OUT OF INTEREST: Mustamakkara

Anyone who has lived abroad will tell you that sampling local food and rink is pretty much part of the territory. So, I introduce 'mustamakkara'. Directly translated, it's called 'black sausage'. Sounds harmless, doesn't it? Consisting of pork, pig blood, crushed rye and flower, the mix is stuff into the instestines of an animal and baked.

Traditionally eaten with Lingonberry Jam, it is considered both strange looking and strange tasting by those not native to Tampere. People in Tampere have been eating mustamakkara since the 16th Century. Having heard about it, I was very reluctant to go out and buy it myself, but when a friend of mine popped round one night with a huge bag of it, we spent the evening scoffing them down.

Between you and I, it tastes great with Tomato Ketchup!