What happened with Norwegian Culinary Traditions?

A radical change in attitude towards Norwegian culinary traditions has recently taken place. Today, what makes Norway unique is being celebrated through modern and inventive approaches.

A culinary revolution?

A culinary revolution has quietly made its way through Norway in recent years. Local organic products have made a dramatic entrance into the kitchens of restaurants and homes. Since the turn of the millennium, Norwegians’ consumption of sugar has almost halved, while their consumption of vegetables has soared.

Much of what characterises Norwegian cuisine is a reflection of our unique agricultural heritage: sheep, cows and goats graze on the coast and in the mountains. The cold climate and unpolluted land are ideal for quietly growing vegetables, fruit and berries without extensive use of pesticides. Small dairy farms, cheese makers and cattle farmers enjoy healthy, virtually disease-free environments with strict animal welfare regulations. And then, of course, there is the vast coastline that nurtures a rich seafood tradition.

The hard work undertaken to make each link in the food chain proud is bearing fruit. New small-scale farms are producing cheese, honey, pastries, cider and meat in an environmentally friendly way all over the country. Not to mention the hundreds of microbreweries developing all kinds of beers. Ranked among the world’s top three coffee consumers, Norway also strives, not surprisingly, to blend the best coffees on the planet.

Norwegians want children and young people to learn how life and food are connected. And that we are all individuals with needs that are both completely different and completely universal.

Knowledge of the food we eat is central: where it comes from. How what we eat affects both the planet, the body and our mental and physical health. And the link between food production and animal welfare, culture and social conditions.

At the same time, Norwegian chefs have built up a formidable international reputation. Go to Norway to enjoy its food!