Food and Beverage

Food

Sweden has a thriving food tech start up scene that focuses on creating a climate smart, organic and lasting solution to challenges that our society and planet is facing. At the same time, centuries old recipes and menus are the focal point for some of the most honoured celebrations like Midsummer and Christmas to name but two. This blend of the old, the new and the local, may be the reason Sweden is considered one of the healthiest, happiest, and most innovative countries in the world. Here, our food, drink and way of life are all naturally progressive.

Let’s start off with a note on Sweden’s colourful culinary customs, from pickled herring, dill-covered potatoes and fresh strawberries at Midsummer to Christmas smorgåsbords laden with cheese, meat and fish. August and September call for ‘kräftskiva’ crayfish parties and on the West Coast – lobster season, that lasts from mid-September to the first of December

Other dates for the foodie diaries, include Feast of St Lucia on 13 December, Cinnamon bun day on 4 October, plus Semlor (cream buns) on Fettisdagen (also known as the Fat Tuesday, or elsewhere, Shrove Tuesday)! You can find these feasts celebrated all over Sweden and we encourage visitors to join in the fun. In addition, cake with your Swedish fika is encouraged throughout the year, of course!

And, thanks to the right of public access, Swedish nature invites you to collect fresh ingredients for your cakes - or to eat them at the spot.

Beverage

Beverage is an important part of an overall experience, almost as important as the food itself. Of course we need to start with the importance of coffee to the Swedish people. Fika is a cultural and social institution in Sweden and you will find plenty of places to enjoy your coffee: in classical coffee houses, garden cafés, hip baristas or brewed the traditional way out in nature, over an open fire. To make great tasting coffee, you need great tasting water. That's something we have plenty of in Sweden - straight from the tap.

OUR TIP: Just fill a bottle of tap water to bring with you during the day. Naturally fresh and sustainable.

Traditionally known for snaps, aquavit and vodka, Sweden’s production of beverages, alcohol and non-alcoholic, has evolved and become ever more creative and innovative.

Swedish wine has received a lot of attention in recent years with a rapid expansion of both production and tastings at venues such as Skivarps Gästgivaregård guest house in southern Skåne or Blaxsta Vingård in Sörmland. Sweden has also seen a proliferation of microbreweries over the last decade, with over 350 breweries registered across the country and Gothenburg becoming the undisputed micro-brewery capital.

The story of celebrated drinks doesn’t end with the Absolut Vodka Home Villa near Ahus, Skåne or Stockholm’s Spritmuseum either: other famous Swedish brands including one of the first Swedish whiskey brands, Mackmyra and the award winning Hernö Gin have their own distillery tours and tasting experiences your clients can visit. Incidentally, Hernö Gin is due to open Hernö Gin Bar in the summer of 2021 and later a brand new hotel near its distillery and visitor centre on the High Coast in 2022.

Sweden is also producing more and more organic, non-alcoholic, downable drinks that one could enjoy every day or on special occasions. One such example is Rudenstams White Currant Sparkling, produced in Småland and served at the Nobel banquet. Rudenstams are the only professional white currant cultivator in Sweden and their orchard with both a farm shop and café is open for visitors all year round.

How do your clients benefit from all of this?! By having an excellent time enjoying some of the world’s best food and drink, meals they’ll want to write home or maybe Instagram about. After all, research shows around 1/3 of the vacation budget is spent on food and drink. Our tourism businesses, restaurants, bars, hotels and museums, know that this part of the trip needs to be exceedingly good.

With the help of pioneering chefs, who combine the very essence of Sweden into their dishes, no matter where your clients visit, they’re sure to find some of the best culinary experiences they’ll ever encounter.