Autumn for foodies
Autumn in Finland typically starts in September and lasts until November. It is a beautiful and colorful season that transitions the country from the warmth of summer to the coldness of winter. One of the most remarkable aspects of Finnish autumn is the breathtaking display of colors as the leaves change transforming the green landscapes into vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow.
Autumn is also the season of harvest in Finland, and you’ll find an abundance of fresh, local produce. Marketplaces are filled with a variety of fruits, vegetables and berries. Popular Finnish autumnal treats include lingonberries, cloudberries, mushrooms, and various root vegetables. As the weather cools, the popularity of stew and game dishes also increases.
Everyman’s rights
In Finland we have this concept called “Everyman’s Rights”, which means that people have certain freedoms to enjoy and access nature. These rights are deeply rooted in Finnish tradition and are strictly protected.
Thanks to the everyman’s rights, people are allowed to camp and use campfire sites, do fishing, and pick flowers, berries and mushrooms straight from the forest. Autumn is especially the golden time for mushroom picking, as the woods are filled with many delicious mushrooms, such as chanterelle, which can be used in various mushroom treats and sides.
Try these restaurants
Steak restaurant El Toro
Taivaanranta restaurant
Pincho Nation
Malskin Bistro
Must try drinks for cold season
Afternoon tea
The tea house culture has finally arrived in Finland and Lahti. Tea houses offer a cozy and inviting atmosphere for people to relax, socialize, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. Try Kaarlo Social’s special Afternoon Tea from Tuesday to Saturday at 4pm to 7pm. Travel a little further and visit Radalla Resort for an atmospheric Afternoon Tea.
Autumnal drinks
As the evenings get colder and darker, sit down and enjoy a variety of autumnal drinks. Warming or refreshing, you name it! Get the best cocktails in town at You & Me + Cocktails or Bar Kohde, where you might even feel like in a jungle.
Warming coffee
Cooler days call for warm coffee! Kahiwa Coffee Roasters is an award-winning coffee roastery accompanied by an atmospheric café and bakery. The bakery is known for their artisanal bread and delicious almond croissants. Have a cup of incredible coffee and continue to the museum of visual arts Malva in the same building.
Remarkable wines
Autumn is the season for berry picking in Finland. Ainoa Winery is a local, award-winning winery that produces wines from Finnish berries and other high-quality ingredients from the forest. Visit them for wine tasting or buy a bottle to take home. Other places to enjoy a glass of wine in Lahti are Wine Café Olavi, Popot, Taivaanranta, and Trattoria.
Harvesting
In Finland, the harvesting festival, also called “Kekri” is celebrated in the time between 31 October to 6 November. The purpose of the festival is to celebrate the end of the harvest season and hard work done in the summer. Nowadays, the harvest festival is a mix of Halloween and All Saints’ Day celebrations but is still a good reason to enjoy autumn treats and the agricultural products.
Don’t forget to try these in autumn
Crayfish
August is the golden season for traditional crayfish parties. Crayfish are enjoyed on top of a toast with various side dishes, such as dill, sour cream, onion, and roe. The crayfish parties gather friends and family together to enjoy delicious food, cold drinks, and singing traditional crayfish songs. In Lahti, crayfish can be bought from the central market hall.
Local oats
Fazer, operating in Lahti, has inspired several oat-based products that support further processing of oats to, for example, xylitol. In addition, we have several small local producers who process oats and other grain products for use by local bakeries, such as Kinnarilan tila. Enjoy fresh oat porridge for breakfast in Café Asemapäällikkö or Café Oskari.
Cinnamon bun
The 4th of October is a whole day dedicated to cinnamon buns! The traditional delicacy of the Finnish coffee table deserves to be celebrated, as this cinnamon-flavored treat is one of a kind. Available in cafes around the region, such as Café Kariranta, Vaarin kahvila, Espresso House, and Café Oskari.
Blueberry pie
Finnish forest berries are a real superfood – Goji berries from the northern hemisphere! In Finland, anyone can go into the forest and pick up juicy blueberries growing everywhere. Blueberries are used in one of our favorite pastries, the wonderful blueberry pie accompanied by vanilla sauce. Find this treat from local cafes!
The Grayest Day of the Year
In recent years, Finland has started, somewhat ironically, to celebrate the Grayest Day of the Year in late November. The Grayest Day of the Year was launched by Hartwall, a major brewery from Lahti, which produces – gray – gin-based Long Drink, “lonkero”. Lonkero was first launched at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952 and was supposed to be served only there. However, the Finns fell in love with their grapefruit-flavored drink so much that it is still produced and has earned its own celebrations. Get your gray clothes and join us in celebrating this special national holiday!
Lunches, dinners and local flavours
Local flavours
The local bakeries, farmers’ markets, farms, mills that grind fresh flour and breweries all produce clean and fresh ingredients. Take these treats home with you!