We British love our chips. We walk into the chip shop and watch the hard working caterer carefully fry those lovely golden potato strips and then what do we do? We drown them in a sea of vinegar that results in a torrent of vinegar dripping onto your shoes. Yes ladies and gentleman vinegar is part and parcel of life here. Chips without vinegar are akin to a flower without the sun, lifeless and pointless.
So you can imagine my surprise when I heard the rumours that Sweden did not sell vinegar. Of course I scoffed at the idea as surely no country would commit such an offence. Or would they?
Last week I took it upon myself to walk down to my local stores and start a surveying mission to see what was on offer. Firstly I noticed that Sweden does indeed sell vinegar, in fact a LOT of vinegar. There was red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, organic vinegar, Balsam vinegar, green vinegar and they probably even had vinegar for dogs (joking).
All of these lovely looking vinegars were quite expensive compared to the UK. But all I wanted to find out was how they tasted. Does Sweden have a malt vinegar that you can suffocate your chips in? Certainly not in Max or Burger King so I am of the opinion that it’s looking a lost cause.
So I am really out for advice here. For any ex-pats or Swedes that can answer my struggling question. Do you sell this type of vinegar?!
I have never seen it in Norrköping but maybe it can be ordered somewhere. But I have seen vinegar chips (crisps?) in some shops.
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As an englishman and londoner living in NKPG I can tell you; no, malt vinegar is a no go area in Swedish cuisine. You can get the odd curiosity (such as Marmite) delivered through Tradera (swedish ebay) – It states it is unused, but one is cautious!
Swedes love a good sauce though and Norrköping has an abundance of culinary geniuses working in the pubs – I suggest you order a lovely pike-perch with lobster sauce upon arrival!. (Gös med hummersås)
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Cheers Adam. Maybe I can smuggle some in. vinegar is perfect on any fish!
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You can buy malt vinegar, either in person or online, from The English Shop in Stockholm.
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It’s ok I got some bottles sent over. Enough to last me till 2011
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