Surströmmingsfestival

Held each August in the town of Alfta, in the Hälsingland region of central Sweden, the Surströmmingsfestival stands as the world's largest festival dedicated to one of Scandinavia's most notoriously divisive delicacies: surströmming, fermented Baltic herring famous — or infamous — for its powerful smell. The fish is caught, lightly salted and left to ferment in cans for months, developing an aroma so strong that opening a tin is traditionally done outdoors, often underwater to contain the initial burst of pressure and odour.

Despite, or perhaps because of, its reputation, surströmming holds a genuine and affectionate place in Swedish food culture, particularly in the coastal regions of Hälsingland and the High Coast further north, where the delicacy originated. The festival gives visitors the chance to try it in its proper context — traditionally eaten on flatbread with boiled potatoes, red onion and sour cream — alongside a full programme of food, music and regional culture celebrating the tradition.

For genuinely adventurous eaters, Alfta's festival offers a rare, communal way to approach a dish that even many Swedes find challenging — proof that Swedish cuisine extends well past the crayfish and cinnamon buns more commonly associated with the country abroad.