Unfortunately, after the effects of Covid and the war in Europe, we have calculated that the increased costs for raw materials, packaging and logistics would force us to raise our prices considerably so that our operations would be profitable with our current business model, values, and quality.
In the current state of the world, we do not believe that these sort of price increases would be met by our customers. At the current time, we still have the opportunity to close our business responsibly and are able to repay all our debtors, without any drama involved.
Although it is of course sad and heartbreaking for us, the decision feels like the right one in this state of the world. It has been very important for us to make products using top-quality, Finnish raw materials, and to package the products in such a way that they leave as little a footprint on nature as possible.
We are not ready to give up on these value promises and we believe that our customers have appreciated our brand and products precisely because of these things.
Roosa and I have learned a LOT from this journey and who knows if we will somehow manage to put Finnish wild food on the world map in the future when the environment is more favourable again.
Thank you, our wonderful customers and partners - you made this possible!
Come and meet the producers of these rare products, network with yachting suppliers and hangout over a few drinks with other crew.
The annual crew event in Monaco is taking place on 17 September at @yachtclubmonaco from 10:00 - 18:00. Here's the program for the day.
10 - 18 CET | Open Tastings of Superyacht Foodie Brands
11 CET | Masterclass by Michelin Star Chef Kim Mikkola
12 CET | Cook Off between Kim Mikkola and Yacht Chef
14 CET | Sharing Samples prepared by Kim Mikkola
16 CET | Q&A Tastings with Kim Mikkola
@lifeafteryachting and their partners will be attending too for crew looking for career advice, financial advice, or business advice so if you’re ready to plan your exit strategy, be sure not to miss this amazing day for yacht crew.
See you there!
More information from this link
Check all the participating companies from here
Picture credits @superyachtfoodie
]]>Below we have gathered mushroom info from Arctic Flavours Association's website. The Arctic Flavours Association is a nation-wide association for Non-Wood Forest Products specialising in wild berries, mushrooms, herbs and special forest products.
Hundreds of mushroom species growing in the wild in Finland are suitable for consumption. The total annual yield of edible mushrooms is estimated at 1,000 million kg, which amounts to an average of 50 kg/ha.
Boletes (tatit), milk-caps (rouskut), golden chanterelles (kantarellit), trumpet chanterelles (suppilovahverot), hedgehog fungus (orakkaat), and sheep polypore (lampaankäävät) are especially typical fare for an autumn meal. Other types of mushrooms suitable for consumption include the gypsy mushroom (kehnäsieni), horn of plenty (mustatorvisieni), arched woodwax (mustavahakas), and some species of Russula (haperot).
Finnish nature is also home to lethally poisonous species of mushrooms. Novice mushroom pickers are especially advised to avoid white mushrooms and species growing from tree stumps.
When gathering mushrooms for the first time, it is a good idea to accompany an experienced mushroom hunter. Remember this basic rule: gather only those mushrooms you can identify as edible species without a doubt. Taking a mushroom identification course is an excellent way for mushroom hunters to enhance their confidence in this area.
Fresh mushrooms are a light food consisting mostly of water (85–90%), and have an average energy content of only 25 kcal/100 g. Their fat content is only about 0.5 g/100 g. One hundred grams of mushroom contain about two grams of protein, and some species of mushroom have a higher protein content and a richer variety of amino acids than many vegetables. Aside from glucose, mushrooms contain trehalose (mushroom sugar), which can sometimes cause symptoms similar to lactose intolerance if not absorbed by the digestive system.
Mushrooms are a good source of fibre and contain 1.5–6 grams of insoluble fibre per one hundred grams. They supply moderate amounts of vitamins A, B, and D. An important nutritional property of mushrooms is their high content of minerals and trace elements, higher than that of grains or garden plants. In the wild, mushrooms are good at extracting nutrients from the growth medium. They are especially rich in potassium, iron, zinc, and selenium. They contain only small amounts of sodium, so they are suitable also for people who have to watch their blood pressure.
From METTÄ selection, you can find two tasty mushroom products: Wild Mushroom Sauce, Wild Mushroom Spice and Porcini Salt. Shop our products here.
In our products we use three mushrooms: porcinis, trumpet chaterelles and chanterelle (golden chantarelle). All the mushrooms we use come from Finland. Our supplier produces mushrooms from the cleanest nature that are growing wild in our Nordic forests. They are carefully hand picked and immediately dried to safeguard their delicate flavour and high nutrient content.
Boletus edulis
King of wild mushrooms, tatti or herkkutatti in Finnish, has many English names: boletus, penny bun, cep, porcino or porcini... As beloved royals usually do.
Porcinis grow wild in Finnish forests and are super tasty due to our extreme change in seasons in terms of temperature and light. It grows widely in the Northern Hemisphere across Europe, Asia, and North America, and it does not occur naturally in the Southern Hemisphere. Ours come hand picked from clean Northern Finland.
Porcini is a popular gourmet mushroom that has a strong nutty flavour. It goes very well with pastas, risottos, in pizza and stews. Porcini is a delicious pair with herbs and works a gourmet seasoning to almost any dish. Try our Porcini Salt with butter for example.
The name porcini means "piglets" in Italian. The Latin name is Boletus edulis.
Distinguishing characteristics:
The Cep is a large, sturdy, rather hard mushroom. Its cap is of varying shades of brown and the cap cuticle is slightly viscid when moist. The spore tubes are tightly packed and light grey in young specimens, later changing to a yellowish green. The flesh of the mushroom is firm and retains a white colour. The stem of the Cep is off-white to light brown. The stem is often covered by a white mesh-like pattern, most clearly visible on the uppermost portion just below the cap. The stem may be relatively straight or somewhat round and barrel-shaped. It is always stout and rigid if the mushroom is fresh, however.
Habitat:
The Cep (Boletus edulis) grows in coniferous forests, especially in mesic heath forests near spruce trees. The Bine Bolete (B. pinophilus) is found near pine trees and therefore on more arid ground than the cep. The Summer Bolete (B. reticulatus) grows near oak roots in herb-rich forests. Ceps are found in most of Finland, especially the southern and central parts of the country. The eastern portion of central Finland is especially hospitable to Ceps.
Harvest season:
The season lasts from the middle of summer until the end of September.
Nutritional value:
The Cep contains plenty of fibre. It is especially rich in vitamins B2, B3 and D as well as folate, and also contains potassium, zinc and selenium.
Use:
Big amounts of Ceps are exported to Italy and other Central and Southern European countries. Finns are enthusiastic cep hunters. The cep is cooked as is, or sliced and dried to be used as an ingredient in a delicious mushroom soup or stew.
Cantharellus cibarius
Distinguishing characteristics:
The Chanterelle is one of Finland’s most easily identified and highly valued mushrooms. The entire mushroom, including the flesh, is a pleasant yellow colour. The cap is funnel-shaped and can be very convoluted around the edge. The undersurface of the cap features gill-like decurrent ridges. The mushroom can also be recognized by a characteristic fruity scent that becomes stronger as it is prepared for consumption.
Look-alikes:
The False Chanterelle (Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca) resembles the true Chanterelle on top, but has tightly packed gills on the undersurface.
