Special Foods from a Special Place: Iceland!

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Bubbling hot springs, breathtaking waterfalls, scenic volcanic mountain ranges, crystal clear water. No, I’m not talking about Hawai’i…I’m actually describing Iceland. Okay, I’ll admit it, I was surprised too. Until very recently, the only Icelandic export I was even remotely familiar with was the indie music icon, Björk. And even so, I only know a few of her songs. But lately it seems I’ve been seeing more and more foods from Iceland on our store shelves; and the more I’ve learned about them, the more I’ve learned about the country, since their food, culture and traditions are so closely tied together. For example, the Icelandic people are very proud of their traditional approach to raising animals and how that translates to the purity and flavor of their foods. For example, all Icelandic dairy stock are raised in a free-range environment and graze on natural pastures. They are not given feed with added animal by-products, nor are they given antibiotics or added growth hormones. Also, did you know that dairy cows in Iceland are unique to Iceland and they are the only type of dairy cow in the country? Their origins date back to the cattle brought from Norway during the settlement of Iceland in the 10th century and there has been no import of dairy cows since then. Like the country itself, here are a few products from Iceland that deserve a closer look: Smjör Imported Icelandic Butter

Icelandic creamery butter made from the fresh cream of high-quality Icelandic milk
A rich, smooth flavor and texture—easier to spread than comparable butter types
Because of the extra hours of sunshine during the arctic summer, the milking cows remain out in the field during all hours between June and September, Smjör’s production period
Available salted or unsalted and only at Whole Foods Market®

Nöi Síríus Chocolate

Iceland’s oldest and largest confectionary producer, using the same methods and recipes for over a century
Produced from only full-bodied cocoa beans, the end result is an exceptionally rich chocolate, excellent for baking or snacking
Highly sought after by travelers in Iceland, this exceptional chocolate is now available in the U.S. exclusively at Whole Foods Market®
Available in four varieties: milk-chocolate, semi-sweet, bitter-sweet and extra-bitter

Skyr.is Icelandic Skyr

An Icelandic diet staple for more than 1,200 years, skyr’s soft, creamy consistency has the look and taste of thick yogurt but it’s actually a fresh cheese!
Made with Icelandic skim milk, it’s naturally fat free and is packed with protein and calcium
Produced by a cooperative of family-run dairy farms and milk producers in Iceland and made in production facilities that run on sustainable energy from geothermal or hydroelectric sources.
Member farms are compliant with Iceland’s progressive standards for domestic livestock welfare
Exclusively sold at Whole Foods Market® and available in Plain, Vanilla, Blueberry and Strawberry flavors

Need a good excuse to try these foods? What about making something special for Mother’s Day? Try Nöi Síríus Chocolate and Smjör Butter in these super-delectable, highly rated recipes from our online recipe collection.

If Mom’s not a fan of chocolate you can whip up a Berry Parfait with Icelandic Yogurt and Granola as a simple breakfast or a light dessert. Have you tried any of these foods yet? What Icelandic export are you most familiar with?