Kanta-Häme also referred to as Egentliga Tavastland, or Tavastia Proper is part of the historical province of Tavastia. Since the Stone Age, the region has been inhabited by the Häme tribe – one of the three main ethnos that shaped today's Finns. The center of the region is in Hämeenlinna.

The agricultural sector of Kanta-Häme is represented by field farming, growing beets, kidney beans, cumin, and crops such as oats, grains, and malting barley. The region is also largely involved in dairy and livestock production.