The consumption patterns of pick-and-mix sweets among Finnish people provide insights into cultural attitudes towards sweets and highlight demographic differences in consumption.
Finnish people consume over 10 kilograms of sweets annually, significantly more than their counterparts in the United States. This high consumption reflects Finland's unique food culture, where sweets serve as a means of showing care and affection, a cultural trait that has persisted over time. The article points out that sweet consumption might be partly a result of a historically scarce food culture, driving people to seek out sugary treats for comfort and enjoyment.
The research presented by Niina Kaartinen, a specialist at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, indicates that women tend to consume more sweets than men, perhaps due to their more frequent grocery shopping habits. As the article reminisces about past candy shopping experiences, it highlights how the candy shopping rituals of the 1980s, coupled with the now-gone currency of marks, have fostered a nostalgic connection to these treats. The interaction of customers and shopkeepers in kiosks has also faded, with the introduction of modern grocery stores now selling pick-and-mix sweets by weight instead of by piece.
Despite the changes in sales methods and the currency used, the enduring popularity of pick-and-mix sweets in Finland emphasizes their cultural significance, bridging generations and reflecting social behaviors. The piece concludes by noting that while some traditions have faded, the love for these sweets remains strong, as they continue to evoke fond memories and maintain their status as enjoyable treats in Finnish society.
