Starbucks and Staters for Swedes

Hej hej! The past few days have been super overcast and chilly with the constant wind. Yesterday was a torrential down pour with lightning and thunder. My roommate, Niran, told me that most summers in Lund consist of a few days of sun followed by some of rain, but yesterday's rain was heavier than usual. Today, most of the clouds rolled out by 2 p.m. so I took advantage of the crisp 65 degree weather and headed to my favorite coffee place in town...Starbucks. Just kidding ha. According to Niran, Sweden has the fewest Starbucks in all of Europe. They were beat out here in Lund by a chain called Expresso House. Even though it's a chain, it's super warm and cozy with full bookshelves lining the walls. The cafe closest to the train station has free Wifi and tons of comfy seating, so every time I get here I end up staying for a few hours.

I splurged today and actually purchased a drink. I usually don't buy anything more than an expresso shot, and even that is only for a particularly groggy day. One of the reasons I pass on the drinks being the nature of Swedish coffee. Its so strong!! And thats coming from me, a coffee addict who prefers her cup of joe black. It reminds me, and other students in my program, of hot melted tar. Its not as gross as it sounds, I promise, but it definitely takes some getting used to; so unless I can't stop yawning I stick with my water. Another reason I remain coffee-less is the price. As with everything in Sweden, the price of coffee is more expensive. For this large frapp I paid 44 SEK which is equivalent to about $6.75--fine for a special day but definitely not something I can start making a habit of!

With Expresso House being my new Starbucks, I also have a new favorite grocery store (as if I shopped for my self back home ha ha). Instead of Staters and Ralphs, I frequent a grocery store called Willy's right down the street from my apartment. A few days ago, Niran and I went together so he could translate the food and products for me! 

At home all the aisles open up to the registers so you can go to the front of the store and walk the length of it to see where everything (or in my case, where my mom) is. The aisles here at Willy's are orientated side ways.

I did, however, find an entire section dedicated to American BBQ sauce!

Annnnnd one for taco spices! I'm sure they have nothing on our Southern California Mexican food, which I'm strangely craving as of lately. It's like my body knows there's no way to get Chipotle... 

They have a huge section for freshly baked breads. This photo doesn't do the selection justice since I went shopping in the evening, so there wasn't much left. 

In search for gram crackers to make some s'mores, I found this ginormous cracker aisle. This is a popular type of cracker here in Sweden. A lot of people eat this for breakfast with cheese. Its a pretty grainy brittle cracker, but I like it. (Mom, you'd love them)

Swedes really need to be introduced to the idea of trail mix. Actually, any kind of snack would suffice. (Maybe that's why they're all so tall and thin?) This is the first "snacky" food I've found. Everything else is either a meal or chocolate. 

This is one of four sections in the store that carry different types of cheeses. Seriously, whatever cheese you're craving, Willy's has it! Sweden has such amazing dairy products since they have a lot of farm land. Their yogurts come in large containers (kinda like our pints of milk). And speaking of milk, there are no gallons on gallons of chemically treated, watery milk here. At first, I wondered how my family would ever survive with only small containers of milk (my mom once said we're the easiest kids to please...just give us cereal). Well, since their milk is so fresh, creamy, and naturally sweet, it only lasts a few days before it goes sour (a lesson I certainly learned the hard way). 

Ah. Bloodpudding, another product popular in Sweden. I haven't had it (and don't plan to) but my friend Rebecca really enjoys it. It is essentially what you read...a type of dish made of animal blood and other intestines mixed with some kind of wheat and spices...

Just as I was told I would, I found a lot of sauces and spreads in toothpaste like tubes! This time, I actually tried one of these. Fanny, another roommate in my corridor, insisted I try one called kalles kaviar on a hard boiled egg. It basically tasted like a swallowed the entire ocean. Soooooo salty and fishy. Eeeeks.

And of course, authentic Swedish meatballs!

Found our s'mores ingredients! These marshmallows are made especiallllly for the greatest "True American Tradition" ;)

Here's a bad quality photo to give you an idea of prices here. This is the largest shampoo/conditioner Willy's carries (not as large as the TRESemme at home) and it was on sale for almost $10. 

To help minimize waste, Willy's (as with every other grocery store here) charges for purchasing paper and plastic grocery bags. It's recommended you bring your own reusable ones.

Recycling Swedish style. Actually, they do tons and tons of recycling. We sort all of our trash into separate bins: food waste, household waste, paper waste, white/clear glass bottles, colored glass bottles, hard plastics and cardboard. Talk about super eco-friendly! 

Taaa Daaaa! The final product. Nomnomnom

Until next time, 

Xo