Anneli’s World-Famous Herb and Berry Delicacies Capture the Taste of Lapland’s Pure Nature
Anneli Tahvonen from Rovaniemi can be summed up in two words: a berry and herb enthusiast. Her deep connection to nature and northern lifestyle led to the founding of Annelin Yrtit & Karkit Oy nearly 30 years ago — a company now known around the world. Now, the City of Rovaniemi and Annelin Yrtit & Karkit have launched four new collaborative products.
Today, Anneli’s workshop produces handcrafted products from pure berries and herbs — such as marmalade candies, berry jams, and jellies — which are ordered from across Europe. Many first discovered them during a trip to Rovaniemi and became fans. The products also travel the world with tourists departing from northern airports.
All ingredients are either organically cultivated or gathered directly from Lapland’s unspoiled nature. No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives are used in the products.
The City of Rovaniemi has launched four new Rovaniemi-themed products in collaboration with Annelin Yrtit & Karkit Oy. You can find them here: www.rovaniemi.fi/kauppa
A Hit Product: Berry Marmalade
Each year, over 40,000 bags of marmalade candies — made from real berries — are handcrafted at Anneli’s workshop in Rovaniemi. Of those, more than 2,000 kilograms are cloudberry marmalade alone. - This work is my great passion! Just this morning, a tourist who had visited Rovaniemi called to say he absolutely needs a large batch of cloudberry jam for Christmas back home in Italy. It’s the highlight of his family’s holiday meal, Anneli shares.
Demand for these delicious marmalades has grown year after year. On the packing table today are 36 bags of marmalade for a German family who expects a delivery from the North every Christmas. A shipment of 30 jars of cloudberry jam is also being prepared for the Italian gentleman.
Other popular winter products include berry jellies that pair well with meat dishes, as well as berry juices and mulled juices that warm up cold days.
- Yesterday, my amazing three-person team and I cooked 1,600 liters of blueberry-blackberry mulled juice. I love Christmas and have sold our products at Christmas markets across Europe, including many years at the Tampere Christmas Market, Anneli says.
This year, however, she had to skip the markets for a heartbreaking reason. Anneli lost her daughter to a rapidly progressing illness. Her daughter, who had studied the field and been involved in the business from a young age, was meant to carry on her mother’s legacy and pioneering work with berries and herbs.
- Thankfully, I have this work I love — it keeps me going. And I’m deeply grateful to my team. They all work with their hearts, she says.
You can find the Rovaniemi products here: www.rovaniemi.fi/kauppa
*This article has been translated with artificial intelligence