What foods, alcohol, treats, etc... is Sweden famous for?

Question

I have a few friends coming from Sweden and staying with me in New York City for a couple of weeks and they're telling me if I don't tell them what I want as a few gifts then they'll bring me what they want to bring me...which is always an adventure with these guys.

There's 2 lawyers, a doctor, and a TV personality and if I pick out something really cheap then they won't accept it and buy me what they want anyway...they're very cool guys.

A few bits of info when considering your advice...

- we're all straight lol

- we're from 26 to 35

- we all do pretty well for ourselves and have no hangups, so there's no ego's here or fear that buying something for a guy might be considered :g*y" lol

I was thinking a good bottle of something that's native to Sweden, or some local designer's t-shirt. or whatever. I'm open to suggestions.

I know this sounds weird but I don;t have time to research Sweden and it's local wonders, lol...so thanks for your help.

Answer 1

Alcohol - Absolut Vodka. Typical swedish.

Treats - Marabou's milk chocolate. Delicious, swedish candy!

Ask the if there's a market where they can buy a t-shirt with an audacious print on it.

Answer 2

Akvavit (it's a clear liquor that is flavored with caraway seeds).

Herring.

Swedish meatballs (they just call them meatballs)

Answer 3

They have assorted schnapps boxes which are great if you want to try a drifferent flavors from different regions in Sweden.  They sell them in any liquor store in Sweden.  My dad always gets those when he foes home. And Marabou Paradise is awesome and Kex and Diam!!! You have to try salty Swedish liquorice if you haven't already.  It's a must. And Kalles Kaviar. Aside from food....you should get a "Bugg" cd...you will all be cracking up, but it's popular Swedish music. And glass...Kosta Boda or Orrefors...might be a little pricey, but nice stuff.  I can go on and on...but those are some of my favorites.  Bjorn Borg is a famous brand name in clothing. Hope it helps!

Answer 4

Foods: Why not try pancakes? They're quite different from american ones. Of course they'll have to make then fresh when they arrive... Just tell them to bring the "hjortronsylt".

Alcohol: Just ask them to bring a bottle of "that white wine with the viking ship on the label". Trust me, guaranteed success.

Treats: Ahlgrens bilar, Marabou, Swedish licorice... And "must" (a beverage).

Disgusting stuff: Surstromming (delicacy from the north of sweden, where the population is not very dense (hint)), snuff (snus in Swedish), moose droppings (not for eating ;).

Oh, and they'll have to bring you a good sized Dala-horse.

Have fun!

Answer 5

Food--a selection of Swedish cheeses and crispbread (knäckebröd), various jams (sylt) made of exotic Swedish berries (cloudberry jam =hjortron sylt or lingonberry jam) and a box of Marabou Paradise or Aladdin chocolates, as well as a bag of Ahlgrens Bilar, a box of gingersnaps (Pepparkakor) and a bottle of glögg.

Answer 6

Why not a nice set of crystal glass from Småland? And throw in a bottle of snaps and a can of pickled herring. Enjoy!