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In today’s society there is so much inspiration we can take from different cultures and how they live their lives. Today, we look to our Swedish heritage and how Swedish traditions have influenced the way we look at life through sustainability, cuisine, and entertainment.
Time for a Fika:
Fika is a big part of a Swede’s everyday life which can be translated into “a coffee and cake break”. It is an important concept as it makes time for friends and colleagues enabling you to have a conversation shared over a hot drink and food. Nowadays, the stressors of life can become overwhelming, and implementing a tradition such as Fika allows you to take a breath, recharge and connect with people on a deeper level.
The focus on food sustainability:
Food waste is one of the leading contributors to the climate crisis we are experiencing across the globe. The Swedes have long focused on a zero-waste mindset, therefore their cuisine is influenced by what is in the season. Often, we see in - season produce influence traditions across the Nordic country. For example, in the months of August and September it is crayfish season so a highlight on the Swedish Calendar is the annual crayfish parties to celebrate the end of summer.
Furthermore, Swedes will ensure no food goes to waste with a classic Swedish dish called pyttipanna (“small bits in a pan”) which uses leftover foods such as meat, onion and potatoes and whatever else might be hiding in the back of your fridge.
Australia is one of the biggest food waste countries per capita, where food is often readily available even if not in season as it is imported from other countries. Aussies can certainly learn a lot from Swedes when it comes to food sustainability. For example, shopping in season, buying local, and creating new dishes to avoid food going to waste. Our latest range of fridges (EHE6899BA) have TasteLock crispers which automatically control the humidity levels to keep your fruit and veg at their best for longer
Eating natural & organic food:
Nowadays, Swedes have an avid interest in eating as naturally as possible to look after both their health and the planet. Therefore, there is an increase in demand for locally grown, organic produce with a lot of supermarkets in Sweden stocking products from local farms.
Additionally, the farm-to-table movement is becoming more and more popular. The meaning of this phrase is food on the table that has come directly from a farmer without having to go through the middlemen (i.e. supermarkets). Hence, making for more freshly sourced produce while also reducing carbon emissions from transportation.
