Vanilla Spiral Bun is Vaniljakierrepulla

Oh my... is this better than Korvapuustit? Possibly. It has the famous cardamom spiced dough with a simple vanilla filling. The spiral shape is beautiful. The buttery vanilla filling gets crispy on the edges and keeps the bun moist and tender. I can't wait to enjoy with my afternoon coffee, iltapäiväkahvi.

Finnish Coffee Culture

Surprisingly, the coffee culture is not focused on the coffee itself. It's not about the latte art or the incredible micro roasters. Do these things thrive in Finland, yes of course. Is it the reason Finns drink more coffee per capita than any other country? No.

The reason Finns love coffee is because they love traditions, rituals, and serving others. You may notice the traditions are not too far from your own, it's just with great discipline that Finns follow them. They do not falter on their coffee consumption behavior!

Tradition - Coffee when someone visits your home

When someone stops by the home for afternoon coffee, the table is set with a beautiful arrangement of baked goods. The host has these items waiting in the freezer for just this perfect moment. Even if they don't have buns in the freezer, they will pull out a sleeve of Dominoes (Finland's superior version of an Oreo) and place them nicely on the table. The coffee is served in the host's favorite coffee cups which is one of the following: Moomin, Marimekko, or Iittala Teema design.

Ritual - Coffee in the morning

As in many other countries, coffee is consumed in the morning and served with breakfast in Finland. I see drinking coffee as a rite of passage, or a ritual. It's something you see your parents do and of course you wonder when you will be old enough to drink the coffee. When I was a little girl, my dad made us "cowgirl coffee" which was essentially a glass of hot chocolate milk. It was special. Just like my morning cup of coffee is still today; it's the most beautiful moment to be still, quiet, and warm.

Tradition - Brewing the coffee

One thing I love about Finns is there no-nonsense approach to daily living. Everyone has the same coffee machine. It works and lasts a lifetime. Why get anything else? It's rightfully named the Moccamaster! The first Moccamaster coffee maker, designed by Gerard C. Smit, was released in 1969. They are handcrafted in the Netherlands and depending on the model cost between €230 - €300. Finns value craftsmanship and are willing to pay for it.

Tradition - Meeting up for coffee

Meeting up for coffee is the best way to see friends and neighbors. It's relatively cheap and most everyone drinks coffee. Each town has multiple venues that serve coffee. The typical Finnish coffee shop has a selection of sweets, baked goods, and espresso drinks. It does not have people working on laptops. It's a place for people of all ages to catch up with each other. Small businesses dominate in Finland so each coffee shop is unique, but similar in their offerings.

Tradition - Coffee after lunch (different than afternoon coffee break)

Lunch is an important meal in Finland because of its association with the working life. It's a time to break from work and recharge. It is not common to work through lunch in Finland. Most employers have their own food service or offer vouchers to employees to purchase affordable lunches nearby. Many restaurants offer a highly discounted lunch special, the most popular being a buffet. Of course, coffee is always included with the buffet.

Serving Others - trade unions' collective agreements include coffee breaks

Three out of every four employees belong to the trade union of their industry or occupation. There are almost one hundred trade unions, with over two million members in a country of five million people. One of the main purposes of Finnish trade unions is to safeguard the benefits and rights of its members. This includes rules on breaks in their collective agreements - two coffee breaks for anyone who works a shift over 6 hours.

Serving Others - would you like some coffee?

Finns are generous people and learn how to serve others through their rituals and traditions. Coffee is warming and sustaining. When you visit Finland, you will most certainly be asked if you want coffee. It means welcome, relax, recharge, share stories, take time, and live simply.

So, that's my take so far on the Finnish Coffee Culture. Coffee is part of everyday life, working life, and included in all special occasions and celebrations. I'm sure the post will be updated as I learn more.

The reason Finns love coffee is because they love traditions, rituals, and serving others. You may notice the traditions are not too far from your own, it's just with great discipline that Finns follow them! They do not falter on their coffee consumption behavior.

Vaniljakierrepullat Recipe

Ingredients

Dough

25 g hiivaa 1 packet dry yeast

2½ dl maitoa 1 cup 2% milk

1 kananmuna 1 egg

1 dl sokeria scant ½ cup sugar

1 tl suolaa 1 tsp salt

1½ tl kardemummaa 1½ tsp cardamom

6 - 7 dl vehnäjauhoja 2½ - 3 cups all purpose wheat flour

75 g voita ⅓ cup butter

Filling

75 g voita ⅓ cup butter

¾ dl sokeria ⅓ cup sugar

2 rkl vaniljasokeria 2 tbsp vanilla sugar

Wash

1 kananmuna 1 egg

Directions

Make the Dough

1. Place yeast (dry or fresh) in a medium size mixing bowl with all 2.5 dl of lukewarm milk with 1 tsp sugar. Whisk gently until yeast is dissolved. After about 10 minutes check that the yeast is active, you should see tiny bubbles or foam. Do not proceed to next step without active yeast.

2. While yeast is activating combine the sugar, salt, cardamom, and 2 dl flour in a separate bowl.

3. When milk/yeast mix is ready, add the egg and whisk thoroughly until well combined.

4. Add the dry mix. Whisk until smooth and incorporated, about 1 minute.

5. Using a wooden spoon or mixer (I always use spoon), incorporate the remainder of flour one dl at a time until the dough starts to pull away from the edges of the bowl.

6. Pour in the softened butter and mix until thoroughly combined, about 1 minute.

7. Cover the bowl with a towel and leave in a draft free place to rise for 40 - 60 minutes, or until doubled in size.

Shape the Dough with Filling

1. After the dough has doubled in size, turn out onto a well floured work surface. It will be leggy and stringy.

2. Dust the top of the dough with flour and knead a couple times to make the dough workable.

3. Roll into a large rectangle.

4. Spread the melted butter across the entire surface. Sprinkle the sugar and vanilla sugar on top. If you don't have vanilla sugar, you can substitute 1.5 Tbsp vanilla extract - mix into butter before spreading.

5. Fold the rectangle in half. Cut small strips from the folded dough and twist the strips. Roll the strips into buns and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

6. Cover the buns and allow to rise for 30 - 40 minutes.

Bake the Buns!

1. Preheat the oven to 225 C or 437 F.

2. Brush the buns with egg.

3. Place in the bottom third of the oven and bake for 8 - 10 minutes or until nice and golden brown.

Serve with coffee and enjoy with friends.

Hyvää ruokahalua! Good Appetite!

Resources:

• https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moccamaster

• https://www.tehy.fi/en/working-finland