Fika Time Meaning?


Fika Time Meaning
A relaxing coffee and cake break – Fika is often translated as “a coffee and cake break”, which is kind of correct, but really it is much more than that. Fika is a concept, a state of mind, an attitude and an important part of Swedish culture. Many Swedes consider that it is almost essential to make time for fika every day.

  1. It means making time for friends and colleagues to share a cup of coffee (or tea) and a little something to eat.
  2. Fika cannot be experienced at your desk by yourself.
  3. That would just be taking coffee and cake.
  4. Fika is a ritual.
  5. Even the mighty Volvo plant stops for fika,
  6. All Swedes consider it important to make time to stop and socialise: to take a pause.

It refreshes the brain and strengthens relationships. And it makes good business sense: firms have better teams and are more productive where fika is institutionalised. Fika can be a verb. Swedes will say to each other, “Let’s go and fika !” or “You and I fika together so well”.

  1. Exactly what you eat during fika is not really important.
  2. The food is incidental to the companionship, the socialising and catching up with friends and colleagues.
  3. But whatever food you choose for fika it should be fresh and well presented.
  4. Ideally it should be homemade.
  5. Many team leaders in Sweden consider it important to regularly bake something at home to take into work for fika,

Often fika is enjoyed by candlelight, even if it is in an office or the corner of a factory. It’s all about slowing down and finding time for friends and colleagues, whilst you sip a drink and enjoy something small to eat. Candlelight helps!

Why is it called fika?

In Food History 101, we’re hitting the books – to explore the who, what, when, where, and why of what we eat today. Today: The history of Sweden’s long relationship with coffee. Whether hot, iced, or doused in cream, coffee provides an essential jolt to many a morning routine. While we often enjoy the beverage at the same time each day (and, for many, at repeated intervals throughout), the American coffee ritual is largely one of convenience and efficiency: to-go cups and mid-commute slurps.

  1. Undoubtedly, the recent rise in artisanal coffee production and bean-to-cup enthusiasts may have encouraged more of an appreciation for “coffee shop culture,” but we’ve got nothing on the ritualized drinking habits of the Swedes.
  2. In Sweden, the coffee break holds an exalted status with a special name: “Fika” (pronounced fee-ka).

The word is an inverted syllable slang term derived from “kaffi,” the 19th century word for coffee. Whether used as a noun or a verb, (one can “fika” or take part in “fika”), it describes the institution of social coffee consumption, most often accompanied by a snack of sorts. While Swedes are avid coffee drinkers today, the country’s history with the beverage is not such a simple one. Originally introduced in the mid-17th century, coffee didn’t gain popularity until the early 18th century, where it became the beverage de rigueur among the society elite.

However, King Gustav III, the reigning monarch at the time, was strongly opposed to coffee; he disapproved of its importation as a luxury good, convinced of its negative health effects and paranoid that coffee shop gatherings brewed anti-monarch sentiments. He worked tirelessly to eliminate the beverage by heavily taxing it, fining citizens who consumed it, and even confiscating coffee cups and dishes.

Ultimately, coffee was outlawed, but the King continued his crusade against it, ordering a twin study of its negative effects to be carried out by court-appointed doctors. A set of twins was summoned, both criminals who had previously been condemned to death.

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How long is a fika break?

Fika at work – At many working places, fika is part of the regular daily schedule. In the morning a fika at 10:00 and in the afternoon at 15:00 is not uncommon. For you sweet little new-Swede, that means two 10 – 30 minutes-extra breaks, called fikarast or fikapaus,

  • When everyone gathers in the meeting room, you better stop working and join the group.
  • You won’t get any extra points from your boss when you pretend you have no time for a break, because your work is just too important.
  • Among the consensus-oriented Swedes, fika is a great way to exchange knowledge, opinions about what’s going on in the company, and generally bond with your colleagues.

Resulting in better productivity for the company and better wellbeing for each employee. Fika Time Meaning Swedes spend in total 9,5 days each year having fika

What does fika fika mean?

Fika Time Meaning What is Swedish Fika? Fika is a coffee break — Swedish style. Swedes have periods of Fika throughout the day to help them refresh their minds and make the most of the day. Commonly, Fika just translates to “coffee and cake,” but it’s a lot more for most Swedes.

Fika is a state of mind, a crucial part of Swedish culture, and a must-have part of any day. Fika isn’t just about stocking up on caffeine. This mini-break focuses more on the importance of making time for friends, family, and colleagues in your everyday life. You can’t enjoy Fika at your desk on your own just because you have cake and coffee.

Crucially, however, you can still have Fika with a sandwich and a cup of tea. The idea is you’re having a moment of socialization and relaxation with something which nourishes your body. It’s all about feeding the body and the soul.

Is fika a real word?

