Finland boasts natural food ingredients
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Finnish Ambassador to Korea Matti Heimonen, right, invites Finnish food and drink companies and Visit Finland representatives to a reception held at his residence in Seoul on Sept. 8. Food From Finland Program Manager Annaleena Soult was also present at the event. / Courtesy of the Embassy of Finland
Finnish food makers visit Korea for Nordic food event
By Rachel Lee
With the Scandinavian lifestyle emerging as a sought-after trend in Korea, Finnish food and drink manufacturers have been showing their functional yet healthy products here.
Finnish Ambassador to Korea Matti Heimonen held a reception for company executives at his home in Seoul on Sept. 8. Representatives from Finnish companies, Visit Finland, Finnair and media attended.
“Within the European Union, Finland has more water and forest than anywhere else,” the ambassador said.
“I have to be grateful that Finland has such a good reputation in Korea. One example is xylitol so I am very grateful for the person who brought it to Korea.”
Guests were treated to a Finnish buffet of fresh vegetable salads, smoked salmon, a variety of breads, sausages and desserts.
Before the event began, Food From Finland program manager Annaleena Soult explained the characteristics that differentiate Finnish food.
Guests are treated to a Finnish buffet of fresh vegetable salads, smoked salmon, a variety of breads, sausages and desserts.
“Our specialties are natural products based on ingredients like berries — including bilberries loganberries, cranberries and cloudberries — mushrooms and game,” the manager said.
“The uniqueness of Finnish food comes from the Arctic environment and four seasons. Our products are functional, but at the same time, very healthy with fresh ingredients.”
She also said that Finnish food is a combination of Scandinavian and Eastern influences.
“Finnish people used to regard food as functional only, but recently they had begun really enjoying their food and developing innovative products,” the manager said.
“We treat the environment very responsibly and we have a low level of pesticides. Animal diseases are extremely low, and the whole production chain is transparent,” Soult said.
Among the invited Finnish food and drink makers, Gustav, a brand of liqueurs made from Arctic berries, grabbed the attention for its fancy colors and sophisticated packaging designs.
Founded by Gustav Ranin in 1852, Gustav has a trading name of Lignell & Piispanen, and the company is already in its sixth generation.
“I heard Koreans have fallen for fruit-flavored soju these days so I think our products will also suit their taste especially women,” said Gustav export manager Antti Hynninen.
“All our Gustav products contain absolutely no artificial flavors. They’re made from 100 percent berries.”
Gustav has 21 percent alcohol by volume, and offers six flavors — cloudberry, raspberry, Arctic bramble, cranberry, loganberry and blueberry-raspberry. The company also makes vodka and wines.
The Finnish companies participated in a Nordic Food and Beverage Promotion, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seoul on Sept. 7-8. The embassies of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden in Korea publicize Nordic food and drinks.
The promotion consisted of a seminar, B2B meetings, networking sessions, live cooking shows by Nordic chefs, and a lunch buffet of Nordic dishes made with ingredients supplied by participating companies.