Forest to plate

Open space and forests make up large parts of Sweden, even around large metropolitan areas. And Swedes love to take advantage of this proximity to nature. Fresh air and exercise are not the only things that bring people outside; allemansrätten, or the right of public access, allows people to forage for food that is not protected or endangered.

Of course, there is hunting and fishing, a growing eco-tourism segment for Sweden, but also things you can gather without equipment or special training. Cloudberries (the gold of the marshlands), blueberries, lingonberries and raspberries are bountiful and easy to find, while mushrooms require more of a trained eye and knowledge. Chanterelles are the most sought-after, but the Swedish forests serve up all kinds of delicious fungi. It is also popular to pick herbs and nettles.

Even those who do not themselves collect ingredients from the forest will enjoy eating them. And there is no better place for it than outdoors: at a picnic, in a back garden or on a balcony.