Estonians have a deep relationship with their food. They like to know where it comes from and prefer local products over anything else. This is one of the reasons that Estonian cuisine, whether it's traditional or modern, has such a strong connection with the changing seasons and the land nearby.
The basics of Estonian cooking
Bread has at least three different names in Estonian – that's how serious we are about the loaf. Black rye bread with a thin crispy crust is quite healthy, and you can find a range of different options in all shapes and sizes in local markets. Many restaurants also serve freshly baked bread using their own secret recipes. With a spread of Estonia's famous full-fat salty butter, the local bread is sure to tingle your taste buds.
Alongside bread, other Estonian staples include potatoes and pork. You'll also find quite a few dairy products like cheese, kefir, milk, and yogurt. Additionally, much of Estonia eats lots of fish, with herring being a perennial favorite at restaurants that serve traditional Estonian food.
An ode to pure, fresh, and seasonal
In Estonia, the menu changes with the seasons. Many restaurants and food sellers will change their selections as the temperature shifts. That means the fruits and vegetables change and are preserved throughout the year, while heartier fare and food preserved in the summer and autumn are eaten in the wintertime. These heartier foods come together during the holiday season for Christmas dinner.
Estonians have a specific relationship with food and part of that means knowing where it comes from. The more local, the better. In fact, many Estonians enjoy harvesting their own food. Some people maintain a small garden for themselves to grow vegetables. Likewise, berry and mushroom picking in Estonia is something of a national pastime during the late summer and autumn. Other autumnal ingredients include freshly picked apples, root vegetables, and wild game such as elk. The season also means preserving food for the winter ahead through pickling and canning.
Regional traditions and tastes
With such a deep connection to local ingredients, the taste of Estonian cooking can change a lot depending on where you go. With about 3,800 km of coastline, Estonia offers loads of opportunities for dining next to the sea. In addition to fish, cuisine in Northern Estonia traditionally combines potatoes, barely, and greenhouse-grown produce. In Southern Estonian, you can eat your way around the shores of Lake Peipsi and tour the Onion Route, where you'll find tasty onion-based dishes. The onion pies are not to be missed!
Estonian superfoods
Estonian cuisine, with its international influences, retains a signature character thanks to pure, local elements. These "superfoods" are fresh from the forests and fields, bursting with vitamins, and rich in color. Savor them harvested during peak season, or preserved in traditional jams and juices throughout the rest of the year.
Served simply or dressed up, learn how to prepare original dishes with these superfoods from Estonia's top chefs.
Buckwheat is a wholesome and versatile grain known for its healing properties, and used often in folk medicine.
Blackcurrant, one of the country's most popular berries, is an excellent source of vitamin C. Nordic blueberries have a particularly intense, sweet flavor well suited for healthy desserts. Enjoy the full-bodied flavors and health benefits of these foods.
Estonian drink culture
Local ingredients find their way into Estonian wine, craft beer, and other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
Photo by: Alina BirjukA huge part of Estonian food is the drink culture that goes with it. These days, Estonia has become a hotspot for innovative brewing. As a result, Estonian craft beer can be found almost everywhere in the country, so you're sure to find something that matches your tastes. Alongside beer, you can also try out mõdu which is a honey-based drink similar to mead as well as kali, a kind of low-alcohol root beer.
Along with the heartier drinks, there's a long winemaking tradition in Estonia. Unlike conventional wine, Estonian wines are made from berries, with blackcurrants being a common favorite. What's special about Estonian wine is how well it goes with certain desserts.
The sweeter side of Estonian cuisine
Speaking of desserts, Estonia also has plenty to offer those with a sweet tooth. Estonian desserts include plenty of cakes, pastries, crumbles, and pies made with berries, jam, and chocolate. Additionally, Estonia has its own practice of making chocolate that goes back to the 18th century, based on marzipan. Since then Estonian chocolate has had its own unique tradition and includes varieties you can't find outside of Estonia, such as sweets made with kama.
Affordable gourmet food
International and fusion gourmet food can be enjoyed relatively inexpensively in Estonia, making this a desired destination for foodies. A true five-course gourmet feast in Tallinn can cost half the price of a dinner you'd get in most European capitals. For those who travel for their taste buds, there's something for everyone. The Estonian restaurant scene has embraced fusion cooking in full force, so in addition to new Nordic cooking, you can try innovative modern cuisine.
In 2022, Estonia became the first Baltic country to welcome MICHELIN Guide inspectors. Vegetarians and vegans are in luck as well, with loads of veggie-friendly and veggie-only restaurants that know how to bring out the taste of greens. And for those who want something more medieval, there are quite a few spots where you can try roasted boar or other game meat.
