BLUEBERRIES ON BOARD A focus on wellbeing and health is part of Finnair’s unique Nordic experiences, which feature Finnish specialties on board its new fleet of state-of-the-art A350 aircraft. “We want to offer nature’s gifts and the best of Nordic hospitality to our customers,” says Inflight Service Specialist Mirja Uosukainen, who is part of the team that has developed a series of beverages based on blueberries. Finnair’s Blue Sky signature drink blends together Champagne, Lapponia liqueur and blueberries served in an iconic Ultima Thule glass (inspired by melting ice in Lapland) designed by Tapio Wirkkala. Fresh blueberry juice and blueberry smoothies round out the menu’s berry offerings. “Blueberries are so very healthy and part of the super food trend,” says Uosukainen, who is an avid berry picker. “The soul rests in the forest,” she says. “I’m fortunate to have the luxury of being able to step out of my back door and pick blueberries off the bushes,” says Uosukainen, who lives close to the forest on the outskirts of Helsinki.
LASSE SALO
Mirja Uosukainen serves up Finnair’s Blue Sky signature drink.
finnair.com
Lapland The north of Finland is known for its generous yields of cloudberries, which usually ripen in mid-July, early August. lapland.fi/autumn/pickingberries-and-mushrooms
BERRIES WITH BENEFITS Some of the most popular berries in Finland include blueberries, which are full of flavour and packed with vitamins A, B, and C, as well as essential fatty acids such as omega 3 and 6 and antioxidants that help prevent cardiovascular disease. Cloudberries, known as “Lapland’s Gold,” resemble a pale orange version of blackberries. The sweet gems, often used for jams and to accompany cheeses, are full of vitamin C – they contain up to three or four times more than oranges. They are also used in cosmetics, and eating cloudberries is thought by some to provide a secret source of youth.
Sea buckthorn boasts cancer-fighting antioxidants such as carotenoids, flavonoids, and vitamin C (on average, it is estimated that one berry contains 12 times more than an orange), as well as essential amino acids and heart-protecting fatty acids. According to a recent study in Current Medicinal Chemistry it may even help treat Type 2 Diabetes. Lingonberries are an excellent source of vitamin E and are used in desserts such as puddings and cakes or to accompany meat dishes. Other significant Finnish berries include crowberries, cranberries, and wild strawberries. l
MARCH 2016
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