Gustus PR Event 2024

elovena

As a great start to this day & breakfast on the bus, I tried Elovena's vanilla & cardamom flavoured oat-based latte drink along with their white chocolate & strawberry flavoured soft oat bar. Not everyone knows, but I solely use coffee as an ingredients for baking, but this latte drink was really pleasant with the cardamom flavour incorporated. I like crispy bars, but this oat bar reminded me that I shall opt-in for these treats with softer texture more often.

Härkis

At the stand they offered fresh and warm 'Tacopastaa' for which Härkis used their product called 'Kaura Jauhis' (minced oat), which can be used as a minced meat substitute in our everyday meals for example your favourite macaroni. I was able to taste it right there and it was a lovely experience for someone like me who loves meat-based dishes. Besides sustainability, the brand's mission is making responsible plant-based food delicious. In 2024 Härkis is the official partner of the Finnish Olympic team.

Gavrielides Foods

We consume olive oil, but not many people had the taste experience of single variety olive oils yet - that's why I was over the moon when I learned that Filos brand has this covered with the Greek Koroneinki, Ladolia and Athinolia varieties. At the event, Gavrielides Foods also presented a vast range of their product portfolio and offered flatbread made with your favourite ingredients such as Filos halloumi, feta, tzatziki, hummus salsa, beans, pepperoni, sundried tomato, air dried ham... such this easy yet delicious dish is a true hit of the summer season!

Twisted oats (by Mums)

Mums is company with a focus on developing new, innovative, vegan products. As Twisted Oats is a relatively new product in the Finnish market, I was excited to finally taste the apple-caramel bun-flavoured fresh porridge - the sweetness is solely coming from fruits and date caramel, there is no added sugars or sweeteners. The other yummy flavour is chocolate brownie, but there is something new in the making behind the scenes, so stay tuned.

veitsitehdas

Something refreshing is brewing at the place of Fiskars knifes production, as nowadays it became home to Fiskars Brewery, Ägräs Distillery and Noita Winery. As part of their commitment to the circular economy they are re-using elements of the production to create new products. I was surprised how great Ägräs Distillery's new carrot & ginger long drink tastes. When visiting Veitsitehdas during the summertime you can join one of their guided tours, and have a hearty meal at their restaurant made by master chef, Jaakko Hämeenkorpi.

havi

Ever since I moved to Finland, I remember that our family's festive tables were not complete without Havi's lovely design. In addition seeing the recent favourite Havi x Kuovi design by Birger Kaipiainen Tarha, I also had the chance to sneak-peak into new designs that will be available later this year. Havi also offers their Havi Pro and Ecotime products that are sustainable food packaging solutions for both consumers and businesses.

nordic herbs & lapin maria

In addition to the beautiful product design, Nordic Herbs are grown in Finland and no matter which package you open you find vibrant colours, fragrant scent and nature's pure goodness inside.

Nettle and spruce tips are essential ingredients in Finnish gastronomy, and how fun to see how Lapin Maria turned them into their signature wild pestos, that enables everyone to enjoy these traditional flavours longer than these plants' limited harvest time.

makuliha

There is no Finnish summer without grilled sausages and Makuliha got this season covered with a various selection. I particularly love their pork sausage called 'Boomeri' (boomer) with 83% meat content and a hint of chilli - but it must be highlighted that not everyone is consuming meat these days. The vegan product family offers 'Zuusto' and 'Hot Paprika' (as a Hungarian, this is my personal favourite), which are surprisingly enjoyable for such a meat-lover girl like me as well.

Rudy's kombucha

Inspired by the their beloved dog, Rudy, a lovely couple expressed their entrepreneurial ambitions in a form of refreshers that are not just tasty but also (naturally) good for you! Rudy's Kombucha drinks has fresh juice of organic fruits and no added sugar - they are also gluten-free, unpasteurised, and vegan. The company also supports good causes by donating a sum of each can to kennels and clinics. After tasting the selection of passion fruit & mango, mandarin & yuzu, pineapple & peach, coconut & pineapple and raspberry & basil, my personal summertime favourite became the pineapple & peach!

putaan pulla

Another everyday favourite in Finnish households is a thin rye bread, toasted in your kitchen or as part of a summertime grilling outdoors. Putaan Pulla's novelty product called 'Ruishoikka' will quickly become a new favourite with its rich flavour and great nutritional values. Another product I tried at their stand was a 100% oat based rieska (Finnish flatbread) called 'Kantti' which can be used in a versatile way, even as a base of bite-sized appetisers.

sundquist finland

Knives are my weakness, so I listened carefully as Magnus introduced Global products and explained the use and the best parts of the tools' functionality - cook's knife, fillet kife, santoku knife, boning knife, utility knife, paring knife, ham/salmon knife... the list is endless and the same knife's final shape can vary based on geographical location and cusisine. Sundquist Finland is proudly supporting the national culinary team of champion chefs as they partake in professional competitions.

