Edible & elegant

Have you ever seen a prettier apple or pumpkin? Kanako adorns vegetables with fairy-tale designs—“This is easy. All you need to do is peel the fruit”

Twelve years ago, 42-year-old Kanako Tamminen, originally from Japan, saw intricately carved vegetables and fruits on TV. This sparked a hobby that relaxes her and brings joy to her daily life. A decorated piece of fruit is a lovely, one-of-a-kind gift.

Author Outi Tynys

Images Hanna Marttinen

July 22, 2025Lue suomeksi

“I enjoy carving apples, melons, and other fruits, because you can nibble on them at the same time. They also smell wonderful and have a soothing effect on the mind.

I discovered this delightful hobby about twelve years ago. I saw a TV program that showcased beautifully carved vegetables. I immediately looked for a class and decided to give it a try.

An apple is perfect for practicing cuts. You need three cuts to create one petal of a flower: the first cut goes straight into the center, and the next two curve out to the sides. Hold the knife the same way you would hold a pen.

A yellow, stiff-bladed knife is good for beginners and for hollowing out hard fruits like pumpkins. The flexible blade of a Thai-style carving knife is great for decorating softer vegetables. A sharp tip can be used to sketch any pattern on the surface.

You can easily practice with an apple or zucchini, both of which are simple to carve. You can find tutorials on YouTube by searching for “vegetable carving” or “fruit carving.”

Carving is really simple. Even my husband, who is all thumbs, can carve an apple beautifully.

When I ask my Finnish acquaintances if they’d like to try carving, the answer is usually “No, I can’t.” Yet they do have the skill: many can craft beautiful items and knit amazing socks. I don’t have the patience to knit for several days. Carving, on the other hand, is finished in one go. If I’m stressed, carving calms me.

Carving is incredibly easy. All you really need is to be able to peel a fruit. Even my Finnish husband, who is all thumbs, can carve an apple beautifully.

The most important thing to practice is the angle of the knife. You hold it as you would hold a pen. The first cut is straight, and the next one is angled so the piece comes off. You have to be careful when using a carving knife, because it’s extremely sharp.

You can use the same technique to decorate soaps, but it’s hard to find solid soaps in Finland that are suitably sticky, soft, and free of air bubbles.

It’s easiest to start carving an apple’s pattern from the stem and continue layer by layer. It takes Kanako about twenty minutes to decorate an apple.

Vegetables and fruits are alive. There is strength and beauty in them. Even if I decorate ten apples with the same pattern, each one will be different.

If you dip the carved fruits in salt water (2 tablespoons of salt per liter), their surfaces won’t darken as quickly. Then wrap them in paper towels and plastic wrap, and store them in the fridge if needed. They keep for a few days.

Fruit carving is especially common in Thai culture, because flowers don’t last long in the climate. A carving knife with a flexible blade is needed for decorating honeydew melons. A large, thick-skinned watermelon is especially colorful when carved.

I only keep carved fruit on display for a few hours. I love how, like a flower, they only last for a short time.

I prefer plants over soaps. Vegetables and fruits are alive, filled with power and beauty. Even if I decorate ten apples with the same pattern, all of them turn out differently. There are endless possibilities: you can make a rose from a beetroot, orange-colored leaves from a carrot, or tulip blossoms from a zucchini.

A decorated piece of fruit makes a great gift. Carved produce is rare at parties in Finland, so it gets plenty of attention. It’s wonderful that it’s made just for the recipient, and there’s only one of its kind in the world. Every other year, I carved a watermelon for my husband’s grandmother on her birthday, featuring her age. The last number I carved was 94.

Many people want to keep carved fruit for a long time. I only display them for a few hours. I love that, like a flower, they last only a short while.”

The easiest pattern to carve is a two-dimensional leaf shape. A pumpkin stays beautiful for a long time, because the design is carved into its rind.

Kanako grows some of her own vegetables, such as pumpkins. She has lived in Helsinki with her Finnish husband for ten years.

Apple tea lights can be used inside or out, as long as you place them on a stable, nonflammable surface and watch the flame, or use LED tea lights.

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Have you ever seen a prettier apple or pumpkin? Kanako adorns vegetables with fairy-tale designs—“This is easy. All you need to do is peel the fruit”

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