Kama (food) facts for kids
Kama (pronounced KAH-mah) is a special flour mix from Estonia, Finland, and Russia. It's also called talkkuna in Finnish and tolokno in Russian. This finely ground powder is a traditional food in these countries.
Contents
What is Kama Made Of?
Kama powder is usually a mix of different roasted grains and peas. It often includes barley, rye, oat, and pea flour. Sometimes, wheat flour is used instead of oat flour. You might even find mixes with crushed black beans added in! In Finland, the grains are first steamed, then ground, and finally roasted to make talkkuna.
A Snack from the Past
Long ago, kama was a very useful food. It didn't spoil easily and was simple to carry, making it perfect for travelers or people on the go. You could quickly turn it into a filling snack by mixing it with butter or lard. The best part was that it didn't need any cooking, because the ingredients were already roasted!
How People Enjoy Kama Today
Today, kama is often used to make tasty desserts. Many people enjoy it for breakfast, mixed with milk, buttermilk, or kefir to create a thick porridge. It's often sweetened with sugar, and especially with blueberries. Sometimes, people add other fruits or honey, or they eat it plain without any sweetening. Kama is also used in milk-based or sour desserts, often paired with wild berries found in Estonia and Finland.
If you visit Estonia, you can often buy kama as a souvenir. It's a well-known national food there!
Similar Foods
There is a similar product called skrädmjöl in Sweden. This flour is made only from roasted oats. It's a traditional food in the Swedish province of Värmland and was brought there by people known as Forest Finns.
See also
In Spanish: Kama (comida) para niños