The word ‘fika’ is used as both a noun and a verb, and is derived from the Swedish word for coffee (kaffe), a national obsession for the world’s third-largest coffee drinking nation. Unlike the American-style caffeine jolt, the Swedish coffee break is a moment to literally leave work behind.

Why do Swedes only eat candy on Saturdays?

Fika Time Meaning A customer in a candy store in Stockholm, 1946. Francis Reiss/Getty Images In 1946, at a mental hospital outside of Lund, Sweden, researchers forced a group of patients to ingest 24 pieces of a sticky, light brown substance in a single day. These severely disabled patients were involuntary participants in a long-term study commissioned by the state medical board in cooperation with big industry, and this coerced feeding would continue for three years.

The four to six doses that they consumed four times a day over that time were in some ways sweeter than their typical medicines—but also more troubling. No benefit to the patient was ever expected. Rather, the goal was to measure the damage inflicted by the substance over time and determine a dosage safe for public consumption.

The ruinous “treatment” in question was a caramel candy. The corporate underwriters were sugar, chocolate, and candy companies. And the effects of the so-called Vipeholm experiments still reverberate today. In fact, one direct result has become a lasting—even beloved—part of Swedish culture. Fika Time Meaning Candy for sale in Helsingborg, Sweden. Håkan Dahlström/CC BY 2.0 Once a week, Swedes are given a free pass to indulge in all the gummies, chocolates, and salty liquorice their Nordic hearts desire. (Non-Nordic hearts will most likely take a pass on the salty liquorice.) However, few Swedes standing in line at the supermarket to collect pick-and-mix candy on Saturday morning know that their weekly indulgence has its origins in the sustained mistreatment of 660 psychiatric patients.

Is fika a law in Sweden?

Is this the sweet secret to Swedish success? (Image credit: Getty Images ) Fika Time Meaning Fika, a Swedish custom where people gather to eat, drink, and talk, is a welcome workplace tradition in the country. But, as Elizabeth Hotson finds, it’s catching on around the world. I In Sweden, it’s obligatory to eat coffee and cake. No, really. At many companies it’s mandatory for all workers, from Malmo to Stockholm, to have a designated time during the day to sit down and do fika.

  1. Fika — which roughly translates from Swedish as drinking coffee, munching sweet treats and chatting — is as much a part of the working day in Sweden as emailing and fixing the printer.
  2. It’s deeply ingrained in our culture.” said Matts Johansson, founder of Da Matteo, a coffee chain based in Gothenburg.
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“Most Swedes have fika several times a day, whether it’s at the weekend or during the week. It’s about spending time with people, eating lovely homemade baked goods and drinking great coffee. It’s like going to the pub in other countries.” Many Swedish firms have mandatory fika breaks and employees are given free hot drinks. Fika Time Meaning Sweet treats and coffee are a fika staple (Credit:Flickr/Andreas Ivarsson/CC BY 2.0) There isn’t a caffeine index as such, but the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) does publish productivity data. Analysing productivity by employee in 38 countries, 2014 data reveal Sweden comes in at a respectable number 11.

  1. Sweden’s coffee-quaffing neighbour Norway is the second most productive nation, behind champs Luxembourg, while the workhorses of the US are fourth.
  2. Long-lunching France is seventh — far ahead of Japan (20th) and Korea (30th), two countries known for long work hours.
  3. Going global Coffee breaks are so important to the Swedish that even the country’s mega-brand, Ikea,has a paragraph about on its corporate website: “More than a coffee break, fika is a time to share, connect and relax with colleagues.

Some of the best ideas and decisions happen at fika.” Andreas Astrom, from the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce, agrees. “Swedish management style differs to most other countries. It’s flat and not very hierarchical,” Astrom said. “When you have flat structures it’s important to listen to everyone and through the communal nature of fika, chatting between employees and management is encouraged.

What do Swedes eat during fika?

What do you eat for fika? – Cinnamon buns are a favourite sweet treat for fika in Sweden. But if cinnamon spice isn’t your thing, then choose from a variety of other baked goods. Think cakes, cookies, chocolate balls, and simple open-faced sandwiches – all acceptable additions to your cup of coffee.

Enjoy fika for yourself on a Sweden holiday

Fika Time Meaning Fika in the garden ©Clive Tompsett – imagebank.sweden.se

How often do Swedes fika?

Don’t Miss A Drop – Get the latest in beer, wine, and cocktail culture sent straight to your inbox. Nowadays, the Swedes generally take two fika breaks a day: once in the mid-morning, and again around 3 p.m. The word fika actually derives from the 19th-century slang word for coffee, kaffi.

Why do Swedes drink so much coffee?

Fika Time Meaning Winters in Sweden are long and dark. Long winter darkness may lead to tiredness, low energy and a lack of passion. To get some extra energy and heat Swedes found coffee to be their drink of choice.

