What does surströmming smell like?
Surströmming (say “soor-stroh-ming”) is tinned fish from Sweden. It is fermented (put in a salty brine for two months) before the tins are sealed up and sold. The process of fermenting the fish creates a strong rotten egg smell.
Can surströmming make you sick?
Notably, although surströmming isn’t dangerous, it can make you sick, simply from the smell.
What kind of fish is surströmming?
Baltic herring
Small Baltic herring are caught in the spring, salted and left to ferment at leisure before being stuffed in a tin about a month before it hits the tables and shops. The fermentation process continues in the tin; ‘souring’ as the Swedes refer to it, and results in a bulging tin of fermented herring or surströmming.
Why does surströmming exist?
For most Swedes who eat surströmming the reason is simple: it is because they like a surströmmingsskiva (a fermented herring party). Swedes love an excuse for a party and opening a can of rotting fish can provide an excuse. Really.
Does surströmming need to be refrigerated?
Surströmming should always be refrigerated even when unopened – and must only be opened outdoors.
Is surströmming poisonous?
Fermented herring, known to the Swedes as surströmming, is a Swedish specialty. It’s loved and loathed, putrid yet popular. And like moist snus, it’s one of the crazy concoctions Swedes love so much that they fight the EU in able to keep them. But it can also be poisonous.
Is surströmming illegal?
Surströmming: The Most Disgusting (And Partially Illegal) Fish You Can Eat.
Why do Swedes eat rotten fish?
There are many theories as to how surströmming became part of Sweden’s culinary culture. The most colourful story traces its roots back to Swedish sailors in the 16th century. The sailors were running low on salt — which was commonly used to preserve food — and their barrels of herring began to go bad.
Can you bring surströmming on a plane?
A tin of surströmming undoubtedly makes for a novel souvenir, but before you start filling your suitcases with the stuff be warned; several airlines, including BA, have banned it on the grounds that the pressurised tins could explode on board.
Is surströmming edible?
As Surströmming has a really potent smell and also taste I would never ever have it “plain”. Only the combination of Swedish thin bread, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, sour cream and of course Surströmming makes it edible.
Can surströmming explode?
According the BBC a can of surströmming can explode. If that was true shouldn’t the military would use these? Normally when a can of surströmming that gets really swollen almost round, it can start leaking, and if it gets punctured in that state a squirt of surströmming juice will fly out.
Who actually eats surströmming?
Surströmming, a fermented herring considered to be a famous delicacy in Sweden, is also known as one of the most pungent foods in the world. And there’s one more must-have accompaniment: beer. Herring has been a key part of Swedish culture for centuries. Long ago, Swedish workers were even paid in herring.