IKEA is known around the world for its furniture, but for anyone who's ever walked past the checkout lines, there's another treasure waiting to be discovered — the Swedish Food Market. As a Swede, I grew up with many of the products they sell, from crispbread to cinnamon rolls. Some are IKEA branded, others are true Swedish classics that we all know from home. Here's my personal guide to what's worth picking up.
Knäckebröd is a true Swedish staple. IKEA offers several versions, including their own brand and Leksands, a well-known name from Sweden. Every Swede grows up eating crispbread, as it's a regular part of the free school lunches served across the country. It's a natural pairing with traditional Swedish home cooking, and in Sweden there are probably over 50 different variations to choose from, from round and rustic to thin and crisp.
This photo was taken before IKEA stopped selling Marabou products in several countries. The decision was made in response to concerns over the brand owner's continued business in Russia after the invasion of Ukraine. However, Marabou may still be available in some IKEA stores around the world.
IKEA's KAFFEREP line includes oat cookies, ginger thins, vanilla dreams and my personal favorite since childhood, the raspberry-filled biscuits. In Sweden, these are known as Singoalla from Göteborgskex, and they've been a fika staple for generations. You'll also find Gifflar from Pågen, soft cinnamon rolls that every Swede knows. Pro tip: pop them in the air fryer for 20 seconds to get them perfectly warm and soft. IKEA has also started selling cakes from Frödinge, another classic Swedish brand. Their creamy, ready-made tårtor are instantly recognizable to anyone who grew up in Sweden.
The frozen section offers meatballs (both classic and plant-based), mashed potatoes, salmon fillets and the DAIM cake mentioned above. These are easy to bring home, easy to prepare and great if you want a Swedish-style dinner without cooking from scratch. Of course, homemade meatballs are always best, but when I don't have the time or energy to roll my own, I buy IKEA's. They're totally fine and much better than skipping them altogether.
You'll find jars of pickled herring in several flavors, along with cold-smoked salmon and mustard sauce. This is the kind of food Swedes eat at midsummer and Christmas, but it's also handy to keep in the fridge year-round. It's not something we eat every day, but it's surprisingly wholesome and satisfying. I personally prefer the mustard herring, senapssill, which balances sweetness and tang beautifully. IKEA's versions are mild and accessible, making them a great introduction if you're new to the taste.
Don't miss the elderflower drink or Julmust, a dark, malty soda that Swedes drink almost exclusively around Christmas. At IKEA, it goes under the name VINTERSAGA, and I absolutely love it. The taste is impossible to explain. You either hate it or you're hooked for life. Fun fact: there's only one company in the world, Roberts AB, that produces the extract used in virtually all Julmust in Sweden.
When it comes to jams and toppings, lingonberry is the classic choice with meatballs or oven-baked pancakes (fläskpannkaka). But for thin crepe-style pancakes, it has to be blueberry jam. Talking about these Swedish classics is making me hungry.
As for sweets, try Dumle soft toffees, Kexchoklad, or pick up one of the various LÖRDAGSGODIS (Saturday candy) bags. You're bound to find a new favorite.
IKEA's Swedish Food Market is more than just a quirky stop by the checkout. For many Swedes, it's a nostalgic glimpse of home, from knäckebröd and Gifflar to Julmust and mustard herring. Some of the products are IKEA's own, while others are iconic brands every Swede recognizes, like Kalles Kaviar, Pågens Gifflar, Frödinge cakes or Leksands crispbread. Whether you're curious about Swedish flavors or looking to bring a bit of Scandinavia into your kitchen, the market is full of fun, affordable things to explore. And who knows, maybe you'll fall in love with lingonberry jam or become a Julmust believer too.
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