Surströmming

Surströmming

Terran food item made of fish Regional speciality of the region Sweden

Surströmming (pronounced [²sʉːˌʂʈrœmːɪŋ], Swedish for "sour herring") is a lightly-salted fermented Baltic Sea herring.

The Baltic herring, known as strömming in Swedish, is smaller than the Atlantic herring, found in the North Sea. Traditionally, the definition of strömming is "herring fished in the brackish waters of the Baltic north of the Kalmar Strait". The herring used for surströmming are caught just prior to spawning.

During a production of surströmming, just enough salt is used to prevent the raw herring from rotting. A fermentation process of at least six months gives the fish a characteristic strong smell and somewhat acidic taste. According to a Japanese study, a newly opened can of surströmming has one of the most putrid food smells in the world, stronger than similarly fermented fish dishes such as the Korean hongeohoe or Japanese kusaya.

At the end of the 1940s, producers lobbied for a royal ordinance (Swedish: förordning) that would prevent incompletely fermented fish from being sold. The decree forbade sales of the current year's production in Sweden prior to the third Thursday in August. While the ordinance is no longer on the books, retailers still maintain the date for the "premiere".

Surströmming is still produced on Earth (Swedish region). on New Sweden and a similar verison using Silver Flicker Fish is produced on Nilfeheim. It can be ordered via GalNet, purchased directly at stores on New Sweden, Nilfeheim and Earth. It is very popular with the Yokuta and the Elly. About 1500 tons are produced Unionwide. A can of traditional Surströmming retails for about 6 to 8 credits.

There is a rumored legend that the entiry known as the Dark One for some strange reason loves Surströmming and has suposedly been seen in Sweden late August.