Fika in Sweden

Living in Asheville, I’ve already been exposed to fika because Liz is our own Fika Girl.  She started a MeetUp Group here in Asheville, so I’ve fika-ed with her and others in the NC, but now that I was in Sweden I was going to get the full-on experience.

I know what you’re thinking, What is this fika thing?  I can’t describe it as well as Liz does, so I’m going to quote her blog:

“FIKA: {Swedish} n,v. an experience of drinking coffee, usually with something sweet to eat. a time to enjoy an intentional cup of coffee with friends, family, or colleagues. An important social part of everyday Swedish culture.

fika is a swedish word that cannot be translated directly to english. don’t go and google translate it. it won’t be right. no verbal or written explanation will quite capture the essence of fika. it is a noun. it is a verb. like i said, it’s a special word. and it must be experienced. only then can you understand the importance and beauty of this un-translatable word.”

My first full day in Sweden, we went into Norrköping and Liz and I had fika at a cute little cafe called, you guessed it, Fika.  We ordered our coffee and apparently it’s not just about the coffee, there are treats too.  At home we typically had buns (cinnamon, vanilla or cardamom), which are pretty much amazing. At Fika there was a whole glass case full of treats to choose from.  I had the weinerbrod and Liz got kladdkaka; her’s was the best!

It was my first Swedish fika and it was wonderful. We took the time to talk, reflect on the fact that we were all in Norrköping and discussed blogging ideas! Ya know, the things bloggers do.

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Now, I know what you’re thinking. Is fika really all that common.  It happens everyday! At work, at home, at camp!  The best example of this that I can show you is from the day that we drove to Gothenburg… We were between 30-45 minutes from Gothenburg and we had to stop for fika! We had fika packed and ready for us!  I have to admit that it’s kinda nice getting out, having a drink and a snack, and enjoying a pretty location.

Photo by Liz

I had some seriously tasty treats, fika-ed at picnic tables, on a rock beside a lake, laying out at the archipelago, in homes and in cafes, and had amazing conversations with incredible people!

Photo by Liz

Fika is a really interesting idea.  I couldn’t come up with a single negative thing about fika, but my third day in, I was talking with a new friend who came to Sweden from the Netherlands, and she had found the negative aspect to fika.  She said that it is an obligation, and sometimes she doesn’t want to take a break at work and have a 30-45 minute break.  This was a really interesting point.  I did skip out on a few fikas to nap or when I was in a blogging-zone, or I was still full from breakfast and I knew lunch was only an hour or two away.  

Even if it is an obligation, it’s one I rarely skipped and every time I had fika I truly enjoyed myself!

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