Heidi Fika is quickly becoming popular all over Europe. For ages it has been very popular in Sweden but now you hear about it more and more, outside of Sweden as well. We don’t mind as this Swedish coffeebreak is a very nice tradition! It is one of the first things I do when I’m in Sweden and it is also one of the habits that I miss the most when I get back home.
Fika what?
A cup of coffee with a kanellbulle or Swedish cinnamon bun. It’s pretty much the cliché when one thinks of the Swedish coffee break. As I don’t drink any coffee (I know, that’s very weird in Sweden! So I do get the odd look every now and then when I say I don’t want to have a coffee but ask for some water or a hot chocolate milk instead), my favourite fika is a hot chocolate with a cardemom or cinnamom bun. I can really crave for those delicious cardemom buns!
Is there anything more Swedish than fika? It is more than a regular coffee break. It is about really taking the time to sit down with friends, family or even on your own, while you’re enjoying a cup of coffee (Swedes are really addicted to coffee but you can also have a fika with tea, a hot chocolate or even a lemonade) and something sweet accompanying it (kanellbullar, cake,…) . This whole happening is deeply ingrained in the Swedish culture. A bit like the high tea in England but in a daily version!
The origin of “fika”
In the nineteenth century it was fashionable to put words backwords. Kaffi became ‘fika’. Originally, it meant nothing more than “coffee”. For older generations, the word still means nothing more than just coffee.
Fika at the office
In many Swedish companies they have a coffee break around 11 am. It’s a moment where everybody takes a break. No one dares to stay at his desk during fika. It is an ideal opportunity to socialize with your colleagues before getting back to work. Too bad we don’t have that tradition! I do try to get my colleagues tricked into it. And I surely have my hot chocolate and cinnamon bun as often as I can on home office days or when I am in Sweden!
good info
I am going to be visiting Sweden for the first time in June of 2022 and I am so excited! Do you have any recommendations for a cute coffee shop or place to enjoy a light breakfast/brunch in Stockholm? Are there enough places that I can find something even if I decide to explore on my own? Thank you in advance! 🙂
Hi Justin, There are a lot of hotspots on this site. For breakfast and/or brunch I think of Pom och Flora or STHLM Brunch Club. I usually travel on my own so you can definetly explore the city on your own. Just check https://www.takemetosweden.com/category/stockholm/ for all things Stockholm. Enjoy!