Habitat:
Chanterelles are common in the southern and central parts of Finland. They can be found as far north as Lapland. Chanterelles grow at the roots of birch trees. They occur in diverse landscapes and forest types, but not in overly thick or dark forests. Some favourable environments for Chanterelles include lakeshores and mixed or deciduous forests on islands. Since the mushroom tends to grow in the same place for several years, it is worthwhile to check on good Chanterelle spots annually.
Harvest season:
Chanterelle season is long, from late June to the end of September in Finland, so the same spot can be checked several times in the course of a summer.
Nutritional value:
Chanterelles contain ample vitamin D and are a good source of potassium, iron, and selenium. Unprocessed Chanterelles contain only small amounts of fat consisting mostly of linoleic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid.
Use:
Chanterelles are at their best immediately after they are gathered. They are suitable for a wide variety of preparation methods and do not require preliminary processing. They can be dried, frozen, or preserved in brine. They also keep well in a refrigerator, staying relatively fresh up to several days.
Cantharellus tubaeformis
Distinguishing characteristics:
As its name suggests, the Trumpet Chanterelle is shaped like a funnel or horn. It is a rather small mushroom. Its cap is brown with a yellowish or grey hue. Its stem is hollow, rather slim, and has a yellow colour. It has long, gill-like, decurrent ridges of a yellowish grey on the undersurface of the cap.
Look-alikes:
The “Wetland Chanterelle” (C. aureum) closely resembles the Trumpet Chanterelle, but the ridges on the undersurface of its cap are not as pronounced. C. aureum is found in more thickly vegetated and moist environments than the Trumpet Chanterelle. It, too, is an excellent mushroom for consumption.
Habitat:
Trumpet Chanterelles are common in southern and central Finland. They occur in mossy woods, often in spruce stands but also in mixed forests. They usually grow in large groups in the same places year after year. Initially it may be difficult for mushroom hunters to find them because they are covered in deep moss. In good years for Trumpet Chanterelles, they are clearly more abundant than their close cousin, the Golden Chanterelle.
Harvest season:
Trumpet Chanterelles grow rather late in the autumn, from September to November.
Use:
Their thin flesh makes Trumpet Chanterelles suitable for drying or freezing. Drying is easy to do at home. The nutritional value of the mushrooms is well-preserved by freezing, but the taste may be watered down. They can also be fried as they are, of course, as well as frozen or pickled. Trumpet Chanterelles are rich in vitamin D. Eating them in the winter is a natural way to increase one’s vitamin D intake.
From METTÄ selection, you can find two tasty mushroom products: Wild Mushroom Sauce and Porcini Salt. Shop our products here.
Texts are from https://www.arktisetaromit.fi/en/mushrooms/wild+mushrooms/, from which you can find more info in English.
Pictures: Aino Huotari & Annika Hannus
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Magic and spells have played a significant role in the Finnish midsummer festival traditions. In the old days, these spells were used in hopes of love and affection or to forecast a good harvest. Here are our 8 favourite spells to be put in practice in midsummer celebrations.
Helsinki Wildfoods wishes you a spellbinding midsummer!
Blog text is from Helsinki Wildfoods blog archive, written by Pauliina Toivanen, June 16, 2018.
Photos: Anna Nyman, Aino Huotari, Jouko Hannus
Mother’s Day #GIVEAWAY 💖 We've teamed up with the Nordic beauty experts @Lumeneusa to host a giveaway at Instagram for Mother’s Day! ONE lucky follower will have the chance to WIN all these goodies:
Rules below 👇🏼
To enter:
✨ Follow @lumeneusa & @mettanordic
✨ Like this post
✨ Tag 2 friends in the comments below
BONUS:
💖 Share this post to your story & tag both brands
💖 Comment on our most recent posts!
Winner selected: 5/5/22
#Giveaway is open until May 5th, 2022 at 9:00AM EST to ages 18+. US ONLY. One winner will be randomly selected and contacted on May 5th, 2022 via Instagram DM. Winners will ONLY be contacted by @Mettanordic & @lumeneusa. Any other accounts attempting to contact you are not affiliated with us. We will never ask winners to click any external links or provide credit card information. Please do not give out information to accounts that you suspect may be spam or impersonator accounts. This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram.
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Want to learn how to forage and use wild herbs? A wild herb workshop is an adventure in the local nature and during it you will learn about the healing effects and fascinating tastes of herbs growing in the wild.
]]>WILD HERB WORKSHOPS
Want to learn how to forage and use wild herbs? A wild herb workshop is an adventure in the local nature and during it you will learn about the healing effects and fascinating tastes of herbs growing in the wild. The workshop is a great way to learn about the nutritional factors, medicinal effects and biology of wild plants. In addition, during the workshop you’ll hear fascinating stories about folk traditions and the magical effects of the plants. In workshops, participants will also realize how wild plants can be easily used in home cooking. The workshop covers about 10-20 plants, depending on the location and the level of expertise of the group. After the workshop, participants will receive an e-book about wild herbs in Finland so they can continue their studies at home.
Check out the upcoming workshop dates from www.foraginginfinland.com
ADVANCED FORAGING WORKSHOPS
Do you already know how to use common wild herbs like dandelion, nettle and fireweed, and want to learn more? Maybe you have already attended a foraging workshop? If you say yes, then it’s time to attend an advanced wild herb foraging workshop. During advanced workshops we’ll try to find plants such as common horsetail, pinappleweed, oxeye daisy, burdocks and valerian. In addition, you'll learn about herbal medicine and we will also take a closer look at plant morphology to make it easier to identify new plants. You'll learn about 10-20 plants, depending on the group's level of expertise. After the workshop, all participants will receive an e-book about the plants so that you can continue to learn at home.
Check out the upcoming workshop dates from www.foraginginfinland.com
WILD HERB WEBINAR
You can also learn about wild herbs online! During a webinar you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of wild herbs and vegetables of Finland. With the help of these online events, you'll get a head start to wild herb foraging season.
During these online lectures you will learn how to use wild herbs and where to find them, you’ll also get identification tips and recipe ideas and a lot more! There will also be time for discussion and questions during each online session.
Check out the upcoming webinar dates from www.foraginginfinland.com
MUSHROOM FORAGING WORKSHOP
Want to learn about foraging mushrooms in Finland? The mushroom foraging workshops introduce the basics of mushroom picking, the Everyman’s rights and how to identify safely common mushrooms. The workshops include a mushroom exhibition where participants will get to know the mushrooms before the workshop part in the woods starts. The course focuses on learning about edible mushrooms and easily identifiable species, but other mushrooms found can also be identified. Depending on the season, the workshop introduces 10-20 species of mushrooms. The guide will check everyone's mushroom baskets at the end of the workshop.
