It’s hard not to regret all the tender butter cookies we’ve missed out on by not living in Sweden, where the sit-down-and-chat-awhile coffee/cookie break (fika in Swedish) is not only welcome in the workplace, but culturally mandated!

We’re making up for lost time here at Mouth HQ thanks to Swedish-born Ulrika Pettersson who founded her Harlem-based Unna Bakery to bring the traditional and elegant cookies of her heritage to a country that could stand to slow down and savor the moment a bit. Her recipes date back to the late 1800s when kaffereps (ladies-only fikas) were to have exactly seven types of cookies on offer because serving fewer would brand a hostess cheap and serving more would brand her a show-off.

At the risk of slighting our grandmas, these may be the tastiest version of a thumbprint cookie we’ve ever had. Sweet and tart raspberry jam nestled into a dainty but rich butter cookie? No wonder these are considered an obligatory fika inclusion.

TIP OF THE TONGUE

When the clock strikes past your safe caffeine consumption hour, there’s always tea for dipping. And this white tea with lemon ginger would be no consolation prize.