Sweden | Fika Time

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If there’s a bakery in my midst, I’ll find it.  Bread is, hands down, my favorite food type – and the exquisite aroma of fresh baked bread has led me into pâtisseries in France, panaderías in Spain, panificios in Italy – and into this delightful bageriet in Sandhamn, Sweden.

I followed my nose (and, yes, the hand-painted sign) to Sandhamn’s one and only bakery.

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The sun went under a cloud and rain fell, as my significant other and I queued up with the locals who were stopping for their morning fika – that’s Swedish for coffee break. 

I stood on tiptoe to try to peek inside.  Significant Other gave me the “stand still” look.  (I get excited about these things.)

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Once we got close, I couldn’t help but notice the charming enameled sign posted next to the door – I’m a sucker for great graphics and they’re everywhere in Sweden. 

The bakery’s name is followed by the subtitle, “bröd kultur.”

Bread culture. 

I knew I liked this place.

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Inside, the bageri was every bit as charming as I knew it would be. The cozy space had walls painted fresh minty green, a glossy white ceiling, and a pink and white checked floor. 

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Rosy-cheeked girls in white t-shirts and ticking striped aprons looked like they had stepped out of a J Crew ad. 

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The highlight was, of course, the awe-inspiring baked goods, which were artistically displayed on every surface.

Rows of tiny fruit tarts, fresh out of the oven, lay cooling on the marble counter.

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Inside glass cases were tarts filled with apples, and almonds, and all manner of sugar-y sweet treats.

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Tiny cakes dusted with snowy sugar were assembled atop a cake stand.

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Arranged on another cake stand were golden “raspberry caves” – little cakes filled with raspberry jam.

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And let’s not forget the kanelbullar – Sweden’s famous cinnamon buns.  Some are flavored with cardamom, others filled with custard…

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…but my personal favorite is the classic cinnamon twist, always sprinkled with crystals of coarse sugar.  (That’s mine in the first photo of the post.)

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Behind the counter were shelves and baskets of crusty bread in a variety of shapes and sizes.

I satisfied my craving by taking photographs of all.

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When I finally emerged from the bakery with my kanelbullar and coffee in hand, the sun had come out.

I joined Significant Other among the locals, at one of the tables outside the bakery – close enough to go back in for seconds. 

Which I did.

I love fika time.

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One response to “Sweden | Fika Time”

  1. Christi

    Nothing beats the aroma of freshly baked bread…and to be led into such a gem of a shop!  What could be better?  Loved this post!