Vihreät kuulat facts for kids
Vihreät kuulat (which means "green balls" in Finnish) is a super popular pear-flavored marmalade candy from Finland. It's made by a famous company called Fazer. You can find these tasty treats in boxes or sold individually. While Vihreät kuulat are green, the wider Finlandia candy collection also includes other colorful marmalade spheres.
Contents
The Sweet History of Vihreät Kuulat
The story of these candies began a long time ago. Karl Fazer, the founder of the Fazer company, brought the special recipe and the candy makers from St. Petersburg. This was back in the late 1800s!
A Royal Beginning
Did you know these colorful marmalade candies were first made for a king? In 1902, they were created for the coronation of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom. Because of this special event, the candy was first called "Kruunajaismarmeladi," which means "coronation marmalade." Later, in 1948, its name was changed to Finlandia.
Where the Green Balls Are Made
Over the years, the production of Vihreät kuulat has moved to different places in Finland.
Journey of Production
Production of Vihreät kuulat officially started in Helsinki in 1929. Later, in 1960, the candy-making moved to Fazerila in Vantaa. Then, a new factory was built in Ranua between 1987 and 1988, and the production moved there. Finally, in 1999, the candy-making moved again to Lappeenranta, where it has been produced since 2000.
How They Are Made Today
Making Vihreät kuulat is a mix of old and new methods. At the factory in Lappeenranta, machines now press the two halves of the candy together. After that, the candies go into a special drum to get their sugary coating. Even with all the machines, the candies are still carefully picked up and packaged by hand, one by one!
How Popular Are They?
Vihreät kuulat are incredibly popular, especially during the holidays!
Christmas Favorite
Every year, Fazer makes about 25 million pieces of Vihreät kuulat candy. That's a lot of green balls! A huge number of these, around 17 million pieces, are eaten during the Christmas season. They are a traditional treat for many Finnish families.
Special Flavors
Sometimes, Fazer likes to try new things with their popular candies. In 2017, they even made Jaffa Cakes that tasted like Vihreät kuulat marmalade! However, this special flavor was only available for about eight months. During that time, they produced 1.4 million packages of these unique Jaffa Cakes.
