Local Drinks

1. kaffe

   Coffee

   Usage

   The centre of Swedish social life. Plain "kaffe" usually means "bryggkaffe", filter coffee — ask for espresso, cappuccino or caffè latte by name if you want one. In canteens and bakeries coffee is often included in the price of lunch

   Grammar Note

   Neuter (ett kaffe), definite "kaffet". Both "En kaffe, tack" and "Ett kaffe, tack" are heard when ordering a cup; the "en" form is the more colloquial

2. påtår

   A refill of coffee

   Usage

   The second cup. If a café sign says "påtår ingår", the refill is included and you help yourself from the pot. The word is attested from 1842; a third cup is "tretår" and a fourth "krusetår"

   Grammar Note

   Common gender (en påtår), definite "påtåren". "På" (on, further) + "tår" (a drop, a sip)

3. fika

   Coffee-and-cake break

   Usage

   Not just the drink but the whole pause: coffee or tea with something sweet, taken with other people. At work it is the paid "fikapaus" or "fikarast", usually mid-morning and mid-afternoon. "Ska vi fika?" is one of the most natural ways to invite someone

   Grammar Note

   Both a noun and a verb. As a noun, both "ett fika" and "en fika" are used; the verb inflects "fikade", "fikat". It began as backslang: the syllables of "kaffi" (coffee) reversed, recorded around 1910

4. julmust

   Christmas malt soft drink

   Usage

   A dark carbonated drink made from malt and hop extract, non-alcoholic. In December it outsells Coca-Cola and it is on every julbord. Launched in 1910 as "Julöl", renamed around 1922; reportedly only three people know the full recipe

   Grammar Note

   Common gender (en must), definite "julmusten". "Jul" (Christmas) + "must" (juice, wort)

5. påskmust

   Easter malt soft drink

   Usage

   The same drink as julmust with a different label and season — the breweries confirm the product is identical, and any perceived difference is put down to storage time or expectation. It appears on the Easter table

6. saft

   Fruit cordial to dilute

   Usage

   Not the same thing as juice. It is a sweetened concentrate of cooked fruit, strained and sold to be diluted with water — hallonsaft (raspberry), jordgubbssaft (strawberry) and blandsaft (mixed) are the usual flavours. It is what households, schools and outdoor events serve

   Grammar Note

   Common gender (en saft), definite "saften". The concentrate itself is "saftkoncentrat"

7. blåbärssoppa

   Warm blueberry soup

   Usage

   Blueberries, water, sugar and starch, thickened — usually served warm or lukewarm, though it is drunk cold too. It is famously handed out at the feed stations of long-distance ski races such as the Vasaloppet, and it is also a traditional remedy for an upset stomach

8. nyponsoppa

   Rose hip soup

   Usage

   Rose hips, water, sugar and potato starch, thickened to a pale pink drink taken hot or cold, with almond macaroons, whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. It has been recorded in Swedish since 1749

9. filmjölk

   Soured milk

   Usage

   Milk soured with lactic bacteria — thick and tart. It looks like milk in the carton, which is how visitors end up pouring it by mistake at breakfast. Swedes eat it from a deep bowl with müsli, crumbled crispbread or jam. It is cultured with different bacteria from yoghurt

   Grammar Note

   Common gender (en filmjölk), definite "filmjölken". Often shortened to just "fil"

10. mellanmjölk

    Medium-fat milk (1.5%)

    Usage

    Swedish milk cartons are colour-coded by fat: mellanmjölk at 1.5% is the common one, lättmjölk is lighter and standardmjölk richer. Arla launched it in 1983. Milk at 3% fat or less must by law be fortified with vitamin D. "Mellanmjölkens land" is a stock phrase for Sweden's preference for the safe middle course

11. läsk

    Soft drink

    Usage

    The general word for a sweet fizzy drink, short for "läskedryck". "Har ni läsk?" asks whether a place has soft drinks. Cans and bottles carry a "pant" deposit that you get back at the supermarket return machine

    Grammar Note

    Common gender (en läsk), definite "läsken"

12. Trocadero

    Apple-and-orange soft drink

    Usage

    A caffeinated soft drink flavoured with orange and apple, launched in Malmö by Saturnus in 1953 and now made by Spendrups. It is overwhelmingly a northern drink — "Norrlands nationaldryck" — and every roadside kiosk up there stocks it

13. Pommac

    Sparkling celebration soft drink

    Usage

    Made from apple and raspberry concentrate, with an extract matured in oak casks. It was sold as the alcohol-free stand-in for wine, and at New Year it appears in 1.5-litre magnums with a champagne cork. Carlsberg makes it today; the name blends "Pommery" and "cognac"

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