These foraging adventures online and offline are led by licensed wild food guide and biologist Anna Nyman. Anna also studies herbal medicine at Kauhajoen Opisto. If you want to book a private event, please contact hello@foraginginfinland.com
VILLIYRTTIKURSSIT
Haluatko oppia keräilemään ja hyödyntämään villiyrttejä? Villiyrttikurssilla seikkaillaan lähiluonnossa ja uppoudutaan yrttien hoitaviin vaikutuksiin ja kiehtoviin makuihin. Kurssi on oiva tapa oppia yrttien ravitsemuksellisista tekijöistä, lääkinnällisistä vaikutuksista ja biologiasta. Lisäksi kursseilla saa kuulla kiehtovia tarinoita kansanperinteistä ja millaisia taianomaisia vaikutuksia kasveilla on uskottu olevan.
Kursseilla osallistujat oivaltavat myös, kuinka villikasveja voi käyttää helposti kotikokkailussa, taikoa niistä kotikosmetiikka ja hyödyntää muissa arjen askareissa. Kurssilla käydään läpi noin 10-20 kasvia riippuen paikasta ja ryhmän osaamistasosta. Kurssin jälkeen osallistujat saavat sähköpostiinsa villiyrttitietopaketin, jotta opiskelua voi jatkaa kotona.
Tarkista tulevat kurssipäivät osoitteesta www.annanyman.fi
SYVENTÄVÄ VILLIYRTTIKURSSIT JA ROHTOYRTTIKURSSIT
Peruskurssien lisäksi on mahdollista osallistua syventävälle kurssille tai yrttien rohtokäyttöön uppoutuvalla kurssilla.
Jatkokursseilla etsimme kasveja kuten maltsoja ja savikoita, maitiaisia, syötäviä ja myrkyllisiä sarjakukkaisia ja takiaisia. Lisäksi tutustumme syvemmin yrttilääkintään ja syötäviin kukkiin. Jatkokurssilla käymme myös tarkemmin läpi kasvien rakennetta ja kasvupaikkojen ominaisuuksia, jotta uusien kasvien tunnistaminen helpottuu. Kurssin aikana tutustuaan noin 10-20 kasviin riippuen ryhmän osaamistasosta. Kurssin jälkeen osallistujat saavat kattavan villiyrttitietopaketin sähköpostiinsa, jotta yrttiopiskelua ja hurahdusta voi jatkaa vielä kotona.
Rohtoyrttikursseilla osallistujat saavat ohjeita oman yrttikotiapteekin pystyttämiseen ja vinkkejä yrttien käytöstä pienten vaivojen hoidossa ja hyvinvoinnin tukena. Kurssin jälkeen osallistujat saavat ohjeet myös sähköpostiinsa e-kirjan muodossa.
Tarkista tulevat kurssit osoitteesta www.annanyman.fi
VILLIYRTTI-WEBINAARIT
Villiyrteistä voi oppia myös virtuaalisesti. Verkkoluennot auttavat aloittelijaa ensi askelissa tai kokenutta keräilijää virkistämään muistiaan. Luentojen aikana kuulijat saavat oppia villiyrttien käytöstä ja vaikutuksista sekä kuulevat tunnistusvinkkejä ja vihjeitä keräyspaikoista. Lisäksi luennoilla käydään läpi yrttien oikeaoppista säilöntää ja yrttiruokareseptejä.
Tarkista tulevat webinaarit osoitteesta www.annanyman.fi
SIENIKURSSIT
Sienikursseilla inspiroidutaan sienistä ja niiden terveysvaikutuksista. Kursseilla tutustutaan sienestyksen perusteisiin, jokamiehenoikeuksiin ja havainnoidaan yleisimpien sienten tuntomerkkejä. Kurssin aluksi osallistujat saavat tutkia sieniä pienessä sieninäyttelyssä, jonka ohjaaja on koonnut aikaisemmin kerätyistä sienistä. Kurssi painottuu ruokasienten ja helposti tunnistettavien lajien opetteluun, mutta myös muita löydettyjä sieniä tutkaillaan. Syksyn sadosta riippuen kurssilla tutustutaan 10-20 sienilajiin. Retki päätetään kertaustuokioon, jolloin tarkistetaan kaikkien sienikorit ja kerrataan kerättyjen sienten
perkaus- ja säilöntäohjeet. Kaikki osallistujat saavat kurssin jälkeen sienitietopaketin sähköpostiinsa, jotta sienituntemusta voi jatkaa vielä kotona.
Tarkista tulevat kurssit osoitteesta www.annanyman.fi
Kurssit ohjaavat Anna Nyman. Anna on koulutukseltaan luonnonyrttineuvoja ja biologi. Lisäksi hän opiskelee yrttilääkintää.
Kursseja järjestetään pääkaupunkiseudulla ja Nurmijärvellä. Yksityisistä kursseista työyhteisöille, perheille ja ystäväporukoille voi tiedustella lähettämällä viestiä info@annanyman.fi
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Nettle rightly deserves to be called the most versatile of our wild vegetables. It is Finnish superfood at its best. The new little nettles are eager to lift their heads out of the ground after the winter - now is a good time refresh your mind about the numerous uses of nettle and of its amazing nutritional values. Nettle should be one of the first wild herbs you familiarize yourself with when you start a new wild food hobby. It is perhaps the most versatile and one of the healthiest of our wild vegetables.
The green but mild taste of nettle is particularly well suited to Finnish taste buds. In fact, without its stinging hairs, animals would have already eaten it to extinction. The nettle is also easy to learn to identify and there are no toxic similar looking plants, so it’s safe to forage without fears.
Forage
The nettle foraging site should be chosen carefully, as nettles easily absorb nitrates which, when ingested in high quantities, burden the body. Rapid blanching, ie boiling in water for about half a minute, or drying removes the stinging effect of the hairs. Blanching also lowers the nitrate content of nettle, but at the same time, some of the nettle’s nutrients are lost when boiling. Therefore, nettles should not be boiled longer than necessary. Keep in mind, that nettles should not be collected from nitrate-rich places, such as near composts or livestock shelters. Thus, blanching is not primarily done because of nitrates, but it removes the stinging effect and softens the structure of the plant to be suitable for freezing or cooking, especially for warm foods. Usually, adequate crushing of the leaves in a blender also removes the stinging effect of the hairs. Nitrates are harmful to our health because they are converted in our bodies to nitrites and then potentially to carcinogens. Nettles contains the least amount of nitrates in the fall and after sunny days. In addition, the formation of carcinogens in the body can be reduced by making sure you eat enough foods rich in vitamins C and E, such as nettle.
Nettle foraging should start early in the spring. Young nettle shoots are the best delicacy and full of nutrients to stimulate our bodies after a winter of hibernation. As the growing season progresses, it is worth grazing your own nettle, as this will give you new fresh vegetation for a long time. In late summer, the focus can shift to collecting nettle seeds.
Nettle is superfood
Nettle is Finnish superfood at its best. Nettle contains significant amounts of calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin C, folate and vitamins A and E in relation to the recommended daily in-takes. Nettle also contains more protein and dietary fiber than spinach. In dried nettle, the nutrient density increases many times, and with just a tablespoon of dried nettle, you can easilly add more nutrients to an omelet or a smoothie. Nettle also has numerous herbal effects and it is said to cleanse and strengthen the body very effectively.
