Souvenir Hunt Winter Edition #3

At home, we rarely consider a trip to the supermarket one of the highlights of the day. But abroad, at least one supermarket visit is planned in the hunt for edible souvenirs to bring home. In winter, too. What should you not miss from each winter sports country? FavorFlav scours the shelves.

Today, we return from snow-sure Finland/Lapland with

1. Smoked reindeer and elk.

Okay, much of the stuff we lug home from abroad is now often available in our country too. But it’s still fun to bring it back from its country of origin. Even if only for the memories. Difficult, though not impossible, to buy here are smoked and dried reindeer and elk. To snack on with number 2:

2. Finnish dark rye bread.

The most popular variety is reikäleipa, which translates as ‘bread with a hole’. That hole was used to hang the bread from the wooden ridge of a Finnish house. Finnish expats can crave this hearty rye bread so much in their new home country that they have it sent by post. So you’d better bring some back. Or otherwise get the multifunctional cracker version, näkkileipä, from the Finn Crisp brand.

3. Salmiakki (salty licorice).

Finns are just like the Dutch: crazy about salty licorice. The tiny, intensely salty licorice pieces come in decorative boxes, but also in licorice chocolate, licorice liqueur and licorice vodka. Forgot to bring some home? The Danish chain Flying Tiger sells the beautiful Salmiakki boxes in our country, at least.