Photo: Emese Tárnok
Text: Francisca Dias and Sophia Auer
Photography: Emese Tárnok and Jasmijn Commeren
Undeniably, there is no better way to connect with another culture and to learn about it than through its food and traditional meals. Food is a way to understand a country’s culture. In this article, we will present you with five Norwegian edible finds that will surely draw your interest, catch your eye, and leave you wanting to try them.
Bread and Spread
Without any doubt, you will experience “bread and spread” during your time in Norway. It is a breakfast and lunch staple! Norwegians are obsessed with bread and would eat it for every meal if they could. To put on the many different types of bread, like Knekkebrød (Cracker-like bread) or Grovbrød (whole grain bread), Norwegians usually have a multitude of spreads! Some of them include chocolate spreads, jam and even brown cheese.
Waffles
If there is one thing Norwegians are obsessed with, it’s waffles. As you can see by the Roverway website, waffles play a big part in Norway’s food culture. The country even has a national waffle day, the 25th of March! Considering that there are 5.5 million people living in Norway and about 180.000 waffle irons sales every single year… You can begin to imagine how significant waffles are in Norwegian culture! The spreads Norwegians use on bread are usually the same ones they put on their waffles, especially jam and brown cheese.
Watch out for the waffle-related Easter eggs you’ll find on Roverway Merch!
Tacos
Fun fact of the day: Norwegians love tacos and have even turned them into a tradition: Friday tacos! If you go to the supermarket, you’ll find a whole aisle dedicated just to this delicious meal.
Tacos originated in Latin America and are very simple to prepare (at least the Norwegian version!). All you have to do is take small tortillas (thin, circular flatbread) and fill them with meat, vegetables and cheese to taste, with everyone preparing their own. They are usually served with a sauce. We hope you’ll adopt the #Fredagstaco tradition to start the weekend when you get home!
The next time you find yourself in a Norwegian supermarket, look out for the following sweets!
Kvikk Lunsj
Kvikk Lunsj (in English: quick lunch) is a chocolate bar with thin layers of waffle inside. It is used as a common hiking snack by Norwegians which, together with one orange, is eaten on the top of the hill after hiking. And fun fact: the inside of the Kvikk Lunsj packaging even states the 10 outdoor rules in Norwegian! Try for yourself! They also make an awesome souvenir for friends and family.
SMASH!
The crown jewel for everyone visiting Norway for the first time: SMASH! (this is an honest opinion, not a product placement). These Norwegian snacks consist of salted corn crisps in the form of cones covered in milk chocolate. Wait! We know what you’re thinking: you’re skeptical… but don’t you knock it until you’ve tried it! They are to die for. Perfectly mixing salty and sweet, you can never eat a single one only!
Now that you’ve read about a couple of Norwegian goodies, make sure to try them when you visit Norway this summer and let us know what you think!