Järvikylä

Whichever event Järvikylä participates in, they surely has the most lush & green stand. I enjoyed gazing on the fresh herbs and edible flowers straight from their herb-tower while learning more about their fresh salad mixes, including their new seasonal product 'Kesäinen' (summery) which will be available in the stores in early June, and nicely pairs with grill food, fish, cheeses, strawberries and other fresh fruits. They also had the same herb-infused fruity marmalade treat I'm quite familiar with from other events - it was fun to taste it again!

e.Ahlström

I do food styling on a daily basis, so when E.Ahlström invited me for a small game, I immediately took the opportunity to do an express styling and set up a scene in 1-2 minutes using their beautiful decorative and trendy items, tableware and dinnerware + Järvikylä's herbs at their joint stand. The brand also offers a vast selection of their items to rent by stylists, influencers and visual content creators for their productions and projects.

arvid Nordquist finland

I felt at a real summer party after visiting Arvid Nordquist's stand. First of all, I discovered some of their wine products that can be great base for seasonal cocktails. They created a creative cocktail menu for the event, from which I tried the 'Pearly Bay Lemonade' that features their Pearly Bay white wine. The company has a wide product portfolio, so in addition to wines, they also featured their new, medium-roasted, limited edition coffee, called 'Sommar 2024' (summer 2024).

confetti

One of my secret weaknesses is collecting beautiful cake-decorating tools and sprinkles, so I felt like a child in the candy store at Confetti's elegant stand. I had the chance to taste candy melts, real chocolate-based products along with various flavour pastes & a novelty sugar paste. Pistachio flavour can be a challenge to incorporate into our bakes, but Fun Cakes' product has a concentrated yet natural tasting flavour and what's most important, a colour that is natural-looking.

la tartufata

La Tartufata is a showroom store in the Finnish capital for premium Italian groceries. They truly made me feel like royalty with the versatile product selection they featured at this event. I tasted a 100-year-old balsamic vinegar made by the world's oldest balsamic producer, Giuseppe Giusti which was an unforgettable taste experience. The other star of their stand was their new product called 'Kinara al tartufo' which is the world's first long-ripened cheese using plant-based rennet (artichoke thistle - Cynara cardunculus) - I could snack on that wheel forever! As a sweet, I also had a bite of the delicious amaretti pretzels at the end of my tasting experience.

fazer leipomot

I instantly felt at a Midsummer celebration after seeing the decoration at the stand of Fazer Leipomot, and the similar 'kräns' (flower crown) on the lovely ladies' heads. The product called 'Puikula' is a regular in Finnish household, and the brand featured it at the event as its original recipe from 1997 was renewed this Spring in order to a more intense rye taste experience and longer freshness without additives. The renewed product tasted amazing with butter, and I finally had the chance to try called 'Mustikkakukko', which is a traditional rye-based sweet pastry with blueberries from the Savo region in the east of Finland - Fazer's own version is called 'Puikulakukko' as it is using their whole grain Puikula bread.

picnic & Lejos

At lunchtime, we enjoyed a buffet organised by Picnic with a summery selection of delicious dishes suitable for all dietary needs - jacket-potato, fresh salads, dressings, various proteins and a delicious cookie. It was the perfect lunch for such a summery day with over 26 °C especially that is has been accompanied with with the refreshing Crisp Lemon flavoured sparkling lemonade of Swedish Tonic & Lejos.

smilco's

The popular Finnish brand combines the traditional flavors of Mexico and the North to create something new as part of their Nordic Salsa collection. Have you ever imagined what would happen if your would combine sweet carrots + hot chillies? Smilco's got you covered with their Chili & Carrot salsa, and if you would be up to try something zesty, the Rhubarb & Jalapeno salsa is your go to product. Both salsas are coming in a packaging that is quite new to this product category, but I think it is super practical that you do not have to store and carry a heavier glass jar or a bulky hard plastic package to your upcoming BBQs. If you love to dip your fries into mayo (like I do) then you will be happy to learn the fact that Smilco's Dreamy Mayo with chili & garlic flavour is also vegan.

suomen sahkötuonti

Suomen Sähkötuonti featured their new Princess Cyclone Airfryer that uses a hot air whirlpool technology that reduces cooking time with multiple minutes without the need of a higher W value. I love that you can check the state of the food through the transparent top without the need to open the drawer of the device. Another product they presented at the event were the extremely sharp and beautifully designed Japanese KAI knives that I was able to test myself - the blade slid into the potatoes without much pressure or effort.

lignell & piispanen



Founded in 1852, Lignell & Piispanen of Kuopio is the second oldest family business in Finland owned by the same family. By adapting the "from the forest to the glass" philosophy they are focusing on unique experiences from which you can experience the products' origin through the four seasons of the North.

