Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Finland
expect authenticity. This is especially valued by the collectors of glassware, Moomin and Angry Birds products.” Exotic flavors and natural health The Finns have taken care of their health with wild berries and herbs for generations without putting much thought into it. The super berries, lingonberry and bilberry (wild blueberry), have just recently started gaining their foothold internationally, especially in Asia and North America.
Finnish woodlands provide you with nature’s own safe ways of taking care of your well-being, for example with wild berries and nettles. Photo: Saana & Olli
Everything made in Finland
The berries in Finland remain for a large part of the year frozen under the snow, and a couple of months under the midnight sun. These weather conditions have great effects on their health benefits. “We are only now starting to realise how valuable the old know-how of our ancestors is,” explains Peltola. “It is normal for a Finn to keep infections at bay with certain berries that help to ensure the adequate vitamin and mineral levels. Keeping one’s iron levels up with dried nettle rather than popping pills is increasingly becoming the choice of non-Finns, too.”
FromFinland.fi is an online shop for products made in Finland. “There are incredibly interesting stories of why people around the world love a certain Finnish product,” says the founder, Anu Peltola. By Tuomo Paananen
“Our customers make my job exciting and fun. When someone from Tahiti buys sand toys from us, a Finnish web shop, we find it humorous, but most of all we take it as a great compliment. A little bit like having sold high-quality ice to the Eskimos, right?” Peltola laughs.
and smoked fish. She was first introduced to these goodies 35 years ago as a young girl playing in Finland with her band. After 35 years of reminiscing, she incidentally found fromFinland.fi and can now actually enjoy these products she had been missing for years,” says Peltola.
Vodka chocolate and salmiakki – the tastes of Finnish weirdness
Starting out in a sauna
The most popular sweets are, according the the founder, like the Finns themselves: a little bit weird. Salmiakki, or salty liquorice, is a national addiction. Alcoholfilled chocolates are also a traditional part of the Finnish sweets culture.
“In the US, start-ups typically start in a garage. I didn’t have a garage, so my home sauna was the perfect first warehouse for the business. Thankfully, we have moved on to new premises since, and I can enjoy my sauna in the traditional way again,” the owner laughs.
“It’s always fun to learn how people around the globe have found us. We have a customer in Australia, a lovely lady who regularly shops for Fazer Liqueur Fills,
Every product sold at fromFinland.fi must be made in Finland; merely a Finnish name is not enough. “We won’t compromise or make any exceptions. Our clients
The vodka-filled chocolates are also popular outside Finland, especially in the US and South America. Photo: Karl Fazer
The Finnish delicacy salty liquorice (salmiakki) has an exciting and adventurous taste. Photo: Karl Fazer
For more information, please visit: www.fromFinland.fi
Issue 67 | August 2014 | 51