For the Swedes, fika is not just a coffee break. Fika is a long standing tradition to take a moment out of your day to enjoy and savor the moment. It’s not taken on the go like most American coffee breaks either, the purpose is to really stop what you are doing and relax. With a coffee and a sweet of course.

According to the website Sweden.se, “it comes as no surprise that Swedes are among the top consumers of coffee and sweets in the world — or that Swedes appreciate the good things in life.”

Many Swedish companies have mandatory fika throughout the workday, sometimes twice, around 10 am and again around 3 pm. This allows coworkers a chance to take a break, socialize and catch up with their colleagues. Numerous studies have shown that this mandatory break has increased productivity and reduced stress among the Swedes; a study in 2010 “found that Swedish workers were the least stressed worldwide.”

So how does one fika?

Fika can take place any time of day; with friends or colleagues, someone you are trying to get to know, or even yourself. Fika during the week traditionally occurs at work, but a café or home are other locations fika can take place. Fika at work typically lasts around 20 minutes, but fika outside the workplace can range from 30 minutes to several hours. Coffee is the drink of choice for fika, but tea or another beverage you like will also do. To top it all off, a sweet treat or pastry, known as fikabröd in Sweden, is consumed alongside.

Ready to give it a try? En kopp caffe, tack!