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FOOD AND DRINK

Cinnamon Bun Day: Six sticky facts about Sweden’s beloved bun

On October 4th, Swedes celebrate National Cinnamon Bun Day in honour of their favourite sweet treat. But what's the history of the pastry and its special day?

A smiling child eats a Swedish cinnamon bun
Just another manic bun day! Photo: Susanne Walström/imagebank.sweden.se

1. The bun has been around since the 1920s…

The modern cinnamon bun (kanelbulle) was created after the First World War. Although Sweden remained neutral during the four-year conflict, heavy restrictions were put on the import of several goods such as sugar, egg and butter as the country prepared for potential combat.

In the 1920s these products eventually returned to shelves and cinnamon buns began to appear in cafés and bakeries across the country. But the spicy ingredients – cinnamon and cardamom – were expensive and not everyone could afford to munch on the sweet rolls.

2. … but did not become popular until the 1950s

In the mid-20th century more cash was trickling into the Swedes’ pockets, mattresses and bank accounts, as a result of the Nordic country’s booming economy, and the average Swedish household suddenly found itself able to splurge on the pricey cinnamon bun ingredients.

While Sweden today may be at the forefront of breaking down gender walls and crushing glass ceilings, in the 1950s the housewife trend was still alive and well and the popularity of home-baked goods rose. 

3. Its official ‘birthday’ is a relatively modern creation

The tradition of National Cinnamon Bun Day (October 4th) is not all that old.

It was invented in 1999 when Sweden’s Hembakningsrådet (Home Baking Council) tried to think of ways to celebrate the organisation’s 40th anniversary. Perfectly gauging the tastes of a nation, it announced the introduction of an annual feast day.

“We found that the cinnamon bun was the best symbol for Swedish home baking. I don’t think there are any Swedes who don’t like them,” its project manager Birgit Nilsson Bergström told The Local back in 2007.

READ ALSO: Seven delicious dates in the Swedish calendar

4. It’s an essential part of Swedish fika

The cinnamon bun is a staple diet of the Swedish fika tradition. If you’ve lived in Sweden for more than five minutes you are hereby given permission to skip this bit of the article – we bet you are well aware of this social institution.

While the French have their wine and the British their tea, in Sweden people stop what they’re doing to have a fika at least once a day, often twice. This almost sacred tradition designates a moment to savour a cup of coffee and eat something sweet (very often a cinnamon bun), and it is factored into most people’s daily schedules whether they are at home, at work or running errands.

Thanks to a separate obsession with exercise, most Swedes avoid piling on the kilos at the same time.

READ ALSO: Seven reasons to love autumn in Sweden

5. It’s becoming trendy worldwide

The fika tradition, and the cinnamon bun along with it, has gone global, thanks to a growing amount of interest in Sweden abroad.

A number of cafés offering Swedish-style cinnamon buns and black-as-the-night coffee have popped up around the world in the past decade, including London, New York, Toronto, Australia and Singapore.

“Sweden is very trendy right now, and since fika is a Swedish tradition that makes it even more cool,” Swede Anna Brones – co-author of the book Fika: The Art of the Swedish Coffee Break published in the US in 2015 – told The Local that year

6. But the tradition is more controversial than you might think

Despite being known for their generally active and outdoorsy lifestyle, the Swedes have a sweet tooth that extends not only to cinnamon buns. According to the Swedish National Food Agency, the average Swede eats on average 37 kilo added sugar a year.

In an opinion piece translated by The Local in May 2015, medical student Haroon Bayani called on the Swedes to give up on their adored fika breaks to combat rising obesity figures.

“Just as in the 1950s when social norms dictated that smoking was ‘natural’, now these sugar-filled obesity-inducing cake breaks are completely acceptable,” he wrote, suggesting that cakes and buns be replaced with nuts or fruit.

So far few seem keen to abandon their beloved cinnamon buns.

Have we convinced you to try to make your own Swedish cinnamon buns? Try The Local’s favourite recipe by food writer John Duxbury.

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FOOD AND DRINK

Five budget-friendly bars for a night out in Malmö

For Eurovision visitors, students or anyone else looking to have a good evening without breaking the bank, Malmö has plenty of pubs – which is good news for beer drinkers, as alcohol is famously expensive in Sweden.

