Curious about what foods Swedes really eat? Well, roaming the aisles of Swedish grocery stores is the best way to find out. Grocery stores show you what people in the area typically eat and what foods are different from your own. Here are 15 unique foods you can find in any Swedish grocery store.
Read about 21 Things I Can’t Find in Swedish Grocery Stores (as an American)
Blood sausage
Blood sausage is a very traditional dish from the medieval times and is still consumed today in Sweden. It consists of pork blood and fat mixed with rye flour, milk, and spices. I’ve heard Swedish people like to eat this when they’re sick for the nutrients it provides.
Tubes of various pastes
A very unique food you can find in Swedish grocery stores is tubed foods – from caviar to cheese to mayo and even fish. It’s both practical and functional in design, which is probably why Swedes love it so much. It can be easily spread onto crisp bread with little to no cleanup.
Crisp bread
This is a pantry staple in Swedish households. This is a dry, flat cracker type bread that lasts for a long time due to its lack of water. Crisp bread is typically eaten for breakfast with boiled eggs, cheese, and cucumbers. As well as for dinner, but just as a side with butter. Lingonberry jam is also delicious on them, giving them a bit more moisture.
Huge blocks of cheese
I know Americans love their cheese, but so do Swedes. At any Swedish grocery store you can find massive Costco sized blocks of cheese. This is unique because this is the only super bulk item you can find here.
Pickled herring
Since the Middle Ages, Swedes have been using pickling as a method to preserve foods. Herring is a fish that was heavily traded and abundant in the 16th century – so naturally to preserve and make it last longer they pickled it. Today it is still a widely popular dish in Sweden. Swedes eat it with things like tomato sauce, mustard, dill, and onions.
Shrimp salad
Like a pasta salad or potato salad, Swedes love shrimp salad. It is cold shrimp mixed with mayo, onion, lemon, and dill then served on a piece of bread. You can find it pre-made at most grocery stores as well as on almost every restaurant menu in Sweden.
Caviar
Sure, you have caviar at some grocery stores in the U.S. but it’s not commonly bought. In Sweden, caviar is a common grocery item people buy and it’s cheap at ~$4 USD a jar. My husband’s Swedish coworker gave us some sourdough started and of course, it was in an old caviar jar.
Swedish meatballs
Meatballs are Sweden’s national dish. So naturally, you can find refrigerated bags of meatballs ready for you to heat up and enjoy.
Pearl Sugar
Pearl sugar are large, coarse pieces of white sugar that don’t typically melt at high temperatures. They are primarily used to top Swedish cinnamon rolls here. They almost look like the large pieces of salt on soft pretzels.
Skrädmjöl or roasted oat flour
Roasted oat flour dates back to the 17th century in Sweden. To prevent the oats from getting moldy, Swedes would roast them and then grind them into a flour. This process also gives it a nutty flavor. Some traditional foods made out of this oat flour include bread and nävgröt, which is a porridge.
Marzipan
Marzipan is a baking product made from blanched almonds, confectioners sugar, egg whites, and almond extract. It is used like fondant is used in the U.S. for cakes and other baked goods.
Barbells bars
Barbells is a protein bar brand that was founded in Sweden and has gained popularity in the U.S. and other countries. They are a bit “cleaner” than other protein bars and I think taste like a candy bar.
Lingonberry
A classic Swedish food. These berries grow wild in Sweden and are an essential part of most Swedish dishes like meatballs and potato pancakes. They are both tart and sweet – bringing brightness to any meal.
Cartons of Yogurt
In Sweden, there are rows of cartons of yogurt. At first I thought it was milk or cream, but Swedes buy their yogurt in cartons rather than containers or jars. Greek and Turkish yogurt, which is thicker, is still sold in containers here.
So much Swedish candy
Swedish candy is having a moment on the internet right now. At every grocery store and convenience store here, they have bins and bins of pick-and-mix Swedish candy. It’s nice to be able to pick how much and what variety you want. And they are usually all delicious and unique. Bubs is one of the most popular brands.
