20.1.2026 | Culture

Jõgevamaa is Estonia’s food region for 2026

Text Timo Raussi  
Photos Ülle Jukk, Flying Saucer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Each year in Estonia, one county or region is chosen to act as a nationwide ambassador of its local and traditional food culture. This year it is Jõgeva County’s turn to invite visitors from near and far on a culinary journey to east-central Estonia. The county has chosen the slogan “Jõgevamaa sets the table”.

Before sitting down at the table, it is worth explaining where the journey actually takes us. The county lies between Tallinn and Tartu, and consists of three municipalities: Põltsamaa, Jõgeva, and Mustvee, which stretches eastward to Lake Peipus. Põltsamaa is, of course, known for its strong mustard, and for being the production site of many preserves and food products sold under the Felix brand. Mustvee, in turn, is one of the northernmost areas along the so-called Onion Route that runs along the shores of Lake Peipus.

Even more central than onion growing in Jõgeva County’s food traditions has been the breeding of various vegetable varieties. The region is the birthplace of the potato variety “Jõgeva kollane”, the pea variety “Aamisepp”, the carrot variety “Nantes”, and the tomato variety “Malle”. For centuries, local home kitchens have prepared soups, filled pies and egg butter, barley bread known as karask, ruffe fish belonging to the perch family, as well as fresh cucumbers and pickles.

There are no Michelin-starred restaurants in the region, but based on reviews on TripAdvisor and Google, as well as opening hours checked by the editorial team, good value for money can be expected at Oberpahlen, located in Põltsamaa Castle; at Kohvik Ateljee in Jõgeva; and, at lunchtime, at the café of Avinurme Puuait. Smaller places should by no means be underestimated or overlooked either, as their daily menus are often written only on a chalkboard on site.

During the theme year, food-related events open to the general public in the region include, among others:

7 February: Moonlight Night Feasts, an evening of pop-up home restaurants in the Peipsi area;
25 April: Fish Market Day at Mustvee’s harbour, as part of the nationwide Estonian Harbours Day;
25–26 April: Onion Route Fish Café Day, also in the Peipsi region;
30 May: Soup Festival in Põltsamaa, in the courtyard of the Kamaru Community House;
6 June: Põltsamaa’s 100th anniversary celebrations and a street food festival;
18 July: Smelt Lovers’ Festival in Mustvee, in the village of Kasepää;
1 August: Põltsamaa Wine Festival in the castle courtyard;
8 August: Jõgeva town Home Café Day;
15–16 August: Peipsi’s 175 km Food Street—a weekend of home and pop-up restaurants;
12 September: Onion Route Home Café Day;
19 September: Palamuse Grand Fair in Jõgeva Municipality.

… and we must not forget the Jõgevatreff motorcycle rally, held since 1992, which on 23–26 July will again bring a couple of thousand enthusiasts—many of them also food lovers—to the region. You can explore Jõgevamaa’s attractions and other travel information here.