BBC spotlights Finland’s surprising pine tar delicacy

BBC has highlighted pine tar, a popular Finnish food ingredient that appears unusual to British audiences, Yle reports.

BBC journalist Zuzana Zimmermannová visited Oulu, known as Finland’s tar capital, in late summer. She encountered tar after taking shelter from the rain in a local café.

Zimmermannová ordered coffee and pancakes. When the server asked which flavour she wanted, the options included almond, tar and blueberry.

“Did you say tar?” Zimmermannová asked. The server nodded without hesitation.

BBC’s article now explores northern food culture and Oulu’s tar history. Its headline describes pine tar as “a surprising, smoky goo that Finns can’t stop eating”.

The article examines how tar, made by burning pine, is used in products ranging from schnapps and bread to beer and ice cream.

Matti Moller, coordinator of the Arctic Food Lab project linked to Oulu’s cultural capital year, told the BBC that tar has an intense flavour, so a small amount goes a long way.