Nettle, when used externally, is also said to thicken and strengthen hair and relieve skin conditions and allergies. In cooking Nettle is suitable for use just like you would use spinach and kale. For example, in vegetable roasts, vegetable side dishes, sauces, stews, soups, pies, pancakes, crepes, rolls and crispbreads. Dried nettle is especially suited as a green powder for smoothies, doughs and pestos. Ground, crushed or dried nettle does not sting.
In the fall, nettles grow seeds that hang in juicy bunches, easily on display for foraging. Dried nettle seeds are full of nutrients and can be sprinkled on porridge or muesli, among other things, or added to doughs and breads. Seeds are the most nutritious part of the nettle plant. They contain, among other things, all the essential amino acids, a large amount of vitamin E, silicon and magnesium.
Use it like spinach
Nettle which is to be used like spinach is best preserved by freezing, acidifying and drying. Before freezing, it is a good idea to blanche the nettles for about 30 seconds to eliminate the stinging effect of the nettle hairs and make the plant structure better for freezing. The heat treatment stops the enzyme activity of the plant, and without the blanching, the plants are easily converted to water in the freezer and their taste suffers. Heat treatment also reduces the nitrate content of nettle. Once the nettle has been blanched, rinse it with water and squeeze any excess water out of it. The blanching water can be used as a hair rinse, foot bath or other pampering treatment of as a fertilizer in your garden. A beginner can easily get into the groove of cooking using nettle by trying out a pesto or a nettle herbal salt.
Vegan nettle pesto, 2dl jar about
You can also give the METTÄ nettle pesto mix a try.
Nettle salt (about 2dl)
This simple herbal salt is created by mixing nettle, goutweed and yarrow with a high-quality sea salt in the desired ratio. As your wild taste buds develop, you can also mix ingredients from trees such as juniper, spruce sprouts and birch leaves into the salt.
If you can't or don't want to make your own salt, try high-quality METTÄ Nettle Salt nettle salt or METTÄ Porcini Salt. Nordic silk The use of nettle is not only limited to food. Nettle is considered to be the oldest man-made textile plant used as early as the Iron Age. The nettle fiber was very high quality and called the "Silk of the North". Nettle fibers can be used similarly to linen fibres. Textiles made from nettle fiber are an ecological alternative alongside other natural fibers such as hemp, linen and organic cotton. Nettle is also particularly suitable for skin and hair care. Rubbing nettle on the scalp makes the scalp healthy and soft - not recommended for blonde hair! In addition, nettle water is excellent as a fertilizer for organic farming. Discover nettle with our wild herb foraging courses or through our products.
Nokkosella on myös lukemattomia rohdosvaikutuksia, joista merkittävimpinä voidaan pitää sen vaikutusta lisätä virtsan eritystä sekä nopeuttaa myrkkyjen ja kuona-aineiden poistumista elimistöstä. Nokkosen kerrotaan ulkoisesti käytettynä saavan myös hiukset tuuheutumaan ja vahvistumaan, helpottavan iho-oireita ja allergioita.
Nokkonen sopii käytettäväksi pinaatin ja lehtikaalin tavoin vihannespaistoksissa, kasvislisukkeena, kastikkeissa, muhennoksissa, keitoissa, piiraissa, letuissa, pannukakuissa, sämpylöissä ja näkkileivissä. Kuivattu nokkonen sopii erityisen hyvin viherjauheeksi smoothieisiin, taikinoihin ja pestoihin. Jauhettu ja kuivattu nokkonen ei polta. Syksyllä nokkonen kasvattaa siemeniä, jotka roikkuvat mehukkaina helposti kerättävinä terttuina. Kuivatut siemenet ovat täynnä ravinteita, ja niitä voi ripotella muun muassa puuron tai myslin päälle sekä lisätä taikinoihin ja leipiin. Siemenet ovatkin kasvin ravintorikkain osa. Ne sisältävät muun muassa kaikkia välttämättömiä aminohappoja, suuren määrän E-vitamiinia, piitä ja magnesiumia.
Kirja: Villiyrtit. Hyvinvointia kotikulmilta. Annika Hannus, Anna Nyman, Pauliina Toivanen, Aino Huotari, Nick Victorzon WSOY, 2017.
Kirja: Villivihannekset. Sinikka Piippo. Minerva Kustannus Oy, 2016.
Kirja: Hulluna Hortaan. Raija ja Jouko Kivimetsä. Mividata Oy, 3. painos 2016.
www.luontoportti.com
www.arktisetaromit.fi
www.yrttitarha.fi
Wild herbs can be enjoyed in many forms and ways. One easy way to get into wild herbs is learning how to use them for making delicious and healthy herbal tea mixes. Wild herbs have different strengths and uses and can be mixed in ways that serve your need; introducing functional herbal teas.
Herbal teas can be mixed to suit many taste buds; from a soft gentle flowery flavor to an invigorating and powerful cleansing mix with a side note of green and clean flavour. In addition to herbal teas having a beautiful flavor, they also serve a particular purpose, to help wake you up or to help cam your mind and body for a restful night. In our Finnish folklore, many illnesses and symptoms have been treated with the use of our native herbs, in particular different kinds of herbal infusions. Herbal tea mixes have been used in particular to detoxify and cleanse the body, blood and internal organs, to help in digestion and to calm the body and mind.
Wild herbs have also been used for their delicious aromas and flavours. For example berry plants’ leaves have beautiful flavours that suit many a pallet. Herbal teas made from wild herbs are also naturally caffein-free while still giving your body and mind a good and welcome invigorating boost.
It’s super easy to get into making your own wild herb teas. However, you’ll get a better result by knowing a little bit about what herbs work well together. Wild and natural herbs can have strong effects on the body and it’s wise to get into using herbal teas slowly and examining the effects different herbs have on your body, after all, each of us is unique. Certain herbs build on each other and beautifully compliment each others’ flavours and effects. It’s a good idea to get familiar with the herbs you’re using an to give your body a chance to test the effects. Also, remember that some herbs can have allergic effects, so careful is the key word to a good result.
Before heading out into the forest, make sure you are confident in identifying the herbs you are looking for and you know your rights and restrictions according to Every Man’s Right. You can do this by participating in a wild herb foraging course and reading up online.
As a general rule of thumb, we can say that to forage for parts of trees and roots of plants, you need the land owner’s permission whereas this is not the case for leaved plants which can generally be foraged freely. It’s important to pay close attention the cleanliness of the foraging area as plants tend to pick up any toxins from the ground.
According to literature on plants, as a summary some main points regarding foraging are as follows:
Below you can find a list of some of the best herbs for herbal teas, categorized according to the best time for foraging. There are certainly tons more that can be used in herbal teas, but this is a good way to get started. The bets time for foraging naturally changes slightly each year depending on the weather and how the seasons are changing as well as depending on your location in Finland.
Early spring (just after snow has melted)
Spring
Early summer (before midsummer)
Summer
Autumn
Winter
All year
Source: Toivo Rautavaara, Terveysteetä luonnonkasveista WSOY- book, slightly modified
Both fresh and dried herbs can be used for preparing herbal tea. Wild herbs are beautiful by themselves, or they can be creatively mixed for delicious herbal tea mixtures. When mixing herbs, its important to pay attention to how the qualities and characteristics of different herbs compliment each other. A good base for an herbal tea mixture is fireweed or raspberry leaf. These two herbs are particularly popular in herbal teas for their delicious flavor and their ready availability.
