7 Viking Foods and Drinks You Can Try Today

The Vikings, legendary seafarers from Scandinavia, were more than fierce warriors. They were also skilled farmers, fishers, and cooks. Their diet was practical and exhibited a surprising diversity. The harsh Nordic climate and their farming lifestyle shaped it. They prized meat. But, they relied on grains, dairy, and foraged foods. Today, we can still enjoy many of these traditional foods and drinks. They offer a fascinating glimpse into Viking daily life and culture. Here are seven Viking-inspired foods and drinks you can try:

1. Skyr

Skyr is a thick, creamy dairy product. It resembles yogurt but is a fresh, soft cheese. A staple in Iceland for over a thousand years, its roots trace back to the Viking Age. Vikings valued skyr for its high protein content and long shelf life. It was often eaten as a quick meal or snack, particularly during long voyages or busy farming days. Tangy in flavor, skyr pairs well with honey, berries, or nuts.

• Making Skyr: People warm milk in the traditional way. They add a bit of skyr from a previous batch as a starter. This mixture is then left to ferment and thicken. Today, you can find skyr in most grocery stores without difficulty.

2. Barley Bread

Grains, especially barley, were fundamental to the Viking diet. Barley bread, often baked in simple flat rounds, was a daily staple. They served it with butter or cheese, used it to soak up broths and stews, and even took it on voyages.

• Baking Barley Bread: To make Viking-style barley bread, mix barley flour, water, and a pinch of salt. Cooks followed tradition by baking it on a hot stone or griddle positioned over an open fire. A modern oven achieves the same result. Adding oats or rye flour to the dough is also common.

3. Preserved Fish

The skilled Vikings fished, and the sea supplied a vital source of protein. They mastered techniques to preserve fish like herring, salmon, and cod. They smoked, dried, and pickled them. This allowed them to store food for winter or long journeys.

• Smoking Fish: For smoking, we salted fresh fish. Next, we hung it in a smokehouse over smoldering wood, using alder when possible, until we cured it. Dried fish was a valuable trade good, and fish heads were often used to make nutritious broth.

4. Mead

Mead, a fermented honey drink, was the quintessential Viking beverage. Often associated with feasts and celebrations, it symbolized wealth and hospitality. People enjoyed mead during special occasions, religious ceremonies, and after successful raids.

• Making Mead: It’s made by fermenting honey with water. Sometimes, cooks add spices or fruit for flavor. Today, you can find a variety of meads in specialty stores or even try brewing your own.

5. Lamb Stew

Sheep were an important part of Viking farming, providing wool, milk, and meat. Lamb was a common source of protein, and lamb stew was a hearty, nourishing meal. Stews were often made for gatherings or to feed families during long winters.

• Viking Stew: A traditional lamb stew would include root vegetables, like carrots, turnips, and onions. The chef would flavor it with thyme and lovage, then cook it over a fire for an extended period. Sometimes, someone would add other ingredients, like dried fish, beans, or wild greens.

6. Dried Fruits and Nuts

Fruits like apples, berries, and plums were often dried to preserve them. This provided essential vitamins. People gathered nuts such as hazelnuts and walnuts in the wild. These were valuable as travel rations or snacks during winter.

• Viking Trail Mix: Make your own Viking trail mix. Dry fruits in a low oven or dehydrator. Mix them with nuts.

7. Ale

Ale, brewed from barley and often flavored with herbs, was another staple Viking drink. These herbs included juniper and bog myrtle. People consumed it daily with meals and during celebrations.

• Brewing Ale: To make ale, we soaked, sprouted, and then boiled barley. It is then fermented with yeast, often wild yeast. This produces a hearty beverage with a mild alcohol content. Today, craft breweries offer a range of traditional ales.

Explore these Viking foods and drinks. You will connect with history and enjoy simple, wholesome flavors. Trying skyr with berries or sipping mead by the fire? These ancient foods taste of the Viking spirit and reveal their way of life.