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Estonian Cuisine
Estonian local cuisine is mainly based on pork, potatoes and vegetables. The main culinary influence came
from Germans, who ruled here for centuries. A few typical
foods:
Leib - black bread. Estonians have become so used to is that it is the first thing they miss when going abroad for a longer period :)
Kartul - potatoes (introduced here in the 1700s). They're now part of virtually all Estonian meals.
Kotlet - a hamburger patty with
onions. Usually made of beef or pork, very tasty!
Verivorst - black pudding that literally means a blood sausage :) A sausage filled with pork blood and groats, an essential part of every family dinner during Christmas time.
Sült - jellied meat. As with Scottish haggis,
it's better if you don't know what's in it (One hint: pigs
feet).
Kohupiim - cottage cheese-like, often used in cakes and
pastries but also as a salty side salad to meat and potoates.
Other
foods you'll commonly find on an Estonian's table: pancakes, beet salad, honey,
herring, pickled pumpkin, and crayfish.