Herbal teas need to be brewed for a long enough time (5-15 min) in 80-90 degree C water. In general, you can measure 1-2 tsp dried herbs to a cup (2 dl). Remember to familiarize yourself with the herbs you’re using, some plants are stronger than others and may cause different kinds of reactions. Particularly herbs knows for their medicinal properties should not be used consecutively for long periods of time, they should be used as a regimen, for a short period of time.
Long brewing times won’t make your wild herbs bitter, like tea leaves may do, so don’t worry about leaving your wild herbs to brew for a longer period. They can even be left overnight to make a delicious ice tea the next day! After brewing, to get the most benefits, wild herbs can be simply disposed of by eating them. Personally, I love to eat them with a bit of honey, or throw them in my smoothie. No waste :).
Below are a few of our suggestions for delicious, aroma-rich and functional herbal tea mixture to try, while listening and respecting your body’s unique reaction.
Calming herbal tea
Base of raspberry leaves and fireweed leaves
Flavour from heather flower and peppermint
Cleansing herbal tea
To be used as a regimen, max 2 weeks
Base nettle and dandelion leaves
Flavour from yarrow flowers
Deep cleansing herbal tea
To be used as a regimen, max 2 weeks
1 part birch leaves, 1 part juniper berry, 1 part dandelion root
Energizing powertea
1 part spruce sprouts, 1 part blackcurrant leaves, 1 part rowan berries or rosehips
Envigorating daytime tea
Base of rose root and raspberry leaves
Flavour from fireweed leaves and flowers and birch leaves
Recipes modified from Toivo Rautavaaran Terveysteetä luonnonkasveista WSOY -book.
Similar ready to drink herbal tea mixes can be found from our METTÄ Functional Herbal Teas selection and from Forest Foody for example. TIP! Try mixing your herbal tea mix into your smoothie. Find more tips from here.
We definately recomment getting started with your wild food hobbie through a high quality wild herb foraging course. In the Helsinki area, there are a umber of organisations offering courses: Helsinki Wildfoods and Hortoilu.fi. Also Martat and Maa ja -kotitalousnaiset offer courses around Finland.
Artikkeli suomeksi TÄÄLLÄ.
Literature and sources:
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Forest flavours suit perfectly for the Christmas table and bring a welcome boost of nutrients and new flavours while respecting the traditions. Our METTÄ flavours are all vegan, so don’t worry about fitting everyone’s diet! Try sprinkling some forest goodness like Porcini salt or Nettle pesto onto any Christmas dish for an easy and exciting twist or take a look at our recipes section on our webpage for many more ideas.
My favourite at this time of the year is making a warm Birch-Lingonberry drink. Lingonberries are being researched more and more for their health benefits as well so this drink will not only taste great but will also give you an additional nutrient boost and help your body cope with the shortest days of the year.
Annika & Roosa
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So treat yourself - and do good at the same time.
PS. Check out other METTÄ products, that are on sale at Ruohonjuuri's October's campaign
]]>We have wrapped the beautiful flavours of our Nordic forests into the new METTÄ flavoured honeys!
The honey we use is a high quality, pure and natural 100% Finnish honey. Its production helps to support natural diversity and sustainable small business development.
Our delightful METTÄ Honey & Forest Flavours product range consist of four amazing flavourful experiences, Finnish pure honey combined with wild blueberry, fresh and bright green spruce sprouts, excitingly zesty rowan berry and delightfully sour wild lingonberry. Get to know to the products:
Enjoy our naturally flavoured honeys with hot drinks, desserts, smoothies, porridges or however you like to use natural sweeteners. Why not try as a spread on top of toasted bread or salted crackers?
Our Honey
The honey used in METTÄ products is 100% Finnish, highest quality honey from small suppliers. Our Forest Honey is produced for us by Nordic Bee Co., which operates in Uusimaa.
The bee colonies are located on the edges of fields which are used for organic production or the plants in the field are not ones that are used by bees as food plants. Natural ingredients such as formic, oxalic and thymolic acids as well as essential oils are used to prevent bee diseases. Nordic Bee Co will become part of the organic certification program in 2022, as will METTÄ Honey Products.
The bee hives are made of domestic wood. The perimeters used inside the nests are also domestic wood and the beeswax is mainly own or domestic production. At all stages of production, the aim is to produce without plastics in order to avoid microplastics and to minimize the burden on our environment.
METTÄ Forest Honeys are soft and fine-grained honey. According to the Finnish Honey Regulation, honey must not be heated. Thus, all the METTÄ Forest Honeys are essentially so-called raw honey, although this label is not to be used in marketing in Finland. Finnish Honey is a particularly pure, unpasteurized, natural product with nothing ever added to it. The properties of honey always include natural crystallization.
Forest Flavours
The spruce and berries we use to flavor our honeys are also 100% Finnish and mostly freeze-dried. Freeze-drying safeguards the aromas and nutrients of the berries in the best way in comparison to other preservation methods.
Using of honey products supports biodiversity, and helps preserve forests and meadows in their original state.
Is there something you’d like to know about our honeys? Get in touch and ask us! info@mettanordic.com
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Spruce sprouts are deliciously bitter, bright green, young tips of spruce trees that are found on the end of the branches in spring time. Spruce sprouts are increasingly popular year by year, especially in the Nordic countries, and for good reason. Spruce sprouts are very nutritious superfood that also taste amazing and are easy to use!
Spruce sprouts taste like citrus fruit, think lemon or lime with a hint of Nordic forest freshness and purity. They are wonderfully fluffy and fresh and are perfect to spice up everything you would normally season with lemon. You can use these little treasures to create wonderful sauces for fish and vegetable dishes, dips, pestos and salad dressings, for example. Spruce sprouts are perfect for seasoning drinks like liqueurs, other summer drinks and kombuchas and to add extra flavour and a welcome nutrient boost to smoothies and juices. They can also be used to make tea or ice tea. Spruce sprouts are often used to season ice creams and sorbets and are well suited to creating flavoured honeys and syrups.
Prepare for winter by preserving the spruce sprouts. This can be done by freezing, drying, extracting, or dipping them in honey.
Spruce sprouts are a real health bomb! Traditionally, they has been ingested for their invigorating and refreshing effects. Spruce sprouts contain, in particular, vitamins C, K and A as well as antioxidants.
Spruce sprouts are only collected in spring and early summer, as from late summer, spruce sprouts turn into hard, wooden needles. The foraging of spruce sprouts always requires the permission of the landowner. Finland has the cleanest nature in the world, and with great pride we want to share this wonderful forest flavour across the globe! We buy our spruce sprouts from Satakunta area or Lapland, both in Finland. The spruce sprouts we use are either air-dried or freeze-dried, depending on the product.
