The alcohol-free north: berry fruit drinks, winter Gløgg, apple must and legendary Norwegian tap water
Norway is famous for aquavit and cider, but the north has plenty to surprise you even without alcohol: glacial water, sweet and sour fruit drinks, spicy winter Gløgg and refreshing apple must from the fjord gardens. These drinks not only quench your thirst, but also reveal the terroir of a country where the purity of nature is the main ingredient of taste.
Why can you drink tap water in Norway without filtering it?
The water comes from mountain lakes and glacial sources and undergoes minimal treatment with ozone and UV light. Nitrate content is less than 0.1 mg/l and hardness is 1–2 °dH, making it one of the softest in Europe. Tourists are advised to bring a reusable bottle: Drikk Vann stations are located in airports, museums and on DNT trails. Savings: 25–30 NOK for each bottle not purchased.
What is berry juice and how is it different from juice?
Bærsaft is a concentrated berry juice (blueberry, cloudberry, lingonberry) mixed with sugar in a 1:1 ratio and pasteurised. It is diluted with water in a 1:4 ratio before consumption. Mors preserves anthocyanins and vitamin C, making it ideal for a thermos on a winter ski trip. Look for the best artisanal mors at Bondens Marked: 0.5 litre bottle ≈ 79 NOK.
How is Hardanger non-alcoholic apple must made?
Aroma and Gravenstein apples are cold-pressed and quickly pasteurised at 78°C to preserve their fresh acidity and floral aroma. Unlike cider, the must is not fermented, so it contains 0% alcohol. Serve chilled with fish dinner: the acidity of 6–7 g/l emphasises the taste of salmon and shrimp. A 0.75 litre bottle of Alde Sideri Mustr can be purchased at Mathallen Oslo for NOK 65.
What is non-alcoholic Gløgg famous for and when is it drunk?
A winter drink made from red grape juice, spices (cinnamon, cardamom, cloves), orange and raisins. A variant called hvit gløgg is made from apple juice. It is drunk from December to January from ceramic mugs at Christmas markets; a 0.2 litre glass costs 45 NOK (refill 25 NOK if you keep the mug). At home: heat 1 litre of juice with spices for 10 minutes, serve with almonds and raisins.
What other popular non-alcoholic drinks are worth trying?
| Drink | Description | Where to buy/try | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ringi Eplemost | Premium cloudy apple juice Østfalla | Café Fuglen (Oslo) | 52 NOK/0.25 l |
| Bringebærbrus Solo | Raspberry version of the iconic Solo soda | Rema 1000 supermarkets | 24 NOK/0.5 l |
| Ingefær Shot | Ginger shot with sea buckthorn, 15% juice | Tim Wendelboe Roasting | 39 NOK/60 ml |
| Oat Milk Latte | Oat milk with coffee concentrate | Espresso House | 49 NOK/0.3 l |
Recipe for homemade cloudberry fruit drink (1 litre)
- 300 g fresh/frozen cloudberries + 600 ml water, bring to a boil, simmer for 5 minutes.
- Strain, add 150 g sugar, heat until dissolved.
- Cool, store in the refrigerator for 7 days. Dilute 1:3.
Norway's non-alcoholic drinks reflect its nature: pure water, the bright acidity of northern apples and the powerful flavour of wild berries. Drink water straight from a mountain stream, warm up with a cup of spicy gløgg at a Christmas market, refresh yourself with apple cider at a cider farm, and take a thermos of berry fruit drink with you on a hike. Every sip will become part of a northern adventure — fresh, vitamin-rich and absolutely Norwegian.