Photo: Gustaf Boman
One popular day amongst us Swedes falls every year on a Tuesday in February. Yes, of course, we are talking about Shrove Tuesday, or Fettisdagen as you would say in Sweden. Fettisdagen is traditionally the Swedish beginning of the 40 days long Lent, where you would stuff yourself with a whole bunch of calories to survive what is ahead.
Although Lent is not that established these days Swedes still love to enjoy a Semla this time a year, and why wouldn’t we? The pastry is just perfect with its cut cardamon bun filled with almond paste and whipped cream.
COMPETITION! We asked our community where we can find the best semla and the two winners of London’s best Semla is no other than Fabrique and Bageriet! Together with Fabrique we are giving out 8 semlor, competition is live on our Instagram from Friday the 29th January.
The official day of Shrove Tuesday is this year the 16th of February. Here is where to find heaven in London this year:
Peanut butter & jelly semla amongst many others at ScandiKitchen. Photo: Scandikitchen
Scandinavian Kitchen
Location: Fitzrovia
Website: https://www.scandikitchen.co.uk/
Scandinavian Kitchen is the go-to shop where you’ll find all the Scandinavian goodies you can think of. They make the traditional Semla, but on the weekends in January and February, they offer special-flavours as well. How about a saffron bun semla? Or one with blueberry, Nutella, or lemon curd? We look forward to trying out the ”cinnamon bun semla”, which basically is two of our favourite Swedish buns in one. How amazing does that sound?!
Bageriet. Photo: LondonSwedes YouTube Channel
Bageriet
Location: Covent Garden
Website: https://www.bageriet.co.uk/
Upon Rose Street lies a cute little traditional Swedish Bakery called Bageriet. Whenever you crave some Swedish pastry this place will never let you down – no matter if you want a cinnamon bun, a shrimp sandwich, or a classic Prinsesstårta. Their semla is one of LondonSwedes’ favourites and baker Daniel makes the almond paste from scratch which gives it a unique taste. Definitely worth a try!
Semla or the Finnish Laskiaispulla? This delicious mix can be found at Dunns Bakery
Dunns Bakery
Location: Crouch End
Website: https://dunns-bakery.co.uk/
Dunns Bakery is another bakery that popular amongst LondonSwedes! Sixth generation baker Lewis is the boss handling the cafe after his father and mother. They have a special thing for decorating cakes and all of their delicacies are made from their own, homemade recipes. Since the first lockdown, they have opened a pop-up shop for delivery where you, amongst all the delicious pastry can take away a special edition of the semla.
Semla delivery to Totally Swedish from Svenska Kyrkan. Photo: Jonathan Ferding
Totally Swedish
Locations: Marylebone, Barnes
Website: https://www.totallyswedish.com/
Totally Swedish started as a webshop för Swedish goodies, but later they expanded to not only one, but two, cute little shops. Their Semla is this year provided by Svenska Kyrkan London, and they will be delivering Mondays and Fridays. So, either you start the week off with a Semla or you reward yourself with it after five days of hard work.
Photo: Blåbär
Blåbär
Location: Putney
Website: https://blabar.london/
A nordic inspired cafe and design shop which is also going strong online. During corona their physical shop is closed, however, the cafe is still open for take-away. Which means that you, luckily, still can enjoy their Semla with its very fluffy cardamon bun.
Photo: Karma bread Instagram
Karma Bread
Location: Hampstead Heath
Website: https://www.karmabread.co.uk/
Bread, sweets, sandwiches, and soup. Karma Bread has whatever you would like to have for a cosy lunch o a classic Swedish fika, although it is not Swedish at all. The fact that it is located in Hampstead Heath makes it the perfect fit for a take away combined with an excursion. Grab yourself a Semla to go and walk in the parks or go visit Highgate Cematary. A win-win situation, or ”slå två flugor i en smäll” as we say in Sweden.
Fabrique Bakery. Photo: Marjan Az
Fabrique Bakery
Locations: Covent Garden, Fitzrovia, Notting Hill, High Holborn, Kensington, and Shoreditch
Website: http://fabrique.co.uk/
Fabrique started in Sweden by Lotta and David Zetterström and is a stone oven bakery. They offer a wide selection of bread, buns, and traditional Swedish cookies. The pastry- and bread success took the little coffeeshop to both New York and us in London – which we are very thankful for. You find them in six different locations around London and all of them offer semla for take-away. For the one that loves a little extra cream Fabrique is the place to go!
Win semlor for you and a friend from Fabrique on our Instagram! The competition will go live Friday 29th of January on Instagram.
Alma’s
Location: Harlesden
Website: https://www.facebook.com/almasharlesden/
Alma’s is a little Swedish inspired café that serves lunch and fika in a classic Swedish style. Choose between soups, pastries, bread, and other dishes which you post-corona can enjoy in their garden. Now however you may just take it away instead. When it comes to the Semla, the cafe prefers if you contact the cafe and ask for it, since they are going to reduce their baking because of the corona. They will bake it all February on order though.
Chin Chins coffee house
Location: Bexleyheath
Website: https://chinchinscoffeehouse.co.uk/
We know about Chin Chin thanks to you guys, who posted about it in our group. And that is exactly what communities are for – right? Chin Chins Coffee House is a family run business popular with the locals in Bexleyheath. They provide homemade food, loads of loose tea, and freshly baked cookies. And, this time a year, Semlor!
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The post Where to buy London’s best semla 2021! (WIN semlor for you and a friend) appeared first on LondonSwedes.