Fika is a Word that Means Coffee

Fika is a word that means coffee.

But fika is a Swedish word that means more than just coffee. It also means coffee break; as in stop what you are doing, relax, drink coffee and talk to a friend. Of course, coffee alone is not really fika. Fika needs carbs like nachos need cheese. So Fika culture is all about baked goods, cinnamon rolls, carrot cake, chocolate-coconut balls, even an open-faced sandwich of local cheese and cucumber will do in a pinch.

Last week Sweden celebrated Kanelbullens Dag. Cinnamon bun day. It is a real thing, every October 4^th. The local grocery store had a huge display of fresh cinnamon rolls, 5 for 25 kroners, about $3. I bought a bag of them for a very happy teenager just coming home from school.

And that is Fika at its best, mid-afternoon, mom and son, talking in the kitchen. How was your day?

Its easily one of my favorite Swedish delights.