Based on a recipe that dates back hundreds of years, is
Kalles Kaviar Sweden’s very own version of this quintessentially Russian
delicacy?
By: Ringo Bones
I’ve only tasted Kalles Kaviar back near the end of December
2018 here in the Philippines after an “unofficial heavy metal music convention”
also had Scandinavian heavy metal enthusiasts bringing their own regional
delicacies. Together with fermented shark meat, this type of caviar was said to
rank in most American’s lists of “top ten worst foods in the world”, but
surprisingly, I fell in love with its smoky, savory taste. But does Kalles
Kaviar truly deserve the title of “Sweden’s National Caviar”.
Kalles Kaviar probably earned the distinction of Sweden’s
national caviar after it was stocked in Ikea outlets here in East Asia around
2010. Even though it has been a runaway commercial success in Sweden ever since
its market launch there back in 1954, Kalles Kaviar is based on a recipe that
dates back several hundred years from Sweden’s Lysekil region. The product is
mainly made of salted cod roe (scientific name gadus morhua) sustainably harvested
from the roughest parts of the North Sea, sugar, canola oil and spices and the
exact recipe of cod roe caviar based delicacy had been a closely guarded recipe
by manufacturer Abba Seafood since its launch.
Kalles Kaviar is also often served in haute cuisine French restaurants
as this type of caviar is sometimes referred to as caviar de Lysekil. Other
manufacturers of similar caviar type are Öhnbergs Kaviar (often referred
to as the connoisseur’s alternative, and currently also owned by Abba Seafood)
and Boviks Kaviar. Kalles Kaviar’s tube label has maintained the same design
since 1954. At present, there are 8-types or flavors of Kalles Kaviar including
one referred to as banana flavor”. Kalles Kaviar is often eaten with crackers
and although many around the world had acquired a taste of it, it is more often
the Americans who in the recent age of social media had been the most vocal in
referring it, along with Swedish fermented shark meat, as one of the most awful
tasting foods in the world.