Five budget-friendly bars for a night out in Malmö

Most of these are around the Möllan neighbourhood, which is more or less the centre of the city’s nightlife.

A general tip if you’re buying a beer anywhere in Sweden and aren’t too bothered about the exact one you get is to order a stor stark, literally a “big strong one”. These are usually half a litre of beer at around 5.5 percent ABV, so bear that in mind if that’s more than what you’re used to.

Nobes

Technically known as Gamle Nobes Bodega, everyone in Malmö calls it Nobes. Originally opened in 1937, Nobes is the closest you’re going to get to a British-style pub or German Bierhalle, with its tiled floor and rustic dark wooden décor.

As far as food is concerned, Nobes has some of the best traditional Swedish food in Malmö, with its kålpudding cabbage casserole, served with gravy, potatoes, pickled cucumber and lingonberry jam a must (it’s better than it sounds, we promise).

They have a dart board and sometimes have live music, and you can choose from a range of draft or bottled beers, ciders and wines.

Expect to pay a minimum of 60 kronor for a beer and around 160 kronor for food.

Address: Kristianstadsgatan 36

Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 2pm-midnight, Fri 2pm-1am, Sat noon-1am and Sun noon-midnight

Ölkaféet

This is one of the most popular pubs in the Möllan neighbourhood, and that’s not just because it’s the unofficial supporters bar of the local football team, Malmö FF.

They’re cheap and cheerful, with reasonably priced pub grub, a heated outdoor seating area with views over the Möllan square and football matches on the TV, if that’s your kind of thing.

They even have a small library, a gallery wall with works by local artists, and board games like backgammon, checkers and chess, which you can borrow.

If there are no seats (it can get busy on the weekend), Vegan Bar next door is a good alternative, even for non-vegans.

A standard 50cl beer (veckans öl or “beer of the week”, despite the fact it hasn’t changed in years) costs around 65 kronor, with a burger costing around 140 kronor.

Address: Södra Skolgatan 43 – or just walk to the Möllevångstorget square and look for the bright blue awnings.

Opening hours: All days 10am-1am

Rex Pizzeria

Rex, on Nobelvägen, is probably the best example of a classic Swedish pizzeria that you can find in Malmö.

A warning: leave any expectation of Italian-style pizzas at the door, as Rex is firmly in the Swedish-style fulpizza category.

Their pizzas, such as the Tropicana, with cheese, tomato, ham, banana and curry powder, almost make a Hawaiian pizza look tame – although you can get more normal pizza toppings too if banana and curry is a bit too wild for you. They also have vegetarian and vegan options, for groups with allergies or other dietary restrictions.

Pizzas aside, Rex is also a popular pub with cheap drinks, shuffleboard and pool tables, and a nice outdoor serving area in summer. They often host quizzes, standup or other entertainment in their event room in the basement.

Beers cost around 60 kronor and pizzas range from 70 to 140 kronor.

Address: Nobelvägen 107

Opening hours: Tues-Sat 11am-1am, Sun-Mon 11am-11pm

Azalee

If you’re looking for a cheap bar which also provides the evening’s entertainment, Azalee’s your best bet.

This bar is a bizarre mix of casino, karaoke bar and pub, and an evening of karaoke here is equally as entertaining whether you’re getting up on stage yourself or just listening to the other guests get progressively worse at singing as the night goes on.

They offer classic pub fare at around 150-200 kronor and reasonably priced drinks.

Address: Claesgatan 8

Opening hours: Weds-Tors 4pm-1am, Fre-Sat 4pm-3am

Karaoke: Weds and Thurs, 8pm-1am, Friday and Saturday 8pm-3am

Blackjack Weds-Sat 6pm-close

Entry fee: 50kr after 11pm on weekends

Lion Bar

The picturesque Lilla Torg area of Malmö is not known for being cheap, but Lion Bar (a national chain) is an exception, offering a 40cl beer for under 40kr.

Food wise, they offer standard pub grub – nachos, buffalo wings, mozzarella sticks, burgers and so on – with deals on some food items.

Unsurprisingly, the prices rise if you stray from the special offers, particularly if ordering cocktails or wine.

Address: Landbygatan 4

Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 3pm-midnight, Fri-Sat 3pm-1am

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