You can find spruces in the following METTÄ products:
See video (in Finnish only):
Kuusenkerkät ovat kirpeän herkullisia kirkkaanvihreitä kuusipuiden vuosikasvaimia, jotka keväisin notkuvat kuusipuiden latvoista. Kuusenkerkät ovat erityisen suosittuja nyt Pohjoismaissa, ja niiden suosio kasvaa vuosi vuodelta - hyvästä syystä. Kuusenkerkät ovat erittäin ravintotiheää superfoodia, joka myös maistuu hyvälle ja on helppo käyttää!
Kuusenkerkät maistuvat sitrukselle ja metsälle. Ne ovat upean kirpsakoita ja raikkaita, niillä voikin oivallisesti maustaa kaikkea mitä maustaisit sitruunalla. Kuusenkerkästä loihdit upeat kastikkeet esimerkiksi kalalle ja vihanneksille, dipit, pestot ja salaattikastikkeet. Kerkkä sopii erinomaisesti maustamaan juomia, kuten liköörejä, muita kesädrinkkejä ja kombuchoja sekä tuomaan raikkautta smuuteihin ja mehuihin. Siitä voi valmistaa teetä ja jääteetä. Kerkkä maustaa ja koristelee myös järkiruuat, kuten jäätelöt ja sorbetit, ja siitä voi valmistaa makuhunajaa ja kerkkäsiirappia.
Talveen kannattaa varautua säilömällä kerkkiä pakastamalla, kuivaamalla, tekemällä niistä uutetta tai upottamalla niitä hunajaan.
Kuusenkerkkä on todellinen terveyspommi! Sitä onkin perinteisesti nautittu sen piristävien ja virkistävien vaikutuksien takia. Kuusenkerkät sisältävät erityisesti C-, K- ja A-vitamiinia sekä antioksidantteja.
Kuusenkerkkiä kerätään vain alkukesällä, sillä loppukesästä kuusenkerkät muuttuvat koviksi ja puisiksi neulasiksi. Puunantimien keruuseen tarvitaan aina maanomistajan lupa.
Suomessa on maailman puhtain luonto, ja isolla ylpeydellä viemme tätä upeaa metsänmakua ulkomaille! Ostamme kuusenkerkkämme Suomesta Satakunnasta tai Lapista, ja se on tuotteesta riippuen joko ilmakuivattua tai pakastekuivattua.
Kuusenkerkkää löydät seuraavista METTÄ tuotteista:
Katso video:
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In collaboration with Nordic Bee Company, we have wrapped the beautiful flavours of our Nordic forests into the new METTÄ flavoured honeys!
The honey we use is a high quality, pure and natural 100% Finnish honey. Its production helps to support natural diversity and sustainable small business development. In our delightful METTÄ gift set, we have combined three amazing flavourful experiences; Finnish pure honey combined with wild blueberry, fresh and bright green spruce sprouts and excitingly zesty rowanberry.
For Mother's Day, we have added a special edition gift box that contains these three wonderful honeys and herbal tea with a special price 15,90€.
]]>Like each spring, the time has come to get excited about foraging!
The quiz is open from 1.4 to 15.4 and the winners will be notified after the closing by e-mail.
We are once again organizing wild herb foraging courses through our Helsinki Wildfoods collective. Helsinki Wildfoods offers workshops that take you on a guided tour of Finnish nature. On our walks, we share our knowledge on how to gather the most common wild herbs, mushrooms and berries from Finnish meadows and forests. In addition to foraging walks, we offer Finnish herbal sauna retreats, natural movement workouts and forest bathing workshops (wildfulness).
Our public workshops are held mainly in Finnish, but we are happy to offer them also in English or Swedish. You can find upcoming workshops in English from Foraging in Finland. Or, for a private or tailored event just for your group, please contact us via email workshops@helsinkiwildfoods.com.
See the course schedule 2021 here:
https://helsinkiwildfoods.com/blogs/villiyrttikurssit
More info in English about the courses:
https://helsinkiwildfoods.com/pages/workshops
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The design of METTÄ products has been awarded the Design from Finland mark. The simple and stylish METTÄ design represents how we see our Finnish forests. We are proud to say that all the design work has been done in Finland by a professional designer.
The Design from Finland mark of the Association for Finnish Work can be awarded for a product, product group or service that strongly represents Finnish design competence. The mark tells that the company has invested in professional design and achieved business advantages through design. User-centered design is also a main criteria for getting the award.
The Design from Finland mark makes Finnish design expertise visible and arouses interest in Finnish products and services both at home and internationally. www.designfromfinland.com
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Ostavastuullisesti.fi (buy responsibly, in English) is a platform dedicated to helping make buying responsibly easier. Products and services that are available on the site have successfully passed a demanding curation process looking at all aspects of the products’ or services’ responsibility. The page serves those whoa re looking to make better choices in their daily lives with products, services and tips for sustainable lifestyles.
The products and services available have all passed the curation process done by independent third party experts. Thanks to the curation process and the independent panel of advisors, you can trust that the choices you make have an effect.
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SHOP HERE METTÄ Herbal Teas + Taiga Chocolate Christmas Goodies to support two small, Finnish companies and help to spread the word about Finnish wild food. Treasures growing in the arctic nature are the cleanest and purest food in the world. Products made from these delicious ingredients are the perfect gift, just for you. Enjoy!
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Like each spring, the time has come to get excited about foraging! We are once again organizing wild herb foraging courses through our Helsinki Wildfoods collective. Helsinki Wildfoods offers workshops that take you on a guided tour of Finnish nature. Through Helsinki Wildfoods, we offer foraging walks, where we share our knowledge on how to gather the most common wild herbs, mushrooms and berries from Finnish meadows and forests. In addition to foraging walks, we offer Finnish herbal sauna retreats, natural movement workouts and forest bathing workshops (wildfulness).
Our public workshops are held mainly in Finnish, but we are happy to offer them also in English or Swedish. You can find upcoming workshops in English from Foraging in Finland. Or, for a private or tailored event just for your group, please contact us via email workshops@helsinkiwildfoods.com.
See the course schedule 2020 here:
https://helsinkiwildfoods.com/blogs/villiyrttikurssit
More info in English about the courses:
https://helsinkiwildfoods.com/pages/workshops
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To honour the wild herb season that's just starting, we have agreed some super juicy product campaigns with our resellers.
METTÄ Rose Root / Ruusujuurirouhe 40g
METTÄ Nettle Powder / Nokkosjauhe 40g
METTÄ Calm Sleep Herbal Tea / Hyvä Uni Yrttitee 25g
METTÄ Dandelion / Voikukka 25g
METTÄ Nettle Crush / Nokkosrouhe 100g
METTÄ Creen Cleanse / Puhdistava yrttitee 20g
METTÄ Forest Defence / Vahvistava yrttitee 20g
Read more about why we are so excited about using Finnish herbs as tea and what the benefits are:
In Finnish HERE, in English HERE
METTÄ Boost from the Woods Gift Pack 22,90€,
METTÄ Gift Package for 3-6 products
METTÄ / HELSINI WILDFOODS Discover Finnish Nature Gift Pack
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One of our favourite wild herb is the spruce sprout, our main ingredient in our novelty Forest Defence Herbal Tea. Nutrient-rich spruce sprout tastes fresh and brings a tangy, citrus like flavour that works nicely with sweet stuff. Why not combine it with the best, raw, naked, organic honey there is in Finland?
