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Norway, like other Scandinavian countries, is known for its craftsmanship and design, as well as products that lean toward tradition and indulge in a modern twist. Unfortunately, we are not all lucky enough to be able to visit the country and bring gifts for family and friends. But with that said, there is another way to shop for Norwegian gifts: from the comfort of your home.
Read on for some of Norway’s best gifts, from beautifully knitted sweaters that will last a lifetime to body lotions with a mountain-inspired scent that lingers all day. We’ve also included a cookbook, one of the New York Times’ top picks this year, focusing on Norwegian home recipes that are sure to inspire foodies everywhere.
Our best picks
01
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North Wild Kitchen: Home cooking from the heart of Norway
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In recent years, Nordic cuisine has hit the international food scene in a big way, and this cookbook is a great introduction to some of the best dishes in the country. The New York Times selected this volume as one of the best new cookbooks of Fall 2018, and it lives up to its title: The author behind the recipes, Nevada Berg, is a Norwegian food blogger who is a star. in the Nordic foodie world, and you know how to prepare good food without much fuss. She taught herself to cook and continues to develop recipes and write from her 17th century farm located on a mountain in the heart of the Norwegian countryside. With such a background, his writing is intended for passionate home cooks, there are no pretenses here. But it’s not just about the recipes in this book: Berg also shares anecdotes from life on the farm, reinforcing the connection to the land that traditional Nordic cuisine emphasizes.
02
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Gjetost
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You may not have heard of this unique cheese before, but if you have a foodie friend, you are sure to love it when you gift them this delicacy that comes straight from Norway. Coincidentally known as “brown cheese,” it is technically not cheese at all; Instead, brunost is a by-product of goat’s milk whey. During the production process, the water is boiled to caramelize the sugar and give it a slightly sweet caramel flavor that is unlike any other cheese your jetset friend has ever tasted. Suggest they serve it the Norwegian way by cutting a thin rind and laying it on toast or crusty bread (some also add strawberry jam on top). Like Marmite, they’ll love it or hate it, but frankly, that’s all the more reason to keep one of the two included packs for your very own Nordic-inspired snack.
03
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Dale of Norway Sweater for Men
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One of Norway’s best products is its traditional woolen knitwear, which makes sense, given the country’s cold winters and generally cold temperatures. Dale of Norway has been doing the best it can buy for almost 150 years and is one of the few companies that still produces all of their sweaters in Norway, from the knitting to the very last details like leather patches and pewter brooches. This sweater takes traditional Norwegian knit motifs and reinterprets them in a modern way, making it a great choice for a recipient of virtually any age, and one that will last for years to come. The sweater is so good, in fact, that Dale from Norway is the company behind the sweaters of the Norwegian ski team at the World Championships and the Winter Olympics.
04
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Moon Norway Guide
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One of the best Norwegian gifts you can give is a guide to inspire a trip to the country itself. Norway is a wonderful place, with spectacular landscapes, charming cities and an incredible food culture that has taken the world by storm. But it is also quite an expensive country to visit, so if you know that your recipient is thinking of going, it may be helpful for them to have some ideas about places to stay, eat, drink and visit that will be the best value for money. . We love that author David Nikel, who lives in Trondheim, Norway, has years of experience exploring the country and knows a lot about what he’s talking about (he can even give details like where exactly to best capture the Geiranger Fjord waterfalls).
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Helly Hansen Men’s Half Layer Sailing Coat
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Helly Hansen is one of the best outerwear brands, based in the Norwegian capital, Oslo. Since 1877, he’s focused on well-made, heavy-duty clothing and equipment for work on boats or in the mountains, but you don’t need to fall into either category to appreciate the brand’s quality clothing. This sailing jacket is a great value under $ 200, with classic styling, durable water repellency treatment, fleece lining, and breathable windproof HellyTech protection. Users report that the jacket tends to run on the small side, so we recommend going up a size if your recipient is on the edge or might want to wear a thicker sweater underneath. The coat is available in white, black, bright navy, and red.
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Design Basics for Telemark Rosmaling
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If you are shopping for someone who loves painting or crafts, then a book on the art of rosmaling from Telemark, a traditional folk art hailing from Norway, might be just what you need. This art form is not as well known as many other popular arts, and this book by hardworking artist and rosmaling teacher Diane Edwards gently introduces curious artists to the basics. It explains the best ways to mix colors, how to execute the 19 pieces it includes, and how to design patterns yourself, and offers tips on small but crucial details like brush strokes. Once your gifted has mastered the initial steps, you can still refer to this book – it also includes projects appropriate for intermediate artists. Although there are not so many books on the trade,
07
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Barras Quick Lunch of chocolate with leche Freia
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The Freia brand of chocolate is practically an institution in Norway, and these bars are ideal stuffers. Of all the brand’s offerings, Freia’s Kvikk Lunsj, established two years after Kit-Kat in 1937, is one of the most beloved. The chocolate covered wafers are almost identical to Kit-Kats; So similar, in fact, Kit-Kat tried to mark her four-toed design, which Kvikk Lunsj shares, but an EU court denied Kit-Kat’s exclusivity appeal. Taste tests indicate that the Norwegian bar is superior in terms of taste, with creamier chocolate and an attractive stork motif rather than a corporate logo stamped on the chocolate. Kvikk Lunsj bars are also slightly larger than Kit-Kats, a fact born out of their history as a refreshment for intrepid Norwegians into the great outdoors.
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Laila Hand and Body Cream
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This Norwegian skincare and cosmetics brand offers a deeply hydrating body cream that combats the effects of even the harshest Scandinavian winters. We love how quickly it absorbs into the skin (no greasy film remains on the surface) and the mountain and fjord inspired scent that is the brand’s signature (think clean and floral, like a field of flowers on the side of a mountain). Ideal for those with dry and sensitive skin, this lotion also contains no parabens. Although you can find the brand’s body soaps on Amazon, this lotion is exclusive to Nordstrom, where the Laila scent is one of the best-selling specialty fragrances in department stores (you can also buy Laila perfume here).
