Swedish Food & Drinks (2024)

FAQs

What is Sweden's number one food? ›

Swedish meatballs, or köttbullar, are perhaps one of the most internationally recognized dishes from Sweden. These small, flavorful meatballs are traditionally served with mashed potatoes, lingonberry jam, and a creamy gravy, making for a comforting and satisfying meal.

The Swedish national dish consists of mashed potatoes, spicy meatballs, a creamy gravy and sourly taste from the cucumber and lingonberries.

Around 1720, the potato entered the Swedish culinary scene, gradually replacing the root vegetable as the most important base produce. It has remained an important part of the Swedish diet, often eaten boiled or mashed. The arrival of new potatoes ('färskpotatis') is the start of summer in Sweden.

The main Swedish specialty is brännvin (literally "burn-wine"), liquor distilled from fermented grain or potatoes. Vodka is the highest grade of brännvin, with brands like Absolut Vodka and Explorer Vodka.

Julmust (Swedish: jul "Christmas" and must English: 'must' "not-yet-fermented fruit juice") is a soft drink that is mainly consumed in Sweden around Christmas. During Easter, the name is påskmust (from påsk, "Easter"). During the rest of the year, it is sometimes sold under the name must.

The Swedish diet is very varied with a healthy mix of whole grains, lean protein (lots of fish but also game), a focus on vegetables, berries, fermented dairy – all things that have been hailed as part of the healthy Nordic Diet.

Internationally, the most renowned Swedish culinary tradition is the smörgåsbord and, at Christmas, the julbord, including well-known Swedish dishes such as gravlax and meatballs.

Blodplättar (in Swedish; blodpannekaker in Norwegian, veriohukainen, verilätty or verilettu in Finnish; verikäkk in Estonian), or blood pancakes in English are a dish served in Finland, Estonia, Sweden and Norway made of whipped blood (typically reindeer blood), water or pilsner, flour and eggs.

The average times for meals in Sweden are generally from 8 to 11am for the standard continental breakfast, noon to 2:30pm for lunch, and as early as 5:30pm for dinner to around 8 or 8:30pm. (Many restaurants in Stockholm are open to midnight -- but don't count on this in the small villages.)

The Nordic diet encourages you to eat a lot of whole foods, particularly sourced locally and in season, including: Whole grains, particularly rye, barley and oats. Fruits, especially berries. Vegetables, especially root vegetables like beets, turnips and carrots. Fatty fish like salmon, tuna, sardines and mackerel.

What is the best butter in Sweden? ›

Bregott® was invented in 1969 and is currently Sweden's most popular brand of butter and cooking fat products. There are six different Bregott® variants.

It dates back to 1577, when King Eric XIV was imprisoned and wanted dead. It's said, on a Thursday, the King was given a bowl of pea soup. The bowl of pea soup was laced with poison and he died. From that time on people ate Pea Soup every Thursday in order to honor the poor dead King.

Swedish cuisine is both tasty and healthy, providing a good balance of fish, vegetables, whole grains, and fermented foods. And all those fish and veggies make a difference: the Swedish diet actually contains less sugar and fat, but twice the fiber and seafood than the typical American diet.

Aquavit Is the National Spirit of Scandinavia

Heading to Sweden, Norway or Denmark? It won't be long before you're presented with a glass of aquavit.

Coffee is a way of life in Sweden and it's enjoyed all throughout the day. The Swede's even have a name for pausing and taking a break for coffee, 'fika'.

In 2018, consumers had to spent on average 84.89 Swedish kronor for a Vesuvio pizza from a pizzeria in Sweden's capital Stockholm. Average pizza prices were also very high in Umeå, Norrköping and Uppsala.