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Food and Drink For Members

Where to find international foods in Norway this Christmas 

Frazer Norwell
Frazer Norwell - [email protected]
Where to find international foods in Norway this Christmas 
This is where you can find international foods in Norway this Christmas. Pictured is a table set for Christmas. Photo by Libby Penner on Unsplash "

There’s nothing quite like a taste of home, especially at Christmas, but where are the best places to find international food in Norway? 

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Living in another country comes with the excitement of learning to embrace new traditions. This means sampling the local cuisine and trying all the different delicacies on offer during holidays and special occasions. 

Despite that, sometimes nothing is better than a small slice of home. Whether it’s Brits looking for mince pies or other international residents looking for Christmas specialities, it’s all about knowing where to look. 

Do you have any suggestions or hidden gems on where to source international food in Norway that we’ve missed? Get in touch and let us know!  

Is it possible to get a turkey? 

If you feel like having an American or British Christmas dinner, securing a turkey won't be a particularly arduous task. Lots of Norwegians eat turkey on New Year's Eve. This means most butchers and large supermarkets should have them stocked already.

Cranberry sauce and goose fat can be fairly easily sourced too (more on that below), if you feel like having all the trimmings. Stuffing is much harder to find though, so you may need to make your own. 

READ ALSO: The traditional Norwegian Christmas delicacies you should know about

Iceland

Not for Icelanders looking for a taste of home, but rather the British supermarket chain. Iceland has been slowly growing its presence in Norway since 2018 and now has five stores. There are four in and around Oslo and one in Kristiansand. 

Luckily for those who aren’t based near the capital, you can still order online. The store boasts Christmas classics such as mince pies, Quality Street tins, goose fat and cranberry sauce. Christmas puddings, fruit cakes and Twiglets are also on offer. 

Unfortunately, although this probably goes without saying, you will be paying Norwegian prices for the products.

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You can also find Iceland’s products in selected Europris stores. 

A Mediterranean Christmas 

If you are after a panettone this Christmas or some guanciale to make an authentic carbonara at other times of the year, then Smak av Italia, taste of Italy, may be the best place to look. They have a stores in Lillogard and Vulkan in Oslo. 

The store is also an excellent place for cheeses, pestos, and olive oils, given that the selection in Norwegian supermarkets can be paltry at the best of times. 

You don’t have to be in Oslo to make the most of the store either, as, like Iceland, you can order products online and have them shipped to wherever you are in the country. 

If you fancy some Spanish Christmas specialities, you can try Smaken av Spania, Taste of Spain, which also allows online delivery

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For Americans

If you have a sweet tooth, you can also order American Christmas candies, as well as classics such as Reece’s and Twinkies, from megacandy.no. As the company is based in Norway, there are no tolls to worry about. However, deliveries may take up to one week to arrive when accounting for shipping and delivery. In addition, the site warns that delivery may take longer during holidays and busy periods. 

Ordering from Sweden, specifically Coopers Candy which stocks American, English and Japanese confectionery, is also an option. All prices include VAT and customs. Deliveries are shipped within 1-3 days, and delivery takes 2-6 working days. 

If you are planning on making a pumpkin pie this Christmas or tried to make one this Thanksgiving then you will know pumpkin puree can be hard to find if you don’t know where to look. Unfortunately, even if you know where to look, it can still be tricky. If you do fancy making a pumpkin pie this Christmas, then Meny and Jacobs have been known to stock it frequently.

However, as of writing, canned pumpkin puree is unavailable on either store's websites.

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When it comes to eggnog, you won't be able to find the pre-made stuff in Norway. However, eggnog or eggelikør in Norwegian is popular in Norway, so you may be able to get it while out for drinks, or you can make your own. 

Other places to find international food

Generally speaking, small independent frukt og grønt or grocery stores are some of the best sources for finding international food in Norway. 

Most big towns, some smaller ones too, and cities in Norway will have at least one supermarket specialising in foods imported from all over the world. Typically, these stores will be mostly stocked with specialty products and produce from Africa and Asia. However, they are also a good source of Mediterranean and eastern European foods. 

The imported and international products found in these stores are also typically cheaper than in larger supermarkets. Unfortunately, most of these stores don’t have websites, so you’ll have to see for yourself what they have to offer and which items they’ve stocked that remind you of home. 

MatMarket is an online store that delivers around the country and has food from Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Macedonia, Russia and other countries from around the world. 

British Corner Shop is another option for Brits in Norway, although they ship from the UK meaning slower delivery times. 

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