Lockdowns are here again, just like last spring. Lockdowns are probably an unfamiliar and even strange topic for many, but here in Monaco of the East, we actually live on the edge of lockdowns all the time, believe it or not.
The Saimaa Canal begins in our territorial waters, and you can sail anywhere in the world. The Saimaa Canal has a drop of over 70 meters to sea level, so locks are an everyday occurrence for us. We even have a district called Kanavansuu.
So we went to get inspiration for our lock packages from the locks of Mälkiä, Mustola and Soskua, as well as the Kansola flap bridge. We didn't get any further than that, because the next lock is the Pälli lock on the Russian side. The border has been closed to ordinary citizens for almost a year now, so visas have long expired. So we included Ilistojen in addition to Pälli, and there will still be a couple of locks left in reserve.
It's quiet in the brackets at the moment.
It all starts from the Mälkiä canal.
What did the locks look like? Well, as quiet as everywhere else in the city right now. The Saimaa Canal only operates during the summer season, so now the locks are resting without users, just like the armchairs and sofas in cafes and restaurants, among others, for at least the next three weeks.
Lehmus Roastery's Kanava, one of the so-called neighborhood coffees, is a light-roasted Colombian coffee inspired by the Saimaa Canal. The canal's label shows the lock gates opened and the bridge raised as a boat, which strongly resembles a Venetian gondola, moves towards the lock in a summery atmosphere. In theory, such boating to the locks is possible, as the canal is open to all cargo and pleasure vessels, as long as they are equipped to be seaworthy.
Friends of the Saimaa Canal can be found in Suez and Panama
It is also peaceful at Mustola Lock.
All the same, because times are special and many people have time to read useful information about the world and life during their free time or break, so let's delve deeper into this special feature between Finland and Russia, the Saimaa Canal.
It is a significant connection route between Finland and Russia. It also allows boats and ships to reach the Gulf of Finland and even New Zealand – which wouldn't be a bad destination at the moment, since there is practically no coronavirus there anymore.
The canal was opened over 150 years ago, in 1856. This canal, which has been built and renovated three times in total, is a rarity in the world, as in times of peace, a state has rarely leased its land to another independent state. This is what happened with the Saimaa Canal.
As we well remember, Vyborg has belonged to Finland or the Grand Duchy of Finland for centuries. After the wars of the 1940s, Vyborg remained behind the border, so the connection from Lake Saimaa to the Gulf of Finland was cut off. In 1963, the canal was reopened when President Kekkonen negotiated a lease agreement for the canal, so that at least part of Karelia could be returned.
It's snowy – and peaceful – at Soskua Lock.
Russia agreed to lease only a small strip around the canal, and the same agreement has continued ever since. The agreement was renewed in 2012. A separate canal commissioner has been appointed in Finland to handle matters related to the agreement. The canal commissioner's office is located near the Mustola Canal.
Another significant location is the culturally and historically significant park area between the old and new locks in Mälkiä, which has been named Urho Kekkonen Park to honor Kekkonen's negotiating skills for the reopening of the canal.
How does the Saimaa Canal compare to other major canals in the world? The Saimaa Canal is 43 kilometers long, the Suez Canal is 193 kilometers long, and the Panama Canal is 80 kilometers long.
The Saimaa Canal connects Finland and Russia, the Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, and the Panama Canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
The Saimaa Canal enables shipping from the Gulf of Finland to Lappeenranta, the Suez Canal enables a route from Europe to Asia without going around Africa. The Panama Canal enables a circuitous route around South America, saving approximately 13,000 kilometers.
In one respect, the Saimaa Canal clearly wins. Whereas the Suez Canal is an open canal and does not require locks to equalize the height differences, and in Panama you only have to climb 26 meters to the artificial lake and back down, on Saimaa you can enjoy real height differences: with seven locks, the height difference is no less than 76 meters. It has an elevator feel when you descend and ascend from one lock to another!
