What is FIKA?

Would you like to do FIKA?

FIKA is a wonderful Swedish tea custom.

Take a relaxing break with family, friends, colleagues, etc. in the morning or early afternoon while drinking coffee or tea.

Many Swedish companies encourage their employees to take fika twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Fika of 15 minutes x 2 = 30 minutes is paid. What a wonderful habit!

For Swedes, fika is more than just a break, it is an essential tea time to improve the quality of life.

Enjoy conversation over sweets such as cinnamon buns, pastries, and cookies, and enjoy a relaxing moment to the fullest.

coffee to slow down

Swedish American writer Anna Brones, who wrote my favorite recipe book, fika, says this about fika:

" In many places in the world, coffee is often equated with speed. we drink it to wake up, we grab a latte on the go, and if we need an afternoon pick-me-up, we reach for the office coffee pot. "

"In Sweden it's practically the opposite, more commonly representing a pause in the day, a time to slow down. Breaking for coffee is an excuse to enjoy a break from what you're doing; it's important to make time to enjoy life."

Anna Brones & Johanna Kindvall
"fika" The Art of the Swedish Coffee Break
Published by TEN SPEED PRESS

"In many cities around the world, coffee seems to be a drink associated with speed.

For example, you can drink a cup of coffee while rubbing your sleepy eyes to wake up in the morning, grab a take-out latte on the way to work and walk into the office with coffee in a paper cup, or grab a cup of coffee in the afternoon to wake up when you're feeling sleepy. An office coffee pot that will help you...

People often drink coffee to "speed things up."

Coffee in Sweden is the opposite. It has the meaning of taking a break during the day.

Fika is meant to slow you down, not speed you up.

Drinking coffee is a simple way to enjoy a break from whatever work you're doing. Fika symbolizes the importance of making time to enjoy life. ”

Anna Brones & Johanna Kindvall
Excerpt/translation from “fika” The Art of the Swedish Coffee Break

Ska vi fika?

I think coffee is a great way to slow down. When I think about it, coffee seems to be more flavorful and enjoyable than usual.

Swedes often say the phrase "Ska vi fika?" It means "Shall we have some tea?"

It makes me smile when I think about how many people in Sweden say this word every day around 10am and 3pm. Probably around 70% of the total population!

I hope fika will spread in Japan as well.