Estonian Bread Day at Tallinn’s Open Air Museum
Text Stewart Johnson Photo Visit Estonia / Estonian Open Air Museum
Black bread, rye bread, dark bread…Estonian leib has many translations, and there are many recipes and varieties. On 20 September at the Estonian Open Air Museum in Tallinn, you can celebrate Estonian Bread Day with the whole family and learn everything there is to know about the king of Estonian cuisine, from how the rye is grown, to milling, and baking it. You’ll even learn how to properly eat Estonian bread!
A traditional food in Estonia is kama, which is essentially a mix of barley, rye, oat, and pea flour. It’s Estonia’s original fast food, as it’s rich in nutrients and doesn’t require cooking. You just mix it with milk or kefir, and you’re full and satisfied. Some people say it tastes like dirt, but then again some people aren’t Estonian. It is an acquired taste if you’re not from Estonia, and once you like it, you can even enjoy it mixed in with various desserts.
Rye, an ingredient in kama, isn’t native to Estonia, however. It arrived much later, and it took the local culinary world by storm. Agriculture in Estonia can be harsh, yet rye has thrived here since its arrival. It is a staple of Estonian food, and even many of Estonia’s top restaurants today, several of which are in the Michelin Guide, serve it as part of their world-class meals.
The Estonian Open Air Museum will teach all visitors about every step of the process of making leib on 20 September. While tickets are €18 for adults, €12 with a discount, meaning for students, pensioners and so on, and €38 for a family ticket, entry is free if you have a Museum Card, Tallinn Card, or annual pass to the Open Air Museum.
The Estonian Open Air Museum is a massive “living” museum by the sea in the northwestern part of Tallinn, showcasing life in Estonia in the past, from all the regions of the country. Food and refreshments are available on site. Parking is limited however, so consider taking Bus 41. Bicycle rentals and wagons for children can also be rented in the museum.
More information about Estonian Bread Day at the Estonian Open Air Museum is available here.
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