Terhific Recommendation on Five Fabulous Finnish Things

Made in Finland

Finnish candy in Finnish Maribowls

 

When I walk around our house I see Finnish things everywhere. Moomin characters and Marimekko's Unikko bedsheets make my daughter's room cozy. At this time of year our living room is just filled with Finnish Christmas items such as elves, Santa Claus figures and ornaments. But it is in the kitchen and the dining room where I feel the connection to Finland the most throughout the year. When I set our dining table with Finnish table cloths, dishes and silverware, I feel very homey. None of these items are worth much, but yet they are among my most priced possessions.

It is exciting to see that few Finnish items are now available through Amazon. The following items are Terhific!

1. Moomin Mug - Love

Pros: Whether you know the Moomin characters or not, the images of this mug will tell the whole story. If you hand this mug to someone, you are handing pure love to them. Each night, I pass this mug to the person who has been the nicest that day at our house.  These mugs are made by Arabia in Finland. The quality is great and the mug can last a life time or two. Moomin mugs are now so popular in Finland that they have become collectible items. Cons: None, but some prefer larger size mugs.

2. Iittala Maribowl - Light Blue

Pros: Did you know that Finnish glass is stunning, bold and beautiful? These Maribowls come handy when ever I have some little things to add into the table. For example, candies, berries or little cookies look great in these bowls. Quality of these bowls is top notch. Maribowls have been around for many years in Finland, but recently they have become popular again. Maribowls are available in many colors and at least two sizes. Cons: None.

3. Karl Fazer Milk Chocolate Bar, 200g

Pros: You've got to try Finnish chocolate at least once in your life time! Karl Fazer has been making this chocolate since 1891! It melts in your mouth! Cons: Calories.

4. Full/Queen Duvet Set (Marimekko Unikko Orange)

Pros: Marimekko is well know for it's bold and colorful designs. Marimekko's classic Unikko pattern in modern colors looks just great. These bed sheets come in many colors. I picked this one as an example as I want one! My daughter's bed has the classic red Unikko sheets. I have washed these sheets many times and the color does not fade. The quality is wonderful. Cons: If you prefer a less bold print, take a look at other Marimekko designs.

5. Kuksa, Kupilka Cup and Bowl

Pros: This list would not be complete, if there wasn't at least one wooden item in it. Thus, I picked Kuksa. Kuksa is an ancient artifact from Lapland, Finland. Originally kuksas were made out of wood, but this innovative Finnish company, Kupilka, makes theirs from Natural FiberComposites Material. If you like to camp and spend time in the nature, a kuksa can be really handy. You can use it as a cup for any drinks and as a bowl for soups and other foods. Kuksa never feels cold against your lips even in really cold temperatures. Cons: Based on the reviews, some people do not like the spoon that comes with this kit.

Here are a few other places that sell Finnish things here in the United States:

• Finn Style is my favorite place to shop for all things Finnish.
• Marimekko sells design items both online and with a few stores gathered around the country.
• Crate and Barrel stores have Marimekko shops within their shops.
• Banana Republic sells or will soon sell clothes in Marimekko designs
• World Market and Fresh and Easy sell Finn Crisps (Hapankorppuja). World Market also carries Finnish liqorice (Panda Lakritsia) 

Do any of you other Finns have anything to add to my list? I welcome comments and additions!

Let me know if I inspired you to include something Finnish in your holiday shopping list. It would also be lovely to hear about your favorite Finnish things.