What To Buy In Norway

1. Ostehøvel (cheese slicer)

There was a time back in 1925 when Norwegian businessman and investor Thor Bjørklund ended up being very frustrated with a regular knife’s inability to slice cheese properly. Hence, he came up with a solution by inventing the Ostehøvel - a cheese slicer. This item is exported throughout Scandinavia but is still manufactured in Bjørkund’s factory in Lillehammer. These cheese slicers can be found easily in several shops in the country.

2. Linje Aquavit

Linje Aquavit, roughly translated as ‘firewater’, has been featured in glasses and cups in Norway since the 15th century. They are usually made of grains and have an herby flavor and a minimum alcohol content of 37.5%. This drink is not for the faint of heart, but drinking a sip of it can also uplift your spirit to a whole new level. Versions of this drink traverse through Australia and back to Europe in oak barrels before being bottled, which gives it a more distinct and mature flavor.

3. Dale of Norway sweaters

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

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This is one of the most used commodities in Norway. And why wouldn’t it be? The freezing weather requires it. Making good use of the year-round cold weather, Dale of Norway has been producing some of the best sweaters in the country for almost 150 years. All their sweaters are made with Norwegian knit motifs and designed in a modern style to suit all ages. This company is also the producer of sweaters for the Norwegian ski team at the Winter Olympic Games, World Championship, and many other big events.

4. Viking drinking bowls

Sure, there are Viking drinking horns and jewelry, but there are other Viking-themed souvenirs, as well. And if you are willing to splurge a little extra while out and about in a new country, go for the vintage drinking bowls. These can be found at galleries or vintage shops. These bowls are usually shaped like ships that feature carved dragons on either end. While shopping for souvenirs, make sure not to go for the ones that have horns on the helmets, because they are inaccurately designed.

5. Reindeer sausage

This souvenir works well for all the meat lovers out there. Reindeer sausage is a traditional Norwegian dish. It has a gamy taste and you can either try it at the restaurants, cook it at home during the holidays, or even organize a BBQ session. If you are planning to bring some reindeer sausages home with you, make sure they are allowed at airports and also check if they are cured and packaged properly.

6. Rosemaling-designed items

If you know someone who loves arts and crafts or if you are an artist yourself, then getting anything with rosemaling should be on your list. A decorative folk painting from the 1750s, these feature European art styles of Rococo and Baroque, among others. After 300 years, the technique of rosemaling has recently become popular with several artists in Norway. Some of the usual rosemaling-designed objects include cups, vases, bags, and many more.

7. Solje jewelry

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Bunad, a traditional Norwegian dress, is not complete without some traditional ornaments: solje pins and brooches. These items are vintage and are found in most street markets such as Vestkanttorvet. And if you are thinking that wearing the traditional Norwegian costume is a little too ‘out there’, then wearing just the solje jewelry will make it look like you have had a recent trip to Norway.

8. Brunost (Norwegian brown cheese)

If you aren’t from Norway or don’t live there, you might not hear of this amazingly unique cheese. Known as the “brown cheese”, this tasty souvenir will be a real treat for your family or friends, especially those who live for food. Although it is called cheese, it technically isn’t. It is made from goat’s milk whey. In the process of production, the water is boiled with sugar and that gives it a sweet caramel flavor, so it will be unlike any other cheese you’ve tasted before.

9. Cloudberry jam

There are blueberries, there are strawberries, but have you heard of cloudberries? One of the rarest forms of berries that most Norwegians know about, cloudberries are found mostly in the wild. The tart fruit that looks like raspberries turns orange when ripe and can be made into jam. This jam is also used in the making of the Norwegian dessert called multekrem, which is prepared by mixing sugar and whipped cream. The cloudberry jam can be found in most supermarkets in the country.

10. Viking Drinking Horn

One of the most touristy - and well-known - souvenirs from this list is the Viking drinking horn. Also a renowned historical souvenir, look for a drinking horn that is both stylish and elegant and can be put down easily the moment you’re done drinking from it. Many kinds of Viking drinking horns can be found at the Viking Ship Museum and also at the annual Medieval Festival and Viking Festival in Oslo. While collecting these horns, you can also look into purchasing some of the most beautiful Viking-style necklaces that are said to be donned by the god of thunder, Thor.

Bring home some of Norway

After reading this article, you hopefully have an idea of what kind of souvenirs you want to bring back from your trip to Norway. You can go for the quirky ones or the traditional ones - either way, you will definitely find something that will catch your eye.