I found that one of the hardest things I was faced with on arrival in Stavanger was to do my weekly shopping! At first, everything was overwhelming – the language barrier, the different choices of unfamiliar ingredients and yes, the PRICE! But 1 year on, I’ve become much more used to the experience. Hopefully this article will be helpful to new and seasoned foreigners alike, giving an overview of shops where you can find the things you need, translation of common ingredients and pictures to help you identify everything! Of course you can get almost everything you need from the supermarkets – Meny, Coop, Rema 1000, Rimi and Kiwi amongst others – but for those harder to find ingredients look no further…
General Store Selections
Some of the most frustrating things to buy are often the most basic. Here you’ll find a picture directory to help you identify some of those normally easy to find itms that may be causing you difficulty here. Where possible, I’ve also added both the American and English names. If you’ve been used to using Self Raising Flour, you won’t find it easily in Norway. You can buy Baking Powder easily though, and add it to plain flour (siktet hvetemel) instead. Look out for some of the typical Norwegian foods like Brunost too – you should give them a go! All of the items in this section are readily available in most supermarkets.
Sour Cream (Rømme)
Creams. Heavy Cream, Coffee Cream, Food Cream
Whole Milk (Hel Melk)
Skim Milk (Esktra lett)
2% / Semi-Skimmed Milk (Lett Melk)
Beer Selection, with Imports
Brunost, Norwegian Specialty Cheese
Norvegia, Basic Norwegian Cheese
Margarine & Butter (smør)
Puff Pastry (Butterdeig)
Dry Yeast
Active / Wet Yeast
White Plain Flour (siktet hvetemel)
Corn Starch
Baking Powder & Baking Soda (Natron)
Pearl Sugar
Powdered/icing Sugar (Melis)
Sugar, granulated (sukker)
Brown Sugar (Brun Farin)
Cooking Syrup/Treacle and Golden Syrup
Oats
Juice Mix/Squash (saft)
Garlic Powder (Vitløkspulver)
Onion Powder (Løkpulver)
Cinnamon (Kanel)
Cumin (Spiskummin)
Chives (Gressløk)
Nutmeg (Muskatnød)
Cloves (Nellik)
Thyme (Timian)
Økologiske Dagligvarer
Situated at Langgate 2, this eco shop stocks a wide variety of unusual ingredients and products.
Inside the store
You can find many different herbs and spices, flours, juices and even baby foods. Eco cleaning products, organic skin and body care and even many varieties of chocolate grace the shelves here. What’s more, the staff are friendly and well informed (even in English for those of us lacking in the Norsk skills!)
Dairy Free Products
Weleda Products
Ecological cleaning products
Organic baby food
Jason Products
Range of veggie foods
Local Apple Juice
Potato & Corn Flours
Agave syrup
Vanilla
Great Spice Selection
Molasses and Maple Syrup
Chocolates
Pastas & Tea
Local Peanut Butters
Raw Sugar
Middlethon (Formerly an ICA, now a Bunnpris)
Situated at Randabergveien 134, this store stocks a variety of different ‘foreign’ ingredients, including things like PG Tips tea for us Brits!
Condensed Milk (Viking Melk)
Sweet and Condensed Milk and Baking Soda
Salt & Vinegar crisps
Large Beer selection with Imports
American Soda
Common Ingredients in Helgo
Situated around town in many location, including Stokka, Hillevag and Mariero. This supermarket has a nice range of some more unusual products, both local and from abroad and it’s well worth going to for the quality.
Beer Selection, with Imports
Specialty Cheese Selection
Fresh Bread Selection
Many Gluten Free Products
Cooking Spray
Lactose Free Milk & Cream
American & British Selection
Idsøe (Local Butchers)
Situated at Verksgate 3-4, you can buy all manner of different cuts of meat here. The Butchers are knowledgable and friendly, and will help you find whatever you need. Its often very busy on Saturdays (especially during BBQ season) so if you need more help its a good idea to call in during the week.
Idsøe
Meat selection
Idsøe
Idsøe
For other foods not listed, please see this list: Food Terms in Norwegian
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About Sadie Ramm
Sadie is English and moved to Stavanger in May 2010 with her boyfriend who works in the oil industry. After leaving her career in marketing to relocate to Norway, she's currently freelancing as a marketing consultant, specialising in helping small businesses with strategy and planning, website design and copywriting. She is making the most of the great outdoors that Norway has to offer, and has taken up cycling since moving here. She loves making stuff - knitting, sewing and cooking in particular. She's most often found out walking with her Manchester Terrier puppy, Nero.
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9 comments
subbi1000
May 13, 2011
This is one of the most comprehensive comments of ‘how to find stuff’. I have been quite baffled by the array of things available and was ashamed of my inability figure it out. Thanks Sadie.
Sadie
May 13, 2011
Hi subbi1000, great to hear that you found it helpful
Akira
May 15, 2011
Thank you very much for sharing information!!
Prags
May 16, 2011
Hey Sadie,
Its one of the best article i have ever read on stavanger expats. Thank you very much. It definately shows ur hardwork and patience in this study of supermarket. I am sure this is gonna help me and others alot. Me being from a fmcg retail background completely appreciate your work.
Thanks again!!
bye
Pragati
Sadie
May 23, 2011
Hi Akira and Pragati, thanks so much for your comments! Glad it’s useful. (I was working in marketing for an fmcg company in the UK so taking photos of supermarket shelves is second nature to me!!)
whitney love
May 23, 2011
Wow Sadie! Excellent article! Good work and wonderful photos! I was on the hunt for smoked paprika pow der for nearly 3 months and Idsøe started stocking it again. They are by far my favorite place to buy meat and cheese products in town, if not anywhere. The service is second to none. I can’t speak highly enough about them.
I’d also like to add that many items can be found online through Norwegian Food web sites, in Sunkost stores (there is one in Arkaden) or other health food stores. Especially items for vegans, vegetarians and those on allergy sensitive diets. The ethnic markets in Stavanger and especially in Sandnes sentrum have been a lifesaver for me.
EL
Jun 1, 2011
Whitney, I’d really love suggestions on online websites to buy items! I’m interested in all online shopping in and TO Norway, especially for food products, teas and spices. Veg food too! Thanks!
charlotte
Jun 13, 2011
agave nectar!!! yay~
Alaskan
Mar 24, 2012
Great list of terms! Very useful when I had to go find food my very first day here! Luckily I also have an iPhone tranlation app that helped with what I didn’t already know from this page.
It’s also amazing how fast you pick up on the main terms you need to know, I can shop like a pro now without needing any help.
On a side note, I was in the area of the Bunnpris on Randaberg 134 today so I stopped in, and have to say their American food selection is pretty sad now. If it was ever good before it has to have gone downhill.
Going to make it my mission to find a Helgo next weekend!