Gifts from US

Other foods, such as local honey or craisins.
A 2009 calendar with pictures of Wisconsin.

May local liquers or whiskies ?
Also American chocolates and bomboms

They do not have cranberries in Norway (that I know of) so craisins would be something nice. How about the dried cheeries from Door County. They do have a lot of cheese but, perhaps if allowed, to take it into Norway,a good Wisconsin summer sausage would be good.

I live in WI and have been in Norway twice and visited relatives. I did take Lang products as they were made in WI but now I am not sure if they are made in China.

When my relative stayed with us for 3 months from Finland she had never had pumpkin pie - she said they don't have it there. I sent her home with Libbys pumpkin and canned milk to make pie for her family. She even took a set of measuring cups and spoons to use with American recipes.

Hello Karenmc, this may not appeal to you but more than once I have purchased a sterling letter opener as a hostess gift. I always buy the Wallace Grand Broque which is my sterling pattern. This has been for friends in Italy and although they may have had a letter opener they have all been quite pleased with my hostess gift. Small, easy to pack and something that they can use and pass on to the next generation.

"They do not have cranberries in Norway." If I am not mistaken, Norway does have cranberries; and they are called Lingonberries. Have you considered a Coffee table book or something from a local artist?

Cranberrries are NOT lingonberries. Lingonberries smaller, and distinctive taste.

"Grapes" must not be Scandinavian. Same thing about Scandinavian/swedish Brown Beans. THey are not the same as American baked beans. Little differences DO matter.

I expect that cranberries are available in the shops in Norway, just as they are in the Uk and here in the Netherlands. ocean Spray export huge quantities around the world.
I tend to buy our local cranberries for Terschelling. I believe that is the only place outside N America where they grow, but I could be wrong.

I would suggest a calender or a nice book on Wisconsin, or maybe something by a local artist. Be careful about taking food or booze.

Given the very high tax on alcohol in Norway, in my experience a welcome gift for most people (especially at Christmas) would be a nice bottle of spirits or liquers. Maybe you could find out what their favourite is.

I think they have cranberries in Norway. At least there are cranberries (and lingonberries) in Sweden and Finland, so I don´t see how it would be possible that they don´t grow in Norway.

Something Native American. I once got a little Navajo rug (very little), and I like it. Once I got wooden candle holders made by a local artesan. Those are my favourite candle holders.

In my experience, most Scandinavians expect, almost as a matter of course, foreign visitors to bring the maximum amount of hard liquor it's practical to get on a plane and bring through Customs without having to pay their horrendous booze tax (usually, one litre per travelling adult).

This normally means buying at the duty free place at the last airport you use before your final destination.

Not that Scandinavians are mercenary (far, far from it), but this is over and above any personal gift you buy. Booze being so absurdly costly, the assumption is no-one in their right mind would arrive in Scandinavia without as much booze as possible.

10 responses so far and nary a whisper of brownie cake mix?

Going back to hetismij's comment.

It's wise to be careful about bringing food into Norway, since its rules on this may not be the same as the EU's (though actually, I think they're more tolerant of non-European food than the EU is). As almost everywhere these days, there are kinds of food you simply can't bring into Norway.

But the rules on booze are similar to the EU. 1 litre of hooch per travelling adult plus 1.5 litres of wine, or 3 litres of wine with no hooch, unless you've bought them duty-paid in the EU/EEA, in which case the limits are way above what you can carry (worth knowing if you're changing planes in a lowish-duty EU/EEA country like Holland, Germany or Switzerland). Any more, and you pay Norwegian duty.

Don't know about hooch that's illegal in some countries (like anis): but all that happens with most booze - unlike food - is you pay usurious import duty if you bring in more than your limit.

Start off at www.toll.no, or your nearest Norwegian consulate, for the rules.

I feel a strange need to stand my ground on the issue of Cranberries vs Lingonberries. Make note of the words "high north" and "synonyms"

According the Webster's on Line Dictionary: Lingonberry
Noun
1. Low evergreen shrub of high north temperate regions of Europe and Asia and America bearing red edible berries.

2. Tart red berries similar to American cranberries but smaller.

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

Synonyms: Lingonberry
Synonyms: cowberry (n), foxberry (n), lingberry (n), lingenberry (n), Low Bush Cranberry(n), mountain cranberry (n). (additional references).

People familiar with Alaska know lingonberries are Low Bush Cranberries.

Here's the brownie mix reference: we take it because our French friends ASK for it.

Well, I live where both lingonberries and cranberries grow, and they are certainly two different berries. The only thing in common they have is the red colour. Except cranberries are darker red than lingonberries. Cranberries grow in wet marsh land, lingonberries in dry pine forest. Cranberries taste good eaten straigh from the ground, lingonberries taste not so good, but are used for jam and juice (needs sugar).

Lingonberry = vaccinium vitis-idaea

Cranberry = vaccinium oxycoccos

booze is the answer.

