Source: Wikipedia
It’s fascinating travelling through a foreign country admiring its wonderful scenery and tasting the unique flavours of the region that you just can’t get anywhere else. In the middle of Scandinavia lies Sweden, the ancient home of Vikings that’s full of inspiring architecture and some of the greatest tastes you’ll find anywhere in the world.
Vasterbottensost
Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, is famous for the sumptuous Drottningholm Royal Palace. Wander along the cobbled streets in the quaint Old Town and it’s impossible to resist pausing at a café to sample the delicious vasterbottensost cheese. It’s left to mature until it has the mouthwatering flavour of parmesan mingled with the strongest cheddar. The Swedes love this hard cheese with its characteristic tiny holes and always include it in their al fresco feasts to celebrate the Swedish midsummer which falls on 19th June.
Sill
Sweden has beautiful coastlines with popular seaside resorts such as Helsingborg. Nearby Gothenburg with its easy access to the sea is famous for its fish market known as the Feskekorka which translates as the Fish Church. Inside this Gothic-inspired architectural masterpiece, built in 1874, you can sample sill, the most traditional of Swedish foods. Sill is actually herring and Swedes prepare it in dozens of ways. It can be steamed, baked, pickled and accompanied by various sauces. Sill in a garlic sauce combines the invigorating salty taste of the sea with the Mediterranean heat of garlic which lingers in your mouth long after you’ve eaten it.
Snus
Every tourist should visit the historic city of Uppsala. It’s steeped in ancient traditions stretching back to the Viking era. There’s so much to admire including the magnificent cathedral and the imposing castle you need to relax and recover your strength. That’s when Swedes would recommend enjoying snus. It has an intense burst of nicotine served in a thin paper pouch that you wedge inside your upper lip where it gradually releases its flavour. There is traditional tobacco snus which has a peppery, spiced taste. All white versions are popular in many Swedish cities as they don’t stain the teeth. Snus was developed from snuff around 300 years ago. Its use is a tradition firmly rooted in Sweden, the only European country you can buy it in. You can purchase it from SnusDirect.com if you enjoy tasting the amazing array of flavours including citrus, blueberry and mint.
Glogg
Travelling on towards the city of Malmo there are numerous restaurants not far from the famous football stadium. Here you can sample local cuisine such as braised elk steaks. To finish you have to try glogg, a hearty mulled wine that’s drunk at any time of the year, but it is definitely more prominently drunken during the Christmas Holidays. The flavours of spices such as cardamom seeds, cinnamon and cloves perfectly complement the sweet citrus of orange peel. A dash of brandy, spoonful of honey and a few raisins make glogg a fascinating drink.