Five classic foods to try in Estonia

Have you had a kohuke or kiluvõileib? How about kefir with kama? Tickle your taste buds with these popular Estonian foods.

Ann Vaida

Tour guide at Tallinn Traveller Tours

When you ask an Estonian what foods you should try, the answer is usually sauerkraut, jellied meat, and blood sausage.

Besides these superstars of Estonian cuisine, many delicious things fly under the radar – some loved by tourists, others only understood by locals.

Here are five classic foods to try during your trip.

1. Kiluvõileib – sprat sandwich

Despite its suspect appearance, kiluvõileib is delicious. Sometimes, it’s served with a boiled egg; sometimes, the fish and egg are mixed together to form a spread. Estonians take their sprat sandwiches seriously, serving them on all special occasions, from weddings and funerals to birthdays and New Year’s Eve.

The sprat sandwich is popular in Slavic cuisine, but it has its roots right here – the Baltic Sea is full of sprats!

sprats with boiled egg and dill on rye bread, kiluvõileib

Photo author: Caroly Rohela, Visit Pärnu

2. Kohuke – curd snack

Kohuke is freshly pressed sweet curd (kohupiim in Estonian) covered in chocolate. While plain curd covered in chocolate is a classic, they come in a variety of flavors, such as strawberry, caramel, coconut, lemon, and more. They're available in grocery stores and make for a tasty treat while you're on the go.

Kohuke is popular throughout the Baltics. These little things actually don't have much of a history – they're about 70 years old and were something of a cult food during the Soviet occupation.

kohuke curd dessert on a plate with strawberries

Photo author: Mariann Liimal

3. Mulgipuder – potato and groats porridge

Hearty mulgipuder is a traditional Estonian food from Mulgimaa. In the past, it was only served on important holidays, but these days, it's no longer linked to specific celebrations and is served on any occasion. It's also one of the few Estonian foods not adopted from other cuisines, which is one of the reasons it was added to the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2024.

This fancy porridge is typically served with bacon and sour cream. Your best chance of finding it in Tallinn is at the Estonian Open Air Museum at the museum's tavern. Otherwise, head to Mulgimaa and look for it in a local restaurant.

Mulgi porridge, traditional Estonian food

Photo author: Kolu Kõrts, Open Air Museum

4. Kama desserts

Kama is technically not a dessert but an ingredient often used in desserts. It's a mix of different flour, usually barley, rye, oat, and pea. Kama, like many Estonian foods, emerged because a lack of ingredients made people imaginative. After using all the different grains, they would mix the leftovers together. It doesn't spoil and can be turned into a snack within seconds.

The traditional way to eat kama is with sour milk, such as buttermilk or kefir. Estonian chefs have started to incorporate kama into all sorts of different desserts, like the one made with cranberry jelly and whipped cream in the photo.

Traditional Estonian kama dessert with cranberry jam

Photo author: Johannes Hoimoja

5. Black bread

Black bread plays a significant role in Estonian culture. There are many superstitions, traditions, and old sayings about bread here. For example, you shouldn’t slice a new loaf in the evening, or it will shrink, though this saying has become obsolete with the introduction of pre-sliced bread. Also, if you drop your slice of bread, you shouldn’t throw it away – you should pick it up, kiss it, and then continue eating.

In recent years, baking homemade black bread has become popular. And we don’t just make plain rye loaves – we add imaginative ingredients like berries, raisins, seeds, bacon… pretty much anything can be thrown in to make it taste even more wonderful!