Musta Makkara, Tampere

If you ask anyone in Tampere which one is the most typical local food, the answer would be mustamakkara. This sausage (similar to black pudding, but thinner) consists of pork, pig blood, crushed rye and flour. Trust me, it tastes better than it sounds!

Many things are said about how you should eat it. Mustamakkara is best eaten at a market stall. Some say that in Tampere you do not ask for the amount of sausages or the weight. Just say how much you would like to spend on the sausage. For me, it didn’t matter as the butcher didn’t speak any English and I can barely say anything more than „kiitos“ in Finnish. I just pointed at two of them.... Then, mustamakkara is always served with lingonberry jam. To drink, some say that cold water (comes often for free with the sausage) is the best, some other prefer milk. There are even red wine recommendations for this Tampere speciality. It is also popular to add a donut or a sweet bun to complete the meal. Mustamakkara knows no daytime, although it is more often seen at breakfast or lunch than at dinner. And it is one of the cheapest things to eat in Tampere!

For some real Mustamakkara, try one of the larger markets in Tampere (Temmalantori, Laukantori or Kauppahalli). I would recommend Yrjö Wigren at Kauppahalli (stand 51), a very traditional shop. Tapola at Tammelantori, another good option, is a big name associated with this sausage.

The Tampere Black Blood Sausage (Musta Makkara) is famous nation wide, you can get them ready at the market or in some grills around. I even had it in the hotel breakfast, so be sure to try that one when visiting here.

This is a tradional regional dish in Tampere. It's saugage made with pig's blood and barley, wrapped in real animal gut. It really does taste better than it sounds - I was pleasantly surprised.

You can buy it at the market, or at stalls at the city's waterfront.

It's served wrapped in paper, with a big blob of lingonberry jam.

A perfect lunchtime snack - and really cheap too. If you want to blend in with the locals, make sure you add a carton of milk to your order.

If you’re looking for something local to eat cheap, head for the many sausage stalls which sell the Tampere speciality known as "mustamakkara" (black sausage). You can also buy it hot from almost every food shop in Tampere. Even in the international context of sausages, this local delicacy has won several distinguished awards. The characteristic black colour is the effect of blood and rye or barley among the ingredients. Traditionally, this sausage was consumed with cold milk and lingonberry jam. Today, Boisset Cotes du Rhone has been designated as the correct wine to go with it :D