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 traditional 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 the Estonian kitchen, 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 lack of beauty, kiluvõileib is amazingly 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! Finding a sprat sandwich isn’t that difficult – some cafés offer it, and you’ll also find it on the menu at local restaurants.

sprats with boiled egg and dill on rye bread, kiluvõileib

Source: 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 and can be found in Russia and other Eastern European countries. 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 regime.

kohuke curd dessert on a plate with strawberries

Source: Mariann Liimal

3. Mulgipuder – potato and groats porridge

Hearty mulgipuder is a throwback food from rural Estonia, Mulgimaa to be exact. 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 adapted from other cuisines.

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 puder and Mulgi korp from a food truck near Viljandi

Source: @diand2, Visit Viljandi

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 go bad and can be made into a snack within seconds.

The traditional way to eat kama is with sour milk (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.

Source: 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 more 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!