5 February is Runeberg Day, celebrated across Finland with the iconic Runeberg Cakes – a delicious treat that becomes especially popular this time of year.
Johan Ludvig Runeberg (1804–1877), Finland’s national poet, is renowned for his patriotic poetry and works celebrating rural life. His best-known work is The Tales of Ensign Stål (Vänrikki Stoolin tarinat), a collection of poems commemorating the Finnish War. You can find a statue of Runeberg in the heart of Helsinki on Esplanadi, created by his son, Walter Runeberg.
Runeberg cakes were invented by Fredrika Runeberg, the wife of Finland’s national poet. She was also a distinguished writer and the first Finnish historical novel writer.
Made from flour, breadcrumbs, biscuit crumbs, and almonds, these cakes were originally topped with apple jam and icing (nowadays often replaced with raspberry jam). While they may not resemble our Malaysian pastries (Kuih), they offer a unique tasting experience for sweet pastry aficionados – and are certainly a must-try!
If you haven't tasted Runeberg Cakes yet, have a try and see how they compare with our Kuih.
