Source: Visit Estonia
Authentic Estonian food has been influenced by medieval trade routes and seasonal ingredients harvested from the forest and sea. Among the dishes to look for are karask (a centuries-old bread made from barley flour), wild boar and moose, and forest berries and mushrooms.
Coastal cuisine
Estonia has about 3,800 km of coastline and approximately 2,222 islands. Fish has been an important staple food for centuries. Whether fresh, smoked, or salted, fish and fish products enjoy a place of honor on many restaurants' menus.
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Tastes from the forest
Since over half of the country is covered in forests, it's not surprising that many traditional Estonian foods can be found by hunting or foraging. The forests are home to wild boar, moose, and deer. In late summer and autumn, locals grab their buckets and head to the forest to pick mushrooms and wild berries.
Medieval tastes with a local twist
Medieval cuisine in major Estonian towns didn't always reflect local peasant food culture, as it was infused with foreign spices brought in by traders from overseas. But it does represent an important milestone in how Estonian cuisine has formed over the centuries.