]]>One of our favourite wild herbs is the spruce sprout, it's also the main ingredient in our new Forest Defence Herbal Tea. Nutrient-rich spruce sprout tastes fresh and brings a tangy, citrus-like flavour that works nicely combines with anything sweet, like honey!
So, why not combine it with the best, raw, naked, organic honey there is in Finland? Where to find this amazing good stuff? The answer lies 400km from Helsinki, in a small village called Isokyrö. From the clean nature of Central Finland you can find four daddies bringing you one of the finest organic, raw honeys that nature has ever produced. Let us present to you; Sugar Daddies:
We're planning on launching a few Forest Flavour Honeys soon, in collaboration with the Daddies, stay tuned!
]]>This year, we are focusing on our "Functional Herbal Teas" range which consists of 4 powerful products. These herbal teas are all natural, caffeine-free and they each have a special super power, or a purpose:
Calm Sleep Herbal Tea calms and relaxes your body and mind for the night
Good Morning Herbal Tea refreshes and invigorates your body and mind for the new day
Forest Detox Herbal Tea fights your flu, supports your immune system and pushes aside any fatigue
Green Cleanse Herbal Tea gets your metabolism going to reduce bloating and leave you feeling light and energized
We have also been exploring totally new product ideas focused particularly on export markets. We are super delighted to share an upcoming launch of a product family called "Berry Bites"! These newbies to our family of products are 100% natural and healthy, gourmet snacks made of Finnish berries.
Product development is still a work in progress, but already we can share that Berry Bites will be 100% natural, no added sugar, no additives, delicious berry-fruit bites from Nordic forests. A healthy gourmet snack to pamper yourself and a perfect gift. Packed sustainably in our compostable pouch. Berry Bites will be made using freeze-dry technology in order to preserve the flavours and the healthy and beneficial properties of the raw ingredients.
We plan to launch Berry Bites for testing with selected retailers in the spring of 2020 and for all our customers in autumn 2020. Most likely, there will be 3 delicious flavours, made of only a few high quality ingredients. Think simple, tasty, healthy and perfect on the go or enjoyed slowly.
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The festive weekend was kicked off with the Finnish Independence Day Gala on the 6th of December. As a happy event sponsor, we were giving away some of our gift boxes filled with Nordic delicacies. The Finnish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong is arranging the event for more than 100 guests each year. Next year we plan to see METTÄ also as a part of the gala’s menu with our favourite, bubbly recipe for the festive season: berry xylitol toasts!
The weekend continued at the Finnish Christmas market that took place in Central Hong Kong. At our booth, visitors could taste our products and pick their favourites to include in their Christmas. Can you guess what were the most popular products? The top three was clearly: Lingonberry Xylitol, Porcini Salt and Calm Sleep Herbal Tea which all sold out! That is not a surprise if you know these products. ;) They are all extremely tasty and very easy to use - especially in densely populated, hectic Hong Kong, where people work for long hours and live in small apartments with no large kitchens. Here, they are looking for easy-to-use, tasty, and healthy products to add into their cupboards.
In case you are still looking for delicious and sustainable gifts to your loved ones this Holiday season and Chinese New Year, our METTÄ products are a great option and will bring an exciting Nordic twist to your pallet! In Hong Kong, you can get yours from Sverige Shoppen and also from WWF Visitor Centre’s Pop Up shop until February. If you cannot fly to Finland, let us send a little piece of Finland to you!
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We like to keep things interesting and exciting at METTÄ nordic. We are an innovative team and one of our passions is definitely bringing new flavours, new types of culinary adventures and new experiences to our customers. We promise to provide only the highest quality, only the purest of ingredients with nothing extra ever added and nothing taken away.
Come the new year, we have some exciting news to share!
Next year, we will be focusing on our Functional Finnish Herbal Tea range. If you’ve been following us on our journey, you’d know that we already have a few functional herbal teas in our range. Earlier this year, we have began the Functional Herbal Tea journey with the addition of the Good Morning Herbal Tea. It’s been a welcome and loved partner to our Calm Sleep Herbal Tea. Together, these two have given us the confidence and the inspiration to develop this line of products a little further, to bring just a little more goodness and healthy benefits to our customers on this culinary adventure with us!
Functional herbal teas are an easy to integrate nutritious and delicious Nordic forest flavours into your lifestyle.
Please meet our future additions to the Functional Finnish Herbal Tea range!
Forest Defence & Green Cleanse
Let me tell you just a little bit more to get you as excited as I am…
Forest Defence is an herbal mixture that will boost your immune system, help fight away any flu and certainly push aside fatigue. It’s a mixture of powerful herbs and spices from the Finnish forest. Spruce sprouts are used in this mixture and they are known for their high vitamin C content, anti-inflammatory properties and antibacterial properties, great for the flu season or any time the immune system could use an extra hand! The aroma-rich blackcurrant leaf and ginger make an effective and irresistibly delicious combination with the spruce spouts guaranteeing and intensely delicious moment of indulgence, naturally caffeine free.
Like all of our products, our functional teas are no exception in that they can be used in various ways. May sound confusing, but the reality is, this is a great opportunity to try using our products in different manners, don’t be intimidated. Because we use no actual tea leaves, just pure and nutrient rich Finnish herbs, all our herbal teas are edible. I for one know I love to finish my cup of tea by eating the soaked herbal mixtures mixed with a hint of honey, I know I’m getting all I can out of our powerful herbs!
So, try using out Forest Defence Herbal tea mixture in your smoothies or in cooking for example as a beautifully delicious spice for fish or vegetables.
Green Cleanse is a strong and delicious herbal mixture that will get you feeling detoxified, light and pure! It contains the purifying ingredients nettle and dandelion leaf, known for their detoxifying effects on the body. These are combined with dandelion root which has been said to support healthy bacterial balance in your gut while yarrow flowers are used in this mixture bringing their healthy purifying properties to the table. Green Cleanse will leave you feeling refreshed and purified. We can’t wait for you to try this strong mixture that has beautifully delicious tones of mint and parsley making it flavour rich and an indulgent experience!
Like all our herbal teas, this mixture uses no actual tea leaves and therefore it’s also delicious eaten with a bit of honey after drinking your cup of tea ;).
Stay tuned for more information and look our for our newcomers in our partners shops in the new year! Prepare for a fresh, light, healthy and nutritious start to the 2020 with our Functional Finnish Herbal tea range, it’s just the support we need to get the new year started with a good groove and a nutritious lifestyle.
We love to hear how you’re using our products, so don’t hesitate to tag us in a post or write us a message to share your ideas! We look forward to hearing how you’ve used our newcomers!
We have also added a new 100% compostable logo at the left corner of the pouches to remind you that our pouches are indeed 100% compostable.