Their new product with a simply clever name called 'Lingonchello' is a lingonberry spriti that you can use just like you would use a limonchello - I had the chance to taste it as part of a refreshing cocktail: the 'Lingonchello Spritz'. Cheers!

lapin liha



The popularity of ethically produced, nutrient-rich and clean food is exponentially rising across the globe. If we are thinking of traditional flavours of Finland, you cannot miss the top quality reindeer and game products sourced by hunting and reindeer husbandry which are intertwined with the long tradition of the Sámi - the only indigenous people in Europe. Even if you have no opportunity to hunt game or get reindeer meat from a reindeer farm, Lapin Liha got you covered as their products are available in the stores' frozen section all year-round and also fresh during the elk and reindeer season from September to December. I really enjoyed the dried reindeer meat at the brand's stall.

munax



Munax is for their top quality eggs so I was impressed to learn how they took egg product development to a brand new level via innovative solutions. The main ingredients of the Pure Snack products is fermented egg white which provides a good taste, a crumbly structure and increased shelf life without preservatives packed into a dairy-free snack. It is not overly sweet and works well with the fruit flavours they are combined with. I also tried the 'Mun Smoothie' which is a pasteurised egg white based drink with multiple flavour variations and an impressive (25 g) protein content - I was positively surprised that neither the taste neither the scent resembles egg whites.

winestate



Winestate is a private wine import company with a versatile portfolio. Before their expert team decides which wines they bring all the way to Finland, they complete a considerate selection process. At the event, I had the chance to compare a German and a Chile produced Riesling wines, followed by the slightly sweet and fresh Viña Espmeralda from Spain which is perfect for the summer BBQs.

Lihakauppa roslund



Koski manor (Koskis) of Salo is the only farm at present with a natural pasture meat certificate in Finland. The animals move around a lot, graze and eat a variety of wild plants in addition to hay and silage, and most importantly: they are not fattened with fodder grain. Roslund Lihakauppa adds the finishing touches by bringing the premium ingredient from Koski manor's (Koskis') natural pastures to Finnish restaurants and other customer groups. In addition to withnessing the amazing butchery techniques, I had the chance to taste this exceptional quality meat in the form of beef tartar, burger and steak.

Kaskein Marja



Kaskein Marja's product range consists of juices, mulled wine, meads and freeze-dried berries but there are some novelties in the making: yummy berry snacks that are also "berry good" for you. The first two products that will be available soon are called 'Good Pot' with the 'Yellow Sun' and 'Purple Kisses' flavour options, and these will be followed by the 'Good Soup' product group later on - they are utterly delicious and have a lovely consistency so they are definitely worth the wait!

clas ohlson



Clas Ohlson has practical yet stylish food storage solutions for everyone. In my kitchen, I love to see all the ingredients in order, so I had a lot of fun at the small game I have been invited to with the task to cover a relatively small areas with a specific set of storage boxes. It is also practical for spaces where you need to access items at the back of the shelves easily to use a lazy-susan (rotating tray), designed for Clas Ohlson's storage boxes.

Saimaan Tuore



Did you know that Finland has it's own, responsibly grown rainbow trout? Without overloading the waterways, Saimaan Tuore grows their rainbow trouts in the clean water of lake Saimaa and offers this quality ingredient in optimised packaging. The products arrive to the stores already on the same days of catching. The grilling season and mökki holidays are not complete without freshly grilled fish. This summer you can try a new product of the brand with the tomato & basil flavour combination. At the event I tried a ceasar salad with rainbow trout and tacos with minced rainbow trout that is also an excellent way to consume as much parts of each individual fish as possible.

herkkujuustola



A skilled expat entrepreneur moved to Finland, fell in love with a Finn and created a business that enriched a niche field at his chosen country... this story is really close to my heart (not just for the reason of having many parallels with my journey as an expat and as an entrepreneur). I'm glad to have the opportunity to meet Peter Dörig, the entrepreneur behind Herkkujuustola with an inspiring mission to bring the best out of the tradition of Swiss cheesemaking and Finnish ingredients. I had the opportunity to try the products called 'Vilho', 'SavuHilma', 'Metsuri', and of course the 'Mouhi Taler' - which became my new favourite thanks to its freshness and slight feta features.

beverages partners finland



The wines and alcoholic beverages imported by BPF became favourites of people across Finland with various taste preferences. Before tasting some of their selection of new, milder wines that will soon be available in stores, I was invited to participate in a creative activity and create my own wine glass charm: I combined b&w cube beads with the letters of my name + round and sophisticated pearls.

fiskars



It is so fun to realise, how Fiskars products were part of my entire life from my mom's precious tailor scissors to my dad's axe. This truly shows, how deeply the craftsmanship of high quality tools are rooted in the company's mission without borders. Fiskars is Finland's oldest company and they are celebrating their 375th anniversary in 2024. For this great occasion, they prepared new products, such as a limited axe with an artful design, and an anniversary-edition frying pan with green, non-stick ceramic coating and Ceratec™ technology.

suomisen maito (Jymy)



One of the best part of this wonderful day was the moment when I was able to taste a selected flavour of Jymy's ice creams. Of course, I chose pistachio, and while I enjoyed a scoop of this creamy deliciousness I learned that this flavour is also suitable for vegans and contains 10% pistachios - wow! I also realised that I already went through several tubes of Jymy's pistachio ice cream this summer - and I'm surely up for more!