Fika: The Swedish Ritual of Relaxation, Now at Søle Nordic Wellness

Fika

/ fee-kuh / noun or verb

Swedish for a relaxing coffee break

As Scandinavian descendants growing up in a farm on the Canadian prairies, coffee breaks were almost an institution. No matter what we were doing on our farm, we would stop and take a break from farm work. This almost always included a cup of coffee (or any drink) and a snack both midmorning and midafternoon. We also used it as a time to regroup, review, and plan out our next moves.

Fika is as much a part of the workday in Scandinavian countries as emailing or fixing the printer. It is so ingrained in Swedish tradition that some companies add a special clause to job offers that employees are entitled to a fika break. Even the country's brand Ikea has a paragraph about Swedish coffee break on its corporate website: "More than a coffee break, fika is a time to share, connect and relax with colleagues. Some of the best ideas and decisions happen at fika." 

Interestingly, research shows that Swedish coffee break gets the creative juices flowing. It gives us the opportunity to be distracted, filled with inspiration from communication with other people, and allows us to discuss and share ideas.

We at Søle also feel strongly about the benefits of fika. So much so, we have incorporated fika into our Nordic Circuit. During your rest phase in our Salt Haven, we will serve you your choice of coffee, tea or fruit water. Better yet, we have imported Sweden’s national tea Södorblandning tea (Södor tea), a popular blend of black tea, tropical fruits and flowers.

So, ska vi ses över en fika någon gång? Shall we have a coffee together some time?

Relax at Søle

We have incorporated fika into our Nordic Circuit. During your rest phase in our Salt Haven, we will serve you your choice of coffee, tea or fruit water.

Connie Thompson

Owner of Søle Nordic Wellness Spa