How are Lock Packages related to locks and the Saimaa Canal?
The lower gate of the Soskua lock. Note the difference in water level!
Last spring we introduced three packages of three coffees and called them Lockdowns. Now we are switching to plain Finnish and using Sulku.
Let's hope that this lockdown won't last too long and we'll soon be able to live a slightly less restricted life again. However, the truth is that the restrictions are also affecting Lehmus Roastery's operations very much, so it's time to introduce the current lockdown packages!
Lehmus Roastery's Sulku II packages keep your coffee supplies in good condition for about a month.
After the Kansola swing bridge, the next lock is the Pälli lock on the Russian side, so the photo reportage ends at this point!
This spring we have added new products to the familiar packages from last spring, and we will be releasing more this week. All packages contain 3x500g coffee packages and one 220g package of Unelmien kafvi specialty coffee made for our Satamatie 6 café. Unelmien kafvi is a blend of soft, nutty Brazilian small-farmer coffee and fruity Rwandan micro-batch coffee.
This set should last about a month in a home or remote office.
Bracket 1: Wet or light roasted coffees 
In the light package, we offer 3x500 gram packages of our lightest roasts, namely Myllysaari, Kanava and Muukko. The package also includes a 220 gram package of light Unelmien coffee, which has been created as a support package for our café at Satamatie 6.
Normally, a 1720 gram package like this would cost €60.60, now the package price is only €49.90.
Bracket 2: Mustola or dark roasted coffees
This package is suitable for those who like the soft and chocolatey aromas of dark coffees, and who crave a roasted aroma in their coffee. This year, we have selected dark Lauritsala, dark Retkikahvi, and the medium-roasted dark Pusupuisto.
In addition, the package has added the Coffee of Dreams.
Normally, a 1720 gram package like this would cost €60.60, now the package price is only €49.90.
Bracket 3: Soskua, or espresso selection
If you enjoy your coffee with an espresso machine, we have collected our coffees that are well suited for espresso in this package.
The package starts with our classic espresso coffee, Sammonlahti, a bittersweet blend of Arabica and Robusta. Kimpinen is our medium-roasted espresso, which we also use as our café's house espresso. The taste is nutty, with a full mouthfeel.
As a third coffee, we have added Kanava, whose complex flavor is condensed into a delicious espresso.
The package also includes the Coffee of Dreams.
Normally, a 1720 gram package like this would cost €60.60, now the package price is only €49.90.
Bracket 4: Kansola or top 3 favorites
We have put together our most popular online coffees from last year in the Top3 package. There you will find the really dark Sammonlahti, our most popular coffee in general, Pusupuisto, and the dark roasted Lauritsala. So we are going with quite dark tones. In addition, the package includes the café's supporting coffee, Unelmien kafvi.
Normally, a 1720 gram package like this would cost €60.60, now the package price is only €49.90.
Bracket 5: The package, or super package, with everything at once!
Then there's a package for those who really drink a lot of coffee. This package conveniently includes all of our basic selection of caffeinated coffees, from light to dark. The package includes a 500 gram package of Myllysaari, Kanava, Muukko, Kimpi, Pusupuisto, Retkikahvi, Lauritsalaa and Sammonlahti, as well as a 220g package of Unelmien coffee.
Normally, a 4.22 kilo package like this would cost 140.10 euros, but now it's only 119.90 euros. This means you can buy coffee for a whole group of friends at once!
Bracket 6: Ilistoje or Tour Package
The Ilistojen closure package offers an excellent package for hikers. The package includes dark roasted Retkikahvi coffee, Satamatie's own cocoa blend, marshmallows for cocoa or a campfire, and a high-quality Wilfa thermos mug. This package is perfect for hiking throughout the spring and summer!
More packages will be arriving later this week, so stay tuned!
You can also find the Sulku II packages in our Sulku selection in the online store!
(Editor's note: The mentioned Lockdown Packages are sold out and the links to the products have been removed.)