Norwegian cider’s rise in popularity
Cider brewing is a Norwegian custom that dates all the way back to the 13th century. However, once the Vinmonopolet or the Wine Monopoly came into effect, the practice largely died down. Despite this, Norwegians continued to brew cider in their homes and cellars. And now the drink is experiencing a surge in popularity yet again. If you’re a cider lover planning a visit to Norway, here’s everything you need to know!
Norway Grows Incredible Apples
Norwegian ciders are something special and It’s no great mystery why. The Hardanger region is home to stunning apple orchards. The plants thrive in the region due to the proximity of the Fjords, which reflect light onto the steep slopes, allowing the apple orchards to flourish. In addition, the gulf stream prevents the area from getting too cold during the winter months which also helps the plants thrive. The result is an incredible fruit that makes delicious, unique cider.
New Laws Help Cider Production Thrive
As mentioned, the Vinmonopolet gave cider producers some hurdles to overcome. Despite these challenges, cider sales were still rapidly growing in Norway during the early 2010s. Specifically, sales grew by about 60% from 2010 to 2014. Recognizing the popularity of cider, the Norwegian government updated the laws around the beverages.
Prior to 2016, growers could only sell their cider beverages directly to consumers if they contained an alcohol percentage of less than 4.75. This was less than ideal as the best taste is achieved with an alcohol percentage of around 6 to 8 (which is quite high for a cider). Since 2016, growers have been able to sell ciders with an alcohol content of up to 22% directly to consumers. This new law has even further spurred the growth of the cider industry in Norway.
Award-Winning Cider
Norway’s cider isn’t just popular with locals and tourists. It’s also received global recognition from a number of different groups. Most recently, Norwegian cider received acclaim at the Sagardo Forum, a cider competition hosted in Spain. Ulvik Frukt & Cideri won best in
category for modern cider. And, Aakre Gard won best in category for premium carbonated cider.
Norwegian ciders also performed very well in the 2019 WorldCider Awards. Egge Gaard cider won two gold medals in the ice cider category. In addition, Egge Gaard, Balholm AS., as well as Ulvik Frukt & Cideri, also earned silver medals in the competition. These medals were awarded in the still cider, sparkling cider, and flavored cider categories. With this type of international acclaim under its belt, the Norway cider industry is only just getting started!
Planning Your Visit
If you’re a fan of cider beverages and you’re planning your trip to Norway, visiting the Hardanger region should be at the top of your list. The Cider Tours in the Hardangerfjord is a great way to explore the region and taste some amazing Cider! During the tour, you learn about the production and manufacturing of the drink first hand. You will be able to sample the incredible array of ciders and learn about what creates the unique flavors in each type of cider.
If the rest of your travel companions aren’t quite as excited about cider tastings as you are, there are plenty of other activities in Hardanger to keep them occupied. Hardanger is also home to some majestic mountains and breathtaking waterfalls.
There is no doubt that cider lovers ought to add Norway to their travel bucket list. The opportunity to taste some of the world’s best ciders in a beautiful natural setting is something worth experiencing.
We hope to catch you in the apple orchard soon!
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Fjord cruise and dinner at Cornelius
Bergen • 5 hr
From 1495NOK
Available all year
Exclusive Experience
Local food tasting in Flåm
Flåm • 1 hr
From 550NOK
Available 15 May - 15 October
A Norwegian evening on the Oslofjord
Oslo • 3 hr
From 659NOK
Available 8 May - 5 October
Glamping at Trolltunga
Multiple locations • 1 day 4 hr
From 4750NOK
Available 1 May - 1 December
Best seller
Dinner cruise on the Oslofjord
Oslo • 2 hr 30 min
From 1290NOK
Available all year
Ulriken Gondola & lunch with a view
Bergen • 2 hr 30 min
From 1099NOK
Available all year
Geirangerfjord winter cruise
Ålesund • 9 hr
From 2550NOK
Available 1 November - 30 March
Travelers love this!
Fishing trip in Bergen
Bergen • 5 hr
From 2190NOK
Available 1 April - 31 October
Articles about Norwegian food and cuisine
Traditional Norwegian food
Norway has a lot of interesting traditional food, and any travelers visiting Norway would do well to sample some of the local cuisines. Culinary traditions in Norway have been dominated by meat, fish, and seafood that could be hunted or caught. These days the Norwegian food space represents an interesting mix of old and new due to culinary influences from all over the world.