Find out if they drink, and what is their favorite. A bottle of liquor or a few bottles of wine are always a good idea.

You could add a few food items that are specialties of your area like nuts, chocolate, cheese, jam, whatever in addition.

That is the perfect amount, a nice gift, without too big a fuss. If the wine or liquor isn't right for them, they can re-gift to other friends.

Thank you all for your help. I have more ideas now than I have space for in my suitcase! Local gifts are a nice idea. My son thought my home made hot chocolate mix(which is very rich and creamy) would be good too, but I think he was mostly thinking about himself!

Not sure where you are in Wisconsin, but there is a new award winning distiller here in Milwaukee called Great Lakes Distillery. They have been winning awards for their locally distilled Rehorst vodka and gin. They just came out with a pumpkin liquor and citrus and honey vodka that both looked interesting. www.greatlakesdistillery.com

When I was in Ireland a couple of years ago I saw people wearing Green Bay Packers shirts and come to find out they were from Germany. Maybe a Packers hat would be nice for a male member of the fam (no duty either!).

During that trip I gave away some of the new quarters with the states on them. You could acquire several of the Wisconsin ones - although they seemed to like Elvis and the Tenn one the best!

I have given books featuring tales of the Great Lakes - adventure and shipwrecks, etc. It's something so unique to this area and can be very interesting - especially since Norwegians were involved in the early trade and settlement of the upper Great Lakes.

I do not have a good idea for a gift.
But please check before you go to make sure you can bring it in to the country. There are some restirctions for what you can bring in and out of some countries
Have a wonderful and safe trip.
Good luck with finding the correct gift.
Jaye

I have been to Norway many times and tried bringing various things to friends and family. Absolutely food or booze is the way to go, as others have stated here.

In the liquor department, cognac or brandy seem popular. Norwegians aren't great wine drinkers (even though they tell me they are these days...I haven't seen it).

Since Karenmc is from Wisconsin, I vote for cheese or booze.

I like the cheese idea. Although you will find the cheese in Norway to actually be better than Wisconsin cheese. I know hard to believe but the Scandinavian cheeses I have had are on par or better than our NY cheeses. On the other hand they do not use mozzarella or velvetta cheeses so that might be something new.
I have family I visit in Sweden and I usually bring these things with me.

Ice wine- Scandanavians are sure to serve you a delicious desert and the ice wine will accompany it well.

Chocolates- It is always welcomed and our chocolate is on par with theirs and some might even be better. But it is always nice to try new chocloates.

Maple syrup or maple syrup candies.

Goldfish! Everyone loves goldfish.

Hope this helps!

I have found Native American jewelery has been well received by the ladies (note Norwegians have refined taste,and like smaller and simple designs) and high end alcohol for the gentlemen.Levis and jeans along with fishing line are welcomed also. If you can find anything made in the U.S.A. of quality that is also nice.Also makeup kits from large department stores are another hit with ladies.ipods are a hit anywhere along with digital cameras. Hope this helps. God Jule

Hey Apres_Londee, what did you have to go and do that for? As soon as I saw the heading, I thought "oh no, please not brownie mix again"

Another vote for booze.

Importing various foodstuffs could be illegal, unless you can get an official list of what is and is not allowed. The perception outwith the US is that American cheese is not at all good (although I'm sure there are some good small producers) and a lot of Europeans think US chocolate is horrible.

Craft items are a matter of taste and not everyone wants their house cluttered up with trinkets.

Whats wrong with brownie mix? I live in Italy formally from Wisconsin. I planned on giving my landlord this year, a basket with brownies or cupcake, the mix and the pans needed to bake them for the holidays. Should I reconsider?

My international friends have also enjoyed cranberry mustard from Wisconsin and Usinger sausages.

Jean, you go right ahead. There was previously a long debate about (1) whether it would insult the receiver (2) aren't mixes kind of nasty and (3) stuff like that. The worry is that it will all start up again.

Karen--
We also live in Wisconsin and just returned from Paris.
I met up with a childhood friend who's been living in Paris for 15 years.
I took her a little someting from our neck of the woods... a gift bag with wild rice, a small bottle of Wisconsin maple syrup, and a bag of pancake mix.
She was delighted!

Print the Vikings thread for them as a gift

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2&tid=34790830

"Craft items are a matter of taste and not everyone wants their house cluttered up with trinkets."

And not everybody appreciates brownie or pancake mixes preferring to make theirs from scratch. Especially those of us who don't like thick American pancakes.

I have this image of these fish hooks (often made in Norway), where it is a good sized industry flying to the states, moved to a store, bought by our friend and then flown back to its home village to be given the host.

The only limit to me is should it be spirits or fine wine

There are loads and loads of brownie recipes, but I bet that this is just as quick as using a mix. It's really easy and is free from nasties.

