Part-time web editor for VisitSweden in the UK and full-time coffee and cake connoisseur. After nearly 15 years in London I now live in Dubai and spend my time working on VisitSweden's website and social media channels, trying out as many cafes as possible while exploring the region and writing about my experiences.
I was first introduced to the art of 'fika' by my Mother. As a good Swede she loves her coffee or 'kaffe' as we say in Sweden. Well my Mum being from up north says 'kafffffffe' with seven fs.
Mum would have an almost sacred cup of coffee every morning and at the age of five or six I regularly demanded a tiny bit of coffee in my burgundy cup with golden borders. I then filled the cup up with milk and added three sugar cubes to get the perfect cup of 'kaffe'.
However, Mum tells me started even earlier. At a very young age I wanted to drink my gruel or hot milk the same way my grandfather drank his coffee, 'på bit', which means you pop a sugar cube in your mouth and drink your coffee through the sugar. Nice.
While probably disastrous for my teeth it introduced me to the wonderful tradition of 'fika', to take a break, have a coffee and a piece of cake.
