Superfoods

[Cunamara]

Hi,
Have recently moved to Helsinki from Dublin and have been looking around for reasonably priced raw ingredients such as:

Cacao
Goji berries
Coconut oil
Fresh raw nuts

I have been taken aback by the prices and am looking into ordering from my previous supplier back in Ireland. Is there anyone out there that is interested in these products and would like to form a buying club?
Regards,
Cunamara

[EP]

Goji berries

How about blueberries instead? There was a recent research comaparing goji berries and blueberries, and blueberries won on every field. They are free to pick, no costs at all.

[Upphew]

Goji berries

Got interested about those, went to the town and got bag of 'em: 17,50€/kg @ Päivänpaiste.

[silk]

Goji berries

How about blueberries instead? There was a recent research comaparing goji berries and blueberries, and blueberries won on every field. They are free to pick, no costs at all.

And black currants, mustaherukka, another super food available in Finland either cultivated or wild.

[sinikala]

Superfoods = a marketing ploy.

Someone who buy superfoods at €17.50 / kg = superfool.

EOM

[Cunamara]

So, I am guessing that you would not be interested then!

I had heard a few negative things about the food that awaited me in Finland, but I have to say that the availability of wild berries and mushrooms has been a true revelation. As for the bread, I am absolutely loving the flat Rye bread, not to mention the pickled vegetables and maustesilli. However, the most amazing thing that I have tasted so far was hot-smoked ahven, which I had caught myself. This was probable one of the best things that I have ever tasted. Food does not get more honest and simple than that.

So, there is hope

Anyway, back to the point. The provenance of food is important to me, I would prefer not to buy old rancid nuts, which most shops stock, and have a source for fresh-crop non-pasteurised nuts. I would also prefer not to buy outrageously overpriced cacao products or coconut oil.

[Upphew]

Superfoods = a marketing ploy.

Someone who buy superfoods at €17.50 / kg = superfool.

EOM

Dried berries tend to be quite pricey... check how much blueberries or cranberries cost when they are dried.

[Lisa 15]

Superfoods = a marketing ploy.

Someone who buy superfoods at €17.50 / kg = superfool.

EOM

Dried berries tend to be quite pricey... check how much blueberries or cranberries cost when they are dried.

Just now the fresh raspberry are between 12€ and 16€/ kg...

[Upphew]

Dried berries tend to be quite pricey... check how much blueberries or cranberries cost when they are dried.

Just now the fresh raspberry are between 12€ and 16€/ kg...

And they have about 85% of water. http://www.luomukauppa.fi/fi/408/t_462

edit. Seems to be impossible to find Finnish products online.

[Tiwaz]

Anyway, back to the point. The provenance of food is important to me, I would prefer not to buy old rancid nuts, which most shops stock, and have a source for fresh-crop non-pasteurised nuts. I would also prefer not to buy outrageously overpriced cacao products or coconut oil.

Limited interest, high costs and stuff has to be imported from opposite arse end of nowhere.

Welcome to Finland.

How about you starting your own little shoppe and selling stuff at "non-overpriced" prices?
I might even buy something from you before you end up declaring being bankrupt.

As stated by others, look at locally available alternatives.

It should be rather prime time for picking berries in the forest right now. Just make sure you know exactly what you are entitled to do on someone elses property and what not.

And GPS/map&skill to use are good to have.

[Nick Spark]

Hi!
Try cafe shop in Fleminginkatu 7, called Galleria Keidas in Helsinki

[Mook]

The missus has been buying Cacao powder from a small chocolate shop near us. (they make their own). Don't know if they sell to just anyone though...

So, find chocolate shop, then ask!

For everything else, start in Hakaniemi/häämentie

[Cunamara]

Thanks for suggestions!
Heading to summer house tomorrow, so hope to come back with litres of berries; although, gather it's not a great year.
A food coop would be useful... volunteered in a few over the years and it's a great system. Are there any in Helsinki?
Also, where's the best fruit and veg markets?
Thanks

[FinnGuyHelsinki]

Also, where's the best fruit and veg markets?

Market (square) prices are often higher than what you can find in your average grocery store, unless you want to pick your own (or buy just for the support), there's not much point in buying directly from the farmers either. I'd say your best bet is Citymarket, Prisma or Stockmann, whichever is closest to you. For wild berries and mushrooms, if not picking by yourself, try finding a friend who is and would sell to you, they're very expensive when bought from a commercial supplier. The frozen stuff in the stores, especially bilberries, taste nothing like the fresh from the woods.

[ulpu]

Yes, compared to UK or US the so called superfoods a sky high over priced. In Helsinki you can buy things like this mainly in Ekolo (Kolmas linja in Kallio) or Ruohonjuuri (Kamppi, Itäkeskus also Tampere). Cocovi has an internet store, especially coconut oil and raw cacao in different forms, a bit cheaper maybe than buying from a shop. Now a days even K-markets are selling goji berries, but I wouldn't touch them. They come from China and they are not organic. China has one of the most polluted soils... I prefer not to buy them even organic, because there has been some problems with the controlling. (China doesn't allow international certificate control)

There is some food coops in bigger towns, but right now I dont have specific info. Its "ruokapiiri" in Finnish. For average organic veggies you can order boxes from www.labby.fi. They are not very precise with the delivery info, but I have always received what I have ordered... this time of the year the veggie surprise box is pretty good, not only carrots. Its good to order with some neighbors or colleagues, as ordering one box is quite expensive.

Buying berries from the market or a stand outside a supermarket is not that bad option. Last autumn I remember buying cranberries, several times 2 euros per liter... Thats really nothing. Also blueberries etc. can be cheap.