Ingredients :
100g dark chocolate (at least 60% cocoa solids)
100g walnuts (optional)
110g butter
225g sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
50g flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder (or use self-raising flour)

Makes 15 brownies

Recipe :
1. Pre-heat oven to 180°C (375F)(Gas 4), chop nuts roughly and break chocolate into small squares.
2. Melt butter and chocolate together over a low heat.
3. Mix melted butter and sugar in a bowl.
4. Beat eggs then add to mixture.
5. Mix flour with salt and baking powder, then add.
6. Stir mixture thoroughly.
7. Put mixture into a greased baking tray.
8. Bake for 30 minutes, check frequently so as not to over cook. The middle should be sticky, while the outside remains crisp.
10. Leave to cool, dust with icing sugar and cut into squares.

I would bring fudge. It doesn't exist in Europe (at least I haven't found any) and I just made some this morning to give to co-workers. You can get brownie mix in all the grocery stores in France and Switzerland.

Do you have any local artisans that create hand made items? Near my home there is a wonderful company called Wendell August Forge that creates beautiful metal items in bronze and aluminum. The designs are very unique and they make great gifts. Best of all, you don't have to worry about breakage!

I grew up in Wisconsin, and never appreciated cheese until I moved to Europe. Right now I have some Norwegian Jarlsberg in my fridge!

Forget the cheese, brownies, and Packers items - bring booze! The tax on alcohol in Norway is astronomical.

What Heimdall says - booze is definitely a good idea if going to Norway... I would go for either a bottle or 2 of nice CA/WA wine or a bottle of good "artisanal" Kentucky bourbon like Van Winkle or Knob Creek.

Hope this helps,
Andre

A bottle of VSOP cognac or single malt scotch wouldn't go amiss either - and you can bring back a bottle of Lutefisk Akvavit to amaze your Wisconsin friends.

Buy the akvavit at the airport duty free.

Is there really a product called "Lutefisk Aquavit"? I Googled it and got no hits.

If there is such a concoction, it should be banned!

LOL! Yes, there is, but it's not lutefisk flavoured! It is meant to be drunk with lutefisk. I was tempted to buy a bottle at the Oslo Gardermoen Airport, but chickened out in the end. As a child growing up in Wisconsin, I acquired a taste for lutefisk, but was never allowed the akvavit.

Thank GOODNESS! I pictured an Aquavit bottle filled with a semi-gelatinous mixture of lutefisk, diluted with alcohol.

Shudder!

The only way I could get my second helping of lutefisk down (I had my first at the home of a Norwegian neighbor on one unforgettable Xmas dinner) would be to drink a whole bottle of the aquavit first.

The alcohol is probably the best idea. Would not do any kind of food unless you really know the people well. Especially cheeses and chocolates! Brownies or chocolate chip cookies though are usually quite well accepted. If your town has calendars with photos that might be nice.

I have been amazed at some of these ideas on here. Fishing line? Velveeta cheese? American chocolate? Jeans? Cranberries? This is Norway for goodness sakes and the war has been over for quite a while. As a gift, think of giving something classy.

"I would bring fudge. It doesn't exist in Europe"

?!?!? I don't know about Norway, admittedly, but it is extremely common in Britain.

I consulted a genuine Norwegian.
It said that it's difficult if you don't know the family's tastes.
He personally would like a good single malt, but he said that a good cognac from the airport would be very welcome.
Also, if you come from a picturesque part of the US, a coffee table book of photographs would be nice.

Whoops, he's a he not an it

I have a lot more class than you do as I would never insult people the way you just did.

I said Europe Caroline, not the UK.

The UK is in Europe.

Well over here in Europe we don't think so. You don't even have the Euro.

"You don't even have the Euro."

Most European countries don't

You really have to live in the Eurozone to be so insular as to confuse it with Europe

The whole point was about fudge, which you can't find here in Switzerland, France, Germany, Italy or Austria. And I got some snippy response expressing surprise because you can get it in UK. Sorry, but I am not taking a train to the UK for fudge.

Fantastic :-0 are you saying that mainland europe has a fudge drought?

Too good, anyway I've tasted fudge in France and Holland.

So back to the point, its booze. Every Norweigan I've worked with and visited looks for a brown liquid with a screw top in your hand as you arrive. Stuff is nice but have you not seen "The Seagull"

No question but that the winner is liquor. Not bourbon, which most Europeans aren't very fond of, but either scotch/cognac or an expensive liqueur (everyone likes an after dinner drink -- Grand Marnier, etc.). Make sure you get the max allowable ... champagne for New Year's or Christmas would work for the wine allotment (as long as it's not sweet).

Cheese, chocolates, etc -- not so much unless you're an expatriate in the throes of withdrawal.

Scandianvians are usually fascinated with the Amish. A good photo book might work (even if it's not Wisconsin).

And don't forget to throw in a few "Aging Hippie for Obama" or similar buttons/t-shirts.

You don't have to take a train to buy fudge.
There's this new-fangled contraption called the Internet.
Go to http://www.fudgekitchen.co.uk/
and get your fudge posted to you.