How about kohuke or kiluvõileib? Or kama? Eager to find out what it means? Then read this story written by Ann Vaida, a tour guide at Tallinn Traveller Tours.
Most Estonian foods originate from somewhere else. Estonia has adopted foods from Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Russia, and God knows where else, maybe even Narnia. The issue is that the process of adaptation largely stopped once potatoes and meat were acquired. Estonian foods are simple, seasonal, and made with locally sourced ingredients. As Estonians were peasants during serfdom, traditional foods were born out of throwing things together because there was simply nothing else to eat.
When you ask an Estonian what foods you should try, the answer is usually sauerkraut, jellied meat, and blood sausage. Yes, Estonian foods sound so dark it seems like every day is Halloween. Besides these superstars of the Estonian kitchen, there’s an undiscovered bunch of weird and delicious things out there – some loved by tourists, others only understood by locals.
Here’s a list of Estonian foods that don’t often get a mention.
1. Kiluvõileib – Sprat Sandwich
A greyish fish on a slice of dark bread doesn’t look all that appetising, but 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 an awkward-looking sauce. Estonians take their sprat sandwiches seriously, serving them on any and every occasion from weddings and funerals to birthdays and New Year’s Eve.
The sprat sandwich is popular in Slavic cuisine, but it got its roots right here – the Baltic Sea is full of sprats! Estonia even made the world’s longest sprat sandwich, a very random accomplishment that’s probably not something to be super proud of… Finding a sprat sandwich isn’t that difficult – some bakeries offer it and you’ll also find it on the menu at some local restaurants.
2. Kohuke – Curd Snack
Kohuke is basically freshly pressed sweet curd covered in chocolate or caramel. There are plain as well as flavoured varieties filled with things like berries, chocolate, coconut, and kiwifruit. Estonia even has a bread-flavoured kohuke – don't get this one, it has an acquired taste!
Kohuke is popular throughout the Baltic countries and can be found in Russia and other Eastern-European states as well. 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. They disappeared as soon as they hit the shelves of Soviet stores in the 50s due to constant shortage, but that's a whole other story.
3. Mulgipuder – Potato and Groats Porridge
Mulgipuder is the most peasanty Estonian food you could possibly find. In the past, it was only served on important holidays at the kitchen tables of peasants, but these days it's no longer linked to celebrations and is served without any specific occasion. It's also one of the very few Estonian foods that are not adapted from other cuisines.
This fancy porridge is typically served with bacon (yup, delicious). You can find it at some restaurants in Tallinn, but you'll have to hunt for it. If you're into peasant life, visit the Estonian Open Air Museum at Rocca Al Mare, look around for a bit, and end your trip with a lovely mulgipuder at the Museum's tavern.
4. Kama Desserts
Kama is not translatable and technically not a dessert, but rather an ingredient sometimes used in desserts. It's actually a mix of different flours – 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 simply 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, but you wouldn't want to do that because it's like drinking sand with sour milk. Oddly enough, we are really proud of this invention. Recently, chefs in Tallinn have started to incorporate kama into all sorts of different desserts.
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