not always Swedes drank their coffee with buns, cakes, and biscuits. Sugar and other baking ingredients were expensive luxury items and only the elite would serve sweet treats with coffee. After the wars ended the fika culture exploded. Then all ordinary people could start to afford to buy sugar and spices.

What time is fika in Sweden?

There is no set time for a Fika break, like the English five o clock tea, but usually, it is during the day.

At many working places, Fika is part of the regular daily schedule. In the morning a Fika at 10:00 and in the afternoon at 14-15. The fikapaus or fikarast (meaning coffee break) lasts 10-15 minutes at work. This coffee break is usually enjoyed in the company of your colleagues, and having some small talk. Not individually at the office desk.

This same coffee break culture is in many other Scandinavian workplaces also. For example, in Finland, you get 2 coffee breaks with salary during the day if your day is over 7 hours. They are 10-15 minutes long depending on the contract.

Where do you fika?

• At work: If you are at work you do the fika, coffee break usually in the coffee room. Most working places have a separate room to have lunch and coffee break.
• Coffee shop. Most cosy plaze to have a fika. This can be done during the day with colleagues, meeting a friend or on your own. On weekends the fika can last longer and maybe some savory brunch snack or small lunch is enjoyed as fika.
• Home: Fika can be done at home also. Fika by yourself by taking a pause from work but best enjoyed with some company. Look up for the grannys cute coffee cups and serve some cinnamon buns or savory treats.

What is fikabröd?

Bröd, meaning bread, is not actually regular bread when talking in the context of fika. It can mean all sorts of buns and pastries, both sweet and savory.

Traditional things to eat during fika, fikabröd:

• Kanelbulle, cinnamon buns- check out the scandicuisine delicious recipe.
• Chockladboll, oat-coconut balls.
• Dammsugare-vacuum cleaners, green marzipan treats.
• Princesstårta-The princess cake
• Kladdkaka- Sticky chocolate cake
• Napoeon kaka-Napoleon pastry
• Muffins
• Salt paj-Savory pie
• Croissant
• Blåbärspaj- blueberry pie (bilberries)

If you effortlessly want to try out some Swedish Fika treats, you can find some in many IKEA stores. These "vacuum cleaners" and chocolate balls in the pictures are from IKEA. They also serve delicious cinnamon rolls.

This is how you order fika in Sweden

• En kopp caffe, tack! – A cup of coffee, please!
• En kopp te, tack! - A cup of tea, please.
• Dammsugare – vacuum cleaner (green marzipan rolls, shaped like cylinder vacuum cleaners)
• En kanelbulle tack- a cinnamon bun thank you!
• Fikabröd – coffee pastry, can be sweet or savory
• Chockladboll-chocolate ball
• Ska vi ses över en fika någon gång? – Shall we have a coffee together some time?