Soon is the time for the delight of the spring – the wheat flour buns, flavoured with cardamom and filled with whipped cream and almond paste or raspberry jam, which ever you prefer.

Available in limited amounts on Fridays and Saturdays from 27th January until 18th February and of course on Fat Tuesday 21st February, from about 12:30 onwards each day.

We strongly recommend pre-ordering at least 24 hours before on through webshop, by e-mail orders@nordictemptations.com or telephone 04 89 02 72 60 (+33 489 02 72 60 from non-French numbers).

When ordering through webshop remember to put in the order notes what day you want to pick them up.

The Fat Tuesday buns are not available for postal deliveries

The semla was originally eaten only on Shrove Tuesday, even called Mardi Gras which is French for “Fat Tuesday”. Referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which begins on Ash Wednesday. Each Swede consumes on average five bakery-produced semlor each year, in addition to all those that are homemade.

The greediest of all must have been King Adolf Frederick of Sweden (1751-1771) as died on 12th February after having consumed a meal consisting of lobster, caviar, sauerkraut, kippers and champagne, which was topped off with 14 servings of his favourite dessert: semla stuffed with almond paste and served in a bowl of hot cream.