Limppu

Limppu is a whole rye bread that is traditionally prepared in eastern Finland. It typically consists of a sourdough starter, whole rye flour, warm water, and salt, and it is allowed to ferment overnight. Traditionally, the bread calls for using dried pieces of previous bread dough or a lump of dough saved from the previous bake as a starter. The soft and airy dough is shaped into a cone, and following the change of the cone shape into a flattened round loaf, the bread is baked until it’s nicely colored and produces a hollow sound when tapped on the bottom. The natural fermentation process gives limppu a distinctive, strongly acidic flavor and a slightly sweet nuttiness, while its consistency is rather dense with a soft crumb. This traditional rye bread is typically accompanied by butter, hard cheese, cold cuts, slices of smoked reindeer, and a glass of milk on the side. In Finland, people often prepare a loaf of limppu as a housewarming gift.