It may seem strange to think of Scandinavians eating tacos as a tradition, especially when you find out what they put in their tacos. It grew out of an advertising campaign in the 1990s (yeah, well, twenty-something years can birth a tradition) originally known as Fredagsmys, or Cozy Friday. It's a night to stay at home, watch TV, and eat highly processed food. Lately, that means Tex-Mex food like tacos.
Tex-Mex was a hot American import, just like the series and movies on the tube. But once it arrived, it morphed, becoming infused with Swedish food culture. Spin-off recipes emerged, such as taco pie (also available in frozen food aisles), taco soup, taco pizza, and taco burgers. “Anything where you could add the packaged spice mix, really,” says Tellström. Americans might recognize the ground meat, soft or hard tortilla shells, peppers, onion, tomatoes, and guacamole of Swedish tacos, but not necessarily the cucumber, peanuts, pineapple, and yoghurt sauces that Swedes added to suit their own cultural tastes.
Learn more about Swedish tacos and the cozy nights devoted to them at Atlas Obscura.
(Image credit: Aïda Amer)