Sweden

What to eat in Sweden: top 10 dishes

Traveling to Sweden? These are the ten dishes it is best known for, from everyday staples to festive classics, with a short background and a tip on where and when to eat each one. Ranked by how widely they are known around the world.

01
Cinnamon roll
A cinnamon roll (also known as cinnamon bun, cinnamon swirl, cinnamon scroll, cinnamon Danish and cinnamon snail) is a sweet roll commonly served in Northern Europe and North America.
Travel tip Find it in almost every café and bakery, usually with coffee as part of fika. Look out for the national cinnamon bun day in October.
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02
Surströmming
Surströmming is a lightly salted, fermented Baltic Sea herring traditional to Swedish cuisine since at least the 16th century. It is distinct from fried or pickled herring.
Travel tip Eaten mainly in late summer and autumn, often outdoors because of the strong smell. It is typically served with thin flatbread, potatoes and onion.
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03
Gravlax
Gravlax, graavilohi, gravad lax, gravlaks or graved salmon is a Nordic dish consisting of salmon that is cured using a mix of salt, sugar and dill. It is garnished with fresh dill or spruce twigs and may occasionally be cold-smoked after it is cured.
Travel tip Common as a starter or on a buffet, especially at Christmas and Midsummer tables. It is usually served thinly sliced with a mustard-dill sauce, bread or boiled potatoes.
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04
Crispbread
Crispbread is a flat and dry type of bread, containing mostly rye flour. Crispbreads are lightweight and keep fresh for a very long time due to their lack of water. Crispbread is a staple food and was for a long time considered a poor man's diet.
Travel tip Sold in every supermarket and often set out with soup, cheese or a smorgasbord. Top it with butter, cheese or fish for a quick snack.
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05
Janssons frestelse
Jansson's Temptation (Swedish: Janssons frestelse) is a traditional Swedish casserole made of potatoes, onions, pickled sprats and cream. It is typically served as a late night meal before the guests leave a party.
Travel tip A classic on the Christmas table and on buffets, served warm as a side dish. Home cooking is the best place to try it, though traditional restaurants offer it in the holiday season.
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06
Julmust
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").
Travel tip A seasonal soft drink sold around Christmas, found in supermarkets and served with the holiday meal. It is also drunk at Easter.
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07
Ostkaka
Ostkaka, ost meaning "cheese" and kaka meaning "cake" in Swedish, is known as Swedish cheesecake or Swedish curd cake.
Travel tip Most often a home-style dessert, eaten warm or cold with jam and cream. Look for it in traditional restaurants, especially in the south and in Hälsingland.
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08
Princess cake
Princess cake or princess torte (Swedish: prinsesstårta) is a traditional Swedish layer cake or torte consisting of alternating layers of airy sponge cake, pastry cream, and a thick-domed layer of whipped cream.
Travel tip A popular cake at birthdays and celebrations, and a fixture in bakeries and cafés. Order a slice with coffee; the green marzipan cover makes it easy to spot.
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09
Kladdkaka
Kladdkaka is a popular Swedish dessert. This dense, compact cake, similar to a molten chocolate cake, features a crisp exterior and soft, gooey interior. The ingredients are flour, eggs, butter, sugar, vanilla essence and cocoa powder.
Travel tip A staple of café counters and home baking, best eaten slightly gooey. Order it with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream alongside coffee.
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10
Rose hip soup
Rose hip soup (Swedish: nyponsoppa) is a Swedish soup made from rose hips. It is served as a beverage or as a dessert with milk, cream or vanilla ice cream along with small almond biscuits. Rose hip soup may be eaten for breakfast.
Travel tip Served warm or cold as a light dessert or drink, often with almond biscuits or cream. It is a traditional home dish and is often found at mountain huts and ski resorts.
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Description: Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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