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I first heard about this while at Uppsala last year and thought it was a done deal…apparently not.
Last year Karl Helge Hampus Svensson, a medical student at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, was expelled on a technicality once it came into light that he falsifited his records and was a convicted murder. However Svensson is now enrolled in yet another medical school (Uppsala). I think it’s great that Sweden (and Swedes) firmly believe and practice giving second chances but I personally think this is a bit much. Esp. since someone else could have taken his place at Uppsala (and for that at Karolinska).
1. What is a semla?
It’s a cream bun native to Sweden and Finland.
2. Why is everyone banging on about them today?
Because they are traditionally eaten on Shrove Tuesday.
3. You mean Pancake Tuesday or Mardi Gras?
Yes, but the day before the start of the Christian season of Lent is called Fat Tuesday in Sweden.
4. So what’s in these semla things?
A modern semla is a wheat bun, spiced with cardamom. The top is knocked off and the bun is hollowed out a bit to make room for almond paste and whipped cream.
5. So the top is just thrown away?
No, it’s popped back on and sprinkled with icing sugar.
6. And then you just pick it up and eat it.
You can. But a lot of people prefer to put it in a bowl of hot milk and eat it with a spoon.
7. Sounds like a Lenten fast would be well-advised after eating one of these monstrosities.
Definitely. King Adolf Frederick famously died in 1771 after eating 14 of them for dessert.
8. Do people only eat them on Shrove Tuesday?
No. The semla season has been lengthening ever since Luther lost his grip on the country. You’re likely to spot them in many bakeries for the entire first half of the year. Swedes eat 40 million of them per season.
9. Where does the name semla come from anyway?
From the Latin semilia, meaning top notch wheat flour. But southern Swedes refer to them as shrovetide buns.
10. All this talk is making me hungry. Where can I get one?
Sweden but only until Easter
-taken from thelocal.se
And as yummy as they are, semlas can be quite deadly. Semla was King Adolf Frederick’s favorite dessert and he died February 12, 1771 after eating 14 semlas with bowls of hot milk. However the King was prob. not the most healthy of individuals as his last meal also consisted of lobster, caviar, sauerkruat, smoked herring and champagne….remember, always eat your vegetables!
