True Hemnesværingers find pure pleasure in this local pastry that is said to have its origins all the way back to the Viking Age! Kamkaka is mostly only baked in Bleikvasslia and in Korgen, but is enjoyed far and wide. We are not a little proud that Petter Dass himself mentions Kam-Kager in Nordlands Trompet at the end of the 1600th century along with other goodies like "klinede lefser" and gomme*. We even have kamkaka in the mayor's necklace, which is made by jeweler Merete Mattson.
The dough consists mainly of flour, milk, yeast and margarine and is shaped into small round pieces that are applied a checkerboard pattern with a special rolling pin. Kamkaka is baked in a wood-fired stone oven with top heat, and it is very important to have the right temperature to get the characteristic bubbles. If you want to see how it is baked, you can click on the links on the left.
There are local differences when it comes to ingredients and many people have their "favorite bakers"... There's even a song written about this, and you can hear it if you come to Klemetspelet.
In the summer, young people are busy baking kamkakers at Sørfjelltunet in Bleikvasslia and at Bygdetunet in Bjerka, and in this way they continue the craft and tradition of this local pride. Here you can taste freshly baked kamkakers and see how they are made. Every year in August, Bleikvassli Bygdelag organizes the Kamkakefestival and sells thousands of kamkakers – with happiness in every bubble…
You can also buy Kamkaka all year round at Coop Extra in Korgen and in several of our cafes, and at most events in Okstindan Nature and Culture Park.
* From Nordlands Trompet by Petter Dass:
"Early in the morning, when the day dawned, the Master of the Kitchen appeared and the guests offered Hin clinched lips and palates, comb-cakes and all-hand-crisped bread and large wooden bowls with hamburger meat, Our women they made them empty«
