Cardamom bread facts for kids
Finnish "pulla" cardamom bread
|
|
| Type | Sweet pastry |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Finland, Sweden |
| Main ingredients | Cardamom |
Pulla (say: POOL-lah) is a yummy sweet bread or pastry from Finland. It's also called nisu (say: NEE-soo) in some places. This special bread gets its delicious taste from a spice called cardamom. People in Finland and Sweden love to eat pulla all year round. It's often served with a cup of coffee or tea, making it a perfect treat for snack time.
In Finland, if you visit a cafeteria, you'll often find pulla. The quality of their pulla can even tell you how good the cafeteria is! It's a very important part of their food culture.
Several pulla loaves (dark roast (tummapaahto) in the top-right corner)
|
|
| Alternative names | Nisu, Biscuitia |
|---|---|
| Type | Sweet roll |
| Place of origin | Finland |
| Main ingredients | cardamom seeds; raisins or sliced almonds |
Contents
What is Pulla?
Pulla is a mildly sweet bread. It's usually made with crushed cardamom seeds. Sometimes, bakers add raisins or sliced almonds to the dough. This makes the bread even more flavorful and interesting to eat.
Different Kinds of Pulla
Pulla comes in many shapes and sizes.
- Small Buns: Some pulla are baked as small, round buns. These look a bit like brioche, which is another type of rich bread.
- Braided Loaves: A popular type is a long, braided loaf called pullapitko. This is made by weaving three or more strands of dough together. It looks very fancy and is often served in slices.
- Cinnamon Rolls: Another favorite is korvapuusti (say: KOR-vah-POO-stee). These are like big, sweet cinnamon rolls. They are very popular in Finland.
- Other Shapes: Sometimes, pulla loaves are shaped into a ring.
How Pulla is Made
Making pulla usually takes about three hours. This includes time for the dough to rise, which makes the bread soft and fluffy. After the dough has risen, it can be braided or shaped.
The outside of pulla often has a shiny brown glaze. This glaze is made by brushing the bread with egg wash, milk, or a mix of sugar and brewed coffee before baking. Bakers might also sprinkle pearl sugar or almond flakes on top for extra crunch and sweetness.
Popular Pulla Toppings and Variations
There are many ways to enjoy pulla!
- Some people top their pulla with chopped walnuts and vanilla icing.
- Others add raisins directly into the dough.
- Voisilmäpulla are special buns with a dollop of butter and sugar in the middle.
- Rahkapulla are buns filled with a creamy curd cheese and sometimes berries.
- For special celebrations, a spice called saffron might be added. This gives the pulla a beautiful yellow color and a unique taste.
Where is Pulla Eaten?
Pulla is a traditional food in Finland and Sweden. It's a common treat in homes and cafes.
Interestingly, pulla is also very popular in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the United States and Northern Ontario in Canada. This is because many people of Finnish heritage live in these areas. In these places, pulla is often called nisu. This is an old Finnish word that originally meant "wheat."
Cardamom is a key spice in many Nordic countries. It's used in different cakes, cookies, and biscuits, especially during holidays like Christmas.