Norwegian cider’s rise in popularity
Cider brewing is a Norwegian custom that dates all the way back to the 13th century. However, once the Vinmonopolet or the Wine Monopoly came into effect, the practice largely died down. Despite this, Norwegians continued to brew cider in their homes and cellars. And now the drink is experiencing a surge in popularity yet again. If you’re a cider lover planning a visit to Norway, here’s everything you need to know!
Top 3 Norwegian recipes to try
If you are a foodie or even just a lover of barbecue, then you will definitely want to make sure that you take a trip to Norway to experience the incredible local cuisine in places like Bergen and Røros. To give you a small taste of the kind of culinary experience you will get in Norway, here are three top Norwegian recipes that you can easily make at home.
Sustainable eating trends
Norway is already publicly recognized by almost every foodie as being home to some of the tastiest cuisine options in the world, with some truly exquisite national recipes like lutefisk and pinnekjøtt originating in Nordic countries. But what you may not know is that Norway is also a leader in bio-farming and sustainable food production.
Here's what you'll experience at this record-setting underwater restaurant
There are a lot of fantastic things to experience on land in Norway, but there is a new exciting activity that takes you under the water. At the southern tip of Norway in Lindesnes, you can find the world's largest underwater restaurant.
What did the average viking eat?
When your every-day activities include pillaging villages and exploring the impressive fjords in Norway, you are going to need a lot of energy to sustain yourself. This means eating some pretty astonishing meals in order to maintain proper health with such an active lifestyle.
What do you eat with Brunost?
Every culture will have its own set of unique food items that either impress or disgust visitors when they try it upon visiting. Norway is no different and offers an assortment of delicious Norwegian food that is unlike anything that can be found anywhere else in the world. Some of the more common examples include lutefisk and pinnekjøtt.
What is lefse?
Whether you’re planning to visit Norway or are just interested in Norwegian culture and tradition, you’ll want to find out more about lefse. Lefse has a long-standing history as a traditional food in Norway, and it remains about as popular today as it was a hundred years ago. Let’s take a closer look at what this tasty, simple food is all about!
Traditional Norwegian food
Norway has a lot of interesting traditional food, and any travelers visiting Norway would do well to sample some of the local cuisines. Culinary traditions in Norway have been dominated by meat, fish, and seafood that could be hunted or caught. These days the Norwegian food space represents an interesting mix of old and new due to culinary influences from all over the world.
Norwegian cider’s rise in popularity
Cider brewing is a Norwegian custom that dates all the way back to the 13th century. However, once the Vinmonopolet or the Wine Monopoly came into effect, the practice largely died down. Despite this, Norwegians continued to brew cider in their homes and cellars. And now the drink is experiencing a surge in popularity yet again. If you’re a cider lover planning a visit to Norway, here’s everything you need to know!
Top 3 Norwegian recipes to try
If you are a foodie or even just a lover of barbecue, then you will definitely want to make sure that you take a trip to Norway to experience the incredible local cuisine in places like Bergen and Røros. To give you a small taste of the kind of culinary experience you will get in Norway, here are three top Norwegian recipes that you can easily make at home.
Sustainable eating trends
Norway is already publicly recognized by almost every foodie as being home to some of the tastiest cuisine options in the world, with some truly exquisite national recipes like lutefisk and pinnekjøtt originating in Nordic countries. But what you may not know is that Norway is also a leader in bio-farming and sustainable food production.
Here's what you'll experience at this record-setting underwater restaurant
There are a lot of fantastic things to experience on land in Norway, but there is a new exciting activity that takes you under the water. At the southern tip of Norway in Lindesnes, you can find the world's largest underwater restaurant.
What did the average viking eat?
When your every-day activities include pillaging villages and exploring the impressive fjords in Norway, you are going to need a lot of energy to sustain yourself. This means eating some pretty astonishing meals in order to maintain proper health with such an active lifestyle.
What do you eat with Brunost?
Every culture will have its own set of unique food items that either impress or disgust visitors when they try it upon visiting. Norway is no different and offers an assortment of delicious Norwegian food that is unlike anything that can be found anywhere else in the world. Some of the more common examples include lutefisk and pinnekjøtt.
What is lefse?
Whether you’re planning to visit Norway or are just interested in Norwegian culture and tradition, you’ll want to find out more about lefse. Lefse has a long-standing history as a traditional food in Norway, and it remains about as popular today as it was a hundred years ago. Let’s take a closer look at what this tasty, simple food is all about!