A Swedish phenomenon, explained

What is a Swedish semla?

The semla (plural semlor) is a wheat bun spiced with cardamom, split and filled with almond paste and vanilla-whipped cream, crowned with its own lid and a dusting of icing sugar. It is Sweden's great late-winter indulgence.

When do you eat a semla?

Traditionally on Shrove Tuesday - Fat Tuesday, Fettisdagen - the day before the Christian fast. In 2027 Fettisdagen falls on 9 February 2027. These days enthusiasts eat semlor from Christmas until Easter, which is why they are also called Fat Tuesday buns.

Where does the name come from?

The word semla derives from the Latin simila, meaning fine wheat flour. What began as a plain bread roll became, over centuries, an irresistible cream-filled delight.

A little history

Sweden's King Adolf Fredrik is said to have met his end on 12 February 1771 after a hearty meal finished with a hetvägg - a semla served in a bowl of warm milk. Proof, legend has it, that one should always order two.

How to eat one like a local

Start with the lid and use it to scoop up some of the cream. Proceed with the rest of the bun. The refined use a fork, bohemians a spoon, and purists order it the old-school way - in a bowl of warm milk (that hetvägg again). No method is wrong as long as you enjoy every bite.

Modern variations

Sweden's favourite bun keeps evolving: the handy semmelwrap, the elegant prinsessemla, and the indulgent semmel-milkshake all put a twist on the classic. Traditionalist or trendsetter, resisting a semla is futile.

Find a semla in Sweden

Semmelguiden rates and ranks semlor bakery by bakery across Sweden. Browse the places, the classic and modern semlor, or the twists. The guide itself is in Swedish - but a semla needs no translation.

When is Fat Tuesday?

Fat Tuesday - Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, Fettisdagen - is the day the semla belongs to. In 2027 it falls on 9 February. See Fat Tuesday: what it is and how the world marks it.

A semla outside Sweden?

The semla travels wherever Swedes and the curious gather. We map the bakeries abroad that make them - see semlor around the world. Found one in the USA, the UK, Germany, anywhere? Add it to the map - no account needed, a human checks every submission.