In 2007, it was selected as the national dish of Finland by the readers of the Finnish tabloid Iltalehti.

[4] In a similar poll organized by the ELO Foundation for the Promotion of Finnish Food Culture in cooperation with the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK) and the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in autumn 2016, Karelian hot pot took second place, losing to rye bread.

[5] The hot pot is typically seasoned with black peppercorns, salt, bay leaves and allspice.

Due to the scarcity of meat in the past, the hot pot was traditionally prepared only for festive occasions.

As meat became more readily available during the 20th century, the dish became a common, everyday food throughout Finland.