Surstromming

“Klämma” with surstromming, boiled potatoes and raw red onions on soft Tunnbröd with butter before it is rolled up. A glass of whole milk with it.

Surströmming ( [sʉ̌ːʂtrømːiŋ] ; Swedish sour herring ) is a Swedish fish meat which by lactic fermentation preserved is. It smells “intense; putrid and smelly ”.

History and manufacture

Surstromming was an everyday food for farmers in northern Sweden and was often used as provisions . It is made from fully grown Baltic herring , especially on the Norrland coast. This is caught in spring and placed in brine , where it begins to ferment due to lactic acid bacteria . About a month before the Surstromming premiere , which marks the start of sales of the season, the fish is packaged in tins in which the fermentation process continues, so that the bottom and lid of the cans bulge .

sale

The sale or the premiere traditionally begins on the third Thursday in August. The date can be traced back to a royal directive from 1937, which was supposed to ensure that the fish was fully ripened and ready for consumption. In 1998 this state requirement was repealed. The representation of interests of the manufacturers continues this tradition. With the start of sales, Surströmming will be sold in grocery stores throughout Sweden .

consumption

Surstromming can be consumed in different ways. One possibility is the tunnbrödklämma : a slice of tunnbröd (thin flatbread from Norrland ) is topped with surstromming , almond potatoes, butter, white or red raw chopped onions, sour cream (gräddfil) and tomatoes that have been thoroughly rinsed in water .

Traditionally, surstromming is served with cold milk , aquavit or beer .

Others

In Germany, at Christmas 1981, a tenant deliberately splashed Surstromming broth in the stairwell. Your lease was terminated without notice. The Cologne Regional Court confirmed the termination after a can of Surströmming had been opened during the oral hearing (LG Cologne of January 12, 1984 - 1 S 171/83, WuM 1984, page 55).
The transport of hot cans is expressly prohibited on British Airways and Air France flights due to the risk of explosion .