Wishing you the best start to the new year,
Roosa
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pics: Aino Huotari
]]>The more people learn to appreciate clean berries, herbs and mushrooms picked from the forests, the better change we have to protect the diversity of the forests compared to wood industry's or agricultures needs. For these reasons METTÄ’s main mission became to be a trusted Nordic natural products brand. We wanted to provide products that are easy to use and easy to understand using only the highest quality Nordic ingredients with nothing added and nothing removed guaranteeing clean food, high nutrient content and delicious 100% natural flavours. Flavours that will take you instantly to the mystical Finnish forests.
Nordic forest food is full of nutrients, flavours and natural goodness. Our berries have proven health benefits, our herbs are strong and can be used in a functional manner, our mushrooms are clean and full of flavour. METTÄ products use only these highest quality, natural ingredients that grow in the cleanest nature in the world, nourished by the cleanest water and the Midnight Sun in Finland.
METTÄ makes integrating these healthy, nutritious and delicious nordic forest flavours into your lifestyle easy by providing products that are easy to use and easy to understand from herbal teas to premium salts, natural sweeteners and healthy snacks. We bring all this to you in a sustainable manner so you are not only doing good for yourself, but also the planet. We package all our products in carefully built compostable pouches that protect the delicate flavours and nutrients while providing a sustainable option to plastic packaging.
Happy Independence Day our dear Finland!
-Roosa
ps. Did you know that METTÄ is a traditional Finnish word meaning forest :)
]]>Give a little taste of the Finnish forest as a uniquely delicious and sustainable gift.
We have an updated version of our METTÄ Gift Box. The box has a "quick bottom", and it takes just one second to assemble it. We are now also selling the gift box pre-packed, containing 3 products and an exciting recipe booklet:
The gift package contains a delicious combination of flavours from the Finnish forest: herbs, berries and mushrooms in a beautiful Nordic design gift box. Nettle Pesto, Lingonberry Xylitol and Porcini Salt delight your taste buds while keeping their footprint on the environment a light one. The products are locally produced and packaged in 100% compostable pouches, down to the reseal zipper and in a recyclable carton gift box.
The 3 product Pre-Packed Gift Box has it's own barcode and the product label on the bottom.
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Now, we are happy to share that our product case box (the box that stores and delivers our precious compostable METTÄ pouches) has finally gotten a makeover and is now carrying the black and white METTÄ design that was originally planned. The box is recyclable carton with a tear-off cover, and it can be placed on our retailers shelves as is. We hope you like it too!
The box is manufactured in Finland, Nummela.
Vegemessut is #1 veggie food event in the Nordics taking place 28.-29.9.2019 in Kaapelitehdas, Helsinki.
]]>Challenges and obstacles that small food businesses face have become clear on this path towards the ambitious dream. Without own production, selling food products as a sustainable and viable business would mean focusing on larger international markets where customers are willing to pay the premium needed to produce the highest quality natural food products from, and in, Finland.
About one year ago, the idea of focusing on the Japanese market became a strategic direction as positive feedback and interest was attained from Japanese buyers with the help of Business Finland’s Food from Finland program. Japanese delegates were given a chance to try Nettle Pesto, Mushroom Sauce and Lingonberry Xylitol, which all received positive feedback driving the a bigger strategic shift in the small company, now aiming for export. So began the process of finding and securing the needed financial and human resources to carry out the new strategy.
METTÄ - flavours from Nordic forests
About six months ago, the export focused, trademark-ready brand METTÄ - flavours from Nordic forests was born. METTÄ s a brand that embodies the ambitious dream of of the founders, to share the pure, clean and delicious flavours from our Nordic nature in a sustainable manner. METTÄ takes you on a culinary adventure into the Nordic forest and offers flavours from berries, herbs and mushrooms sustainably packaged creating a wholesome experience of Nordic forest magic.
After many positive signals and encouragement, Japan was selected as the first target market. Finland already has a mark and is know in Japan for having the cleanest food, beautiful design and high quality products. Finnish nature and the Finnish Metsä is also greatly appreciated and adored.
After a year of sales efforts in Japan, collaboration with an importer has successfully began. METTÄ has gained a small, but significant and important visibility in Japan. In May and June, METTÄ was featured at two large department store Nordic Events and received a warm welcome and much positive feedback. The Berry Xylitol products were a particular hit with customers who enjoy using it in their teas. Since then, METTÄ products have been available at Metsä Village situated right next to Moomin Valley Park, near Tokyo. Metsä Village sales will provide important feedback and lessons driving further product innovation.
Try, fail and learn
Building an entirely new, export focused brand has not been just a smooth ride but rather one with exciting turns and twists and many smaller and larger challenges. Continuously securing the needed financial and human resources, the right partners and building a suitable business model without forgetting export regulations concerning natural food products is the daily life of a food entrepreneur. Try, fail and learn is the best way to progress walking hand in hand with being courageous and persevering in what you believe in, even in the face of challenges. For a small company, this is a game of risk and gambling, where a wrong move may mean not being able to pay wages the next month.
The grey hairs from trying and failing have not come without enormous gratitude for the lessons learned and the journey experienced, things that cannot even be quantified in monetary terms. For example, the challenges of packaging in 100% compostable pouches meant to be sold in one of the most moisture rich environments in the world. Challenge accepted. These lessons are the corner stones of the drive and motivation going forward. Building networks and partnerships in Japan, where the working culture is completely different is a rich experience with much to offer in terms of learning. Challenges related to sales planning and forecasting in Japan have lead to the most important lesson learned thus far. Building a good, solid and trust based relationship that runs in between two very different cultures is not built in a month, or even a year. It takes time, patience and empathy and the outcome is almost impossible to foresee, even with the largest export budgets.
The key is perseverance while being nimble
A year from now the experience and expertise will be on an entirely different level and this is certainly the best part about being an entrepreneur, the opportunities to learn and grow are endless. Who knows, maybe a year from now the focus will be on a different market and with slightly different natural food products. Along with courage and perseverance, what has proven to be vital for a small company is the ability to be agile and nimble, to change when change is needed and to let go of old patterns when they no longer serve you. As the base for all of this there needs to be an insatiable love and passion towards what you are building, and this is what keeps the entrepreneur going and even smiling in the face of challenges. From here we move forward and continue fulfilling our dream to bring the world’s cleanest wild food to the tables of people all around the world.
Read the news in Finnish here.
// Annika & Roosa
]]>Nordic native plants are true superfoods filled with antioxidants, vitamins and polyphenols.
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Nordic plants grow from soil that is frozen for about 6 months of the year making it pure and clean and low in pesticide residues. They gain their power from the midnight sun and the cleanest air and water in the world from our more than 250 000 lakes and the largest certified organic forest area in the world! Could there be a more healthy and nutritious growing ground?
Nordic countries enjoy four seasons and our special agro-climatic circumstances makes our plants so unique.
Why Nordic Berries?
In addition to being super tasty, it’s been shown that berries from Nordic forests can form a significant component of a healthy diet. This is largely due to their:
Why Nordic plants?
Wild vegetables such as nettle and dandelion can be used as main ingredients in almost any savoury dish and salad – the same way you would use spinach or kale.
Why Nordic mushrooms?
Mushrooms are juicy, nutrient rich and environmentally friendly food which can be used as exciting spices or even as a main dish of its own.
Read more from our blog.
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