What is fika in Starbucks?

Fika’s popularity in Sweden is overrated. premshree/flickr I recently spent three weeks in Stockholm to help launch Business Insider Nordic, When I told people I was traveling to Sweden, one of the first things they invariably mentioned was fika. This refers to the tradition to having coffee and a pastry.

  1. The difference between fika and typical American trips to Starbucks is that you’re supposed to slow down instead of toting your latte and blueberry muffin back to the office.
  2. Coffee represents a true break, a moment to sit and contemplate on your own, or to gather with friends,” writes website The Kitchn,

“In Sweden coffee is something to look forward to, a moment where everything else stops and you savor the moment.” This sounded great to me. I love coffee! I love pastries! I love conversations over coffee and pastries! But I quickly learned that American ideas about fika are mythical.

After two weeks in Stockholm, I had eaten at food trucks, sampled sushi, and grilled out with my new friends. Meals are typically topped off with a cup of coffee, which is complimentary at most Swedish restaurants. But I hadn’t received a single invitation for fika. Confused, I asked my coworkers what was up.

“Fika is something I do when I go visit my 99-year-old grandmother,” one friend told me. “It’s not something young people do on a regular basis.” Several others also described fika as a tradition for older generations, not an integral part of modern culture.

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My BI Nordic coworkers clarified what Americans get wrong about fika in a recent Facebook Live broadcast. One says he will use fika to impress dates, but won’t suggest it to his friends regularly. What is behind this shift? It could be that Swedes are working longer hours than previous generations, leaving no time for an extended coffee break.

Perhaps like millennials in Brooklyn or Los Angeles, young people in Stockholm would rather seek out new experiences over older traditions. Even Starbucks is pushing green juice and artisanal sandwiches over the traditional offerings. It’s too soon to say whether fika will become extinct.

How do you say coffee in Sweden?

You go over in your head how to say those words in Swedish. Coffee= kaffe. Cinnamon bun=kanelbulle.

How do you pronounce fika in Swedish?

Fika (pronounced fee-ka ) is a Swedish custom, a kind of social coffee break where people gather to have a cup of coffee or tea and a few nibbles. Fika is such an important part of life in Sweden that it is both a verb and a noun.

Do Norwegians have fika?

If you’re in Norway or Denmark you don’t use the actual word Fika, but the rules of the game are the same. For a good Fika you’d be expected to serve good Scandinavian coffee. People in the Nordic countries drink more coffee than anyone in the world, even the Italians.

What is coffee break called in Sweden?

Fika, the delightful custom of enjoying a coffee and a treat with friends, is as Swedish as ABBA. Surely it’s just a coffee break?

What does fika mean in Norwegian?

Fika ( Swedish) – This is a word for all the coffee and tea lovers out there. This culturally very important word fika can be both a noun and a verb describing the activity of having coffee and cake (coffee can be substituted with tea or a soft drink, and cake with any snack, sweet or savoury).

  1. Most Swedish workplaces will have a morning fika break around 10, when all the staff comes together over a cup of tea or coffee and maybe a sandwich.
  2. If you want to ask someone for a coffee in Sweden, you ask them for a fika, and before you go to bed you might have an evening fika made up of hot chocolate and a cheese sandwich.

Fika is a social activity, often happening in people’s homes, but also at work and in the many cafes of Sweden – fika is best had in company! And you need something to go with it, a coffee alone is not fika, but it can enjoyed with anything from dry rye crisp bread, to soft, sweet cinnamon buns.

How do you pronounce fika in Swedish?

Fika (pronounced fee-ka ) is a Swedish custom, a kind of social coffee break where people gather to have a cup of coffee or tea and a few nibbles. Fika is such an important part of life in Sweden that it is both a verb and a noun.

Do Norwegians have fika?

September 25, 2014 / Posted by Time for Fika Every language contains a few untranslatable words. In Denmark and Norway, “hygge” is generally used as an example for a general state of lovely cosiness. In Sweden, the word that is hard to translate literally is ‘Fika’, ‘To Fika’ is a good old Swedish word that basically means to ‘meet up, have a coffee and a chit-chat’.

We Scandinavians love nothing more than to meet up for a Fika. This can be done at any time – and a Fika can take anything from 10 minutes to several hours, depending on how good you are at Fika-ing. If you’re in Norway or Denmark you don’t use the actual word Fika, but the rules of the game are the same.

For a good Fika you’d be expected to serve good Scandinavian coffee. People in the Nordic countries drink more coffee than anyone in the world, even the Italians. This is because we love our filter coffee – and it needs to be very strong and served in abundance.

How do you say coffee in Sweden?

You go over in your head how to say those words in Swedish. Coffee= kaffe. Cinnamon bun=kanelbulle.