Norwegian breakfasts are simple yet iconic, built around slices of bread topped with local products you’ll only find in Norway. For travelers, these slices are not just food—they’re a cultural experience.
The Essentials of a Norwegian Breakfast
Start with fresh bread, bread rolls or small rolls—brown or white, toasted or not. Always spread Tine Smør (Tine Butter), and pair your meal with Friele kaffe (Friele Coffee) and Tine Helmelk (Whole Milk) or Tine Lettmelk (Low-fat Milk). These staples are the backbone of many local Norwegian mornings. If the butter is straight out of the fridge and too firm for a knife, simply use an ostehøvel (cheese slicer) on the butter as Norwegians do with cheese. This makes it easy to add thin, even slices to your toast.
8 Must-Try Norwegian Slices
- Cucumber & Mills Kaviar:
Buttered bread topped with 6 slices of cucumber and a half moon of Mills Kaviar (Cod Roe Spread) on each side. Of course you can add slices of egg to this if you want. Buttered bread with slices of eggs and Mills kaviar alone is also great. - Tomato, Cucumber & Mills Majones:
Buttered bread with 4 slices of cucumber, 4 slices of tomato, and Mills Majones (Mayonnaise). - Ham, Tomato, Cucumber & Mills Majones:
Buttered bread with cucumber and tomato, topped with Mills Majones (Mayonnaise) and a slice or two of Gilde Ekte Kokt Skinke (Cooked Ham). No tomato with this setup also great. - Jarlsberg cheese & Mills Kaviar:
Buttered bread covered with slices of Jarlsberg Ost (Norwegian Cheese) and a modest half moon of Mills Kaviar (Cod Roe Spread) on each side. - Mackerel Spread:
Buttered bread topped with a decent amount of Stabburet Makrell (Canned Mackerel in Tomato Sauce). - Jam Slice:
Buttered bread spread with Nora, or Lerum Jordbærsyltetøy (Strawberry Jam) or Bringbærsyltetøy (Raspberry Jam). - Tine Brunost & Blueberry Jam:
Buttered bread topped with slices of Tine Brunost (Brown Cheese). Optionally add a dash of Blåbærsyltetøy (Blueberry Jam) for sweetness. Or simply brunost with slices of cucumber. Raspberry good too yet the jam options are endless. - Mills Leverpostei with Rødbeter:
Buttered bread topped with Mills Leverpostei (Liver Pâté) and finished with slices of Nora Rødbeter (Pickled Beets), a classic Norwegian combination balancing savory and sweet. Or replace the pickled beets with slices of cucumber.
Why Many Travelers Love These Products
Each product tells a story of Norwegian food culture. Jarlsberg is Norway’s global cheese ambassador, while Mills Kaviar is a uniquely Norwegian spread beloved at breakfast tables. Stabburet Makrell is a national favorite, offering protein-packed convenience. Brunost, with its caramel-like flavor, is unlike any cheese elsewhere in the world. And Mills leverpostei med Nora Rødbeter adds a traditional touch, combining hearty pâté with the tang of pickled beets.
A Slice of Norway
These slices are more than meals—they’re cultural souvenirs. Travelers who try them experience Norway’s everyday traditions, from the taste of Tine Smør to the sweetness of Nora jam. Whether at breakfast, lunch, or a late-night snack, these slices connect visitors directly to Norwegian life.
