The sweet taste of Norway

1. The Hardangerfjord region

The Hardangerfjord region in Fjord Norway accounts for 40 per cent of all fruit production in Norway, including apples, sweet cherries, pears, and plums. The region is known as Norway’s epicentre of handcrafted ciders, and the branding “Hardanger cider” is a geographically protected denomination. Today, more than 50 fruit farmers are members of the cider guild of Hardanger. Cruise the Sørfjord with the Cider boat or taste your way through the scenic Fruit and Cider Route in Ulvik. The sight of Hardanger in May, when 600,000 fruit trees are in full blossom, can hardly be described in words.

2. The fruit village Gvarv in Telemark

Thousands of trees make up the fruit village Garv in Telemark, known as Norway’s capital of apple production. They deliver an astonishing 3,000 tons of apples and 1,000 tons of plums and cherries each year. The village consists of several fruit farms that offer various experiences, including the brewery Lindheim Ølkompani, known for their delicious sour beer, and Lerkekåsa Vineyard, the world’s northernmost vineyard – where you can spend the night in a wine barrel.

Several of the fruit farms in Gvarv are awarded for their sweet, fresh and sour apple juices, and “Telemark apples” is a geographically protected denomination. In September each year, the village hosts the Norwegian Apple Festival, which is a celebration of the harvesting season with local food, art, song, and dance.

3. The strawberry village Valldal

Deeply red and incredibly sweet and tasty: Try Norwegian strawberries, and “strawberries” will never be the same again. The village Valldal in Fjord Norway has cultivated strawberries for more than a hundred years, and along the river Valdøla, strawberry farms lie like pearls on a string. Despite the northern latitude, Valldal has a mild climate that provides ideal conditions for producing this highly valued berry, as well as cherries, apples, and raspberries.

At the restaurant Jordbærstua, which is a natural stop along the way between Geiranger and Åndalsnes, you can try several dishes in which strawberries are the main ingredients. Their famous strawberry cake has even made its way into Lonely Planet’s guidebook!

4. The Sognefjord area

The traditional district of Sogn, situated in the middle of Fjord Norway, is one of the oldest fruit regions in Norway. The area is known for its handcrafted cider companies, including award-winning Balholm, as well as for its large number of fruit farms that produce everything strawberries and raspberries to plums and cherries. “Sogn Fruit Route” is a network of local providers that offer different types of fruit experiences. Spend the night in the middle of an orchard, visit a vineyard, go strawberry picking, or enjoy a glass of fresh fruit brandy with a fjord view. The fruit tradition in Sogn is primarily represented in the municipalities Balestrand, Vik, Leikanger, Sogndal, Luster, and Lærdal.

5. The Oslofjord region

Thirty-four per cent of Norway’s total production of fruit and berries take place in the Oslofjord region. Here, you’ll find a large number of fruit farms, often placed in the middle of a picturesque cultural landscape, that cultivate everything from apples, pears, and plums, to cherries, strawberries, and raspberries. Several farms offer guided tours and have farm shops where you can find jams, juices, and other tasteful souvenirs to bring home.