October 23, 2001
Norwegian Chocolate
One of the advantages of working for a multinational corporation is that our office is occasionally visited by people with gifts from foreign lands. For example, last weekend, we had a tournament in Australia, and the head judge was from Norway. On his way to Australia, the judge (whose name, if you're interested, is "Rune") stopped by Seattle, and he brought us chocolates from Norway. Exotic! Yum!
As you can see, my sock monkey is posing with the chocolates. The one on the monkey's right is called "Kvikk Lunsj", which I think means "Quick Lunch". I'm not sure whether Norwegian is really that close to English or somebody did a bad job of transliteration, or what, though. I guess it would make sense for Norwegian and English to be close, what with the various Viking incursions into Britain.
Kvikk Lunsj is a lot like a Kit Kat. It's chocolate over wafer, and it even comes in the Kit Kat-standard four equal bars. The chocolate is a little more bitter than Kit Kats, though, providing a peculiar sensation for my US-trained palate. I mean, texturally, it's just like a Kit Kat (although the chocolate seems a little more creamy), but the taste is noticeably different. Subconsciously, it seems like a spoiled Kit Kat, even though it's a perfectly fine snack on it's own. I don't know if I'd call it a full "quick lunch", though, because I'm still hungry.
Luckily, I still have a "Melkesjokolade", which is a word that looks suspiciously like the words "milk chocolate". It's a Freia brand chocolate bar. "Freia" is a Norse goddess, and also, it turns out, a subsidiary of Kraft Foods. This raises disturbing questions about Thor and his relationship with General Motors.
The Melkesjokolade is a great big bar of chocolate, divided into 24 smaller chunks. It's a little thicker than a US-standard Hershey bar, and also, I think, a little richer. After eating only one little rectangle, my mouth still feels coated in chocolate, and I find myself using my teeth to try to scrape the excess off the inside of my cheeks.
Starting on my second rectangle, I can report that the chocolate is definitely a smoother blend than I'm used to. Very little chewing is necessary, or even possible, as the chocolate really does melt in my mouth. And while that's find as a metaphor, it turns out that having a bunch of melted chocolate on your teeth is a lot of work to actually get down your throat.
I think this chocolate is sweeter than the Kvikk Lunsj, and it's certainly more of a meal, since I don't think I can manage to finish the whole thing right now.
As a norwegian I found it interesting to read your chocolate comments. I'm a great fan of US candy like Skittles, M&M's and Oreos. We don't have those in Norway and I just love'm, but generally I find american chocolate to be not very good. You mention Hershey above, and that's a chocolate I really can't stand.
However I also think that a lot of the stuff that pass for chocolate in Norway is crap as well, you got to taste two of the best ones. :)
And you're right, norwegian does have a lot of words similar to english in it, but you would not be able to understand it. :)
BTW, Melkesjokolade IS a direct translation of Milk Chocolate. :)
Posted by: Elf at June 11, 2003 02:19 PMIs there any way I can purchase this chocolate, I'm from California. My boyfriend accidently ate and shared at work a chocolate that belong to someone else.. to discover later his co-worker forgot it there and it came from Norway. Please let me know if you know how I can purchase one these for his friend at work.
Pilar
Pilar_mercedes@hotmail.com
Some times it is possible to purchase the melkesjokolade at The Norwegian Seamen's Church. In California the church is located at
2454 Hyde Street,
San Francisco, CA-94109-1232, USA
415 775 6566 (fax: 415 775 5693)
E-mail: Sanfrancisco@sjomannskirken.no
http://www.sjomannskirken.no/
i have a question is there someway i can find the price of a norwegian candybar? or rather that any products from norway like in the norwegian price...i could use some help it is for a school project!!!
Posted by: a person at October 30, 2003 09:34 AMFor norwegian foodstuffs www.norskmat.com is a good first stop. They are a supplier for norwegians abroad so they ship worldwide, but the site is unfortuanatly in norwegian. Use InterTran or some other bad translating and maybe you'll get to make a full purchase :-)
The name-translations are actually right on, norwegian IS that similar to english!
American, and especially the british Cadbury choclates I find to be mostly really boring. Notable exceptions are the Old Gold dark chocolate, but then again you do have those delicous Oreos... just can't get enough of those double-stuffs :-D
Posted by: Telcontar at March 26, 2004 11:37 AMI think the norwegian 'melesjokolade' is the bast, and so does my spanish, maxican, japanese, koean, english and american friends (my class mates) I think you should try it, cos it is THA BEST chocolate, belive me and my friends ;)
Posted by: Somebody at May 28, 2004 12:59 AMmaxican = Mexican...sorry :/
Posted by: Somebody at May 28, 2004 01:00 AMhey there! just wondering if there is anyone out there who would be willing to give me a little history on norweigan chocolate(if there is such a thing!!) thanx alot
Posted by: missy at May 28, 2004 01:07 PMThere's a BIG difference between Freia (the company) and Frøya (the goodess). Get Your facts right looser.
Ant there's a fact that the average norwegian is thinner then the average (to fat) american. This could be the reason why You'r still hungry after a Kvikk Lunsj .
Posted by: Embla at June 21, 2004 01:10 AMNorwegian chocolate from Freia,Bergene and Nidar is the best chocolate in the world. End of discussion!! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! yummy
By the way im only 12 yrs. old
>Get Your facts right looser.
Seeing how it bothered you, I'm guessing his facts were right loose enough already.
matt_t
Posted by: matt_t at August 27, 2004 03:13 PMTo Torgunn Ingrid Rawle
You might know that Nidar and Bergene are now just Nidar (as they fusionated a couple of decades ago). But to bring Minde and Hval sjokoladefabrikk up in the sun are necessary.
I also think norwegian chocolate are the best but it depends on what you customed with. The "Melkesjokolade" are the first one I will recommend.
Comments