‘Döstädning’ and Kimchi

Scandinavian Lifestyle

Baltic porter, a lager version of imperial stout

By Malin Norman

Baltic porter is a beautiful and varied style, popular in many European countries because of its drinkability, which is having a big moment in Scandinavia right now. Great for any time of year, it can bring a warm cuddliness while at the same time being refreshing. If that sounds confusing, don’t fret.

Despite the reference to ‘porter’, which is a dark ale, Baltic porter is actually classified as a lager. According to style guidelines from the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP), Baltic porter is a “traditional beer from countries bordering the Baltic Sea, developed indigenously after higher-gravity export brown or imperial stouts from England were established”. Although it looks like an English porter, brewers making Baltic porter use lager yeast with a cold-fermentation and conditioning process, which is how a lager is brewed.

Less loud and bold than an imperial stout, the Baltic porter is smoother and rounder, more modest in a way. Brewed with dark malts, you can still expect a rich, sumptuous aroma and flavours such as coffee, chocolate and dark fruits. Yet it has a surprisingly dry and clean finish – no cloying and lingering sweetness here. And even though alcohol strength can be around 6.5-9.5% ABV, this is a crushable beer. Delicious!

A classic example in Scandinavia is Sinebrychoff Porter by Oy Sinebrychoff in Finland. More modern versions come for instance from Oppigårds and Nils Oscar in Sweden, Nøgne Ø and Wettre Bryggeri in Norway, and Amager Bryghus and Dry & Bitter Brewing in Denmark. If you happen to see it, try out Friendly Baltic, a collaboration between Nya Carnegiebryggeriet, Stockholm Brewing Co, Nynäshamns Ångbryggeri, and Northern Exposure.

Malin Norman is a certified beer sommelier, international beer judge and member of the British Guild of Beer Writers.

Alejandra Cerda Ojensa is a Swedish sustainability blogger based in Copenhagen. She loves sustainable fashion, plant-based food, natural wines and music, and writes a column for ScanMagazine about sustainable lifestyle.

Smelly sustainability and fungi farms

By Alejandra Cerda Ojensa

One winter evening last year I was in bed, scrolling on my phone, when my husband sneaked out into the kitchen. I assumed he was grabbing a glass of water as he usually does before bedtime, when I sensed the smell of… rotten egg. “Honey, did you go to the kitchen to fart?” I laughed from the bed. “Oh, I didn’t think you would notice,” he replied; “I’m just checking on the kimchi.” Ah – of course! The kimchi. We were in lockdown in Copenhagen, and one of my husband’s lockdown activities was to make kimchi.

Kimchi is made from fermented vegetables and has been around for 3,000 years, but it was only introduced to western culture recently for its health properties. Health gurus in the west have praised kimchi: it’s low in calories, high in fibres and –most importantly – it’s full of good gut bacteria, said to have anti-inflammatory properties, and that’s just to name a few of the attributed benefits. In a similar vein, I started making my own kombucha a few years ago: a healthy drink made from tea, also fermented, and full of healthy bacteria. It’s definitely less smelly, and very tasty.

As the war in Ukraine has raised awareness of (the lack of) food supplies, I’m convinced we’ll see more urban gardening; homemade sourdough might make a comeback, we’ll probably see more kombucha-brewing – and I’m also predicting a new trend: homegrown mushrooms. With a simple kit, you can start growing them in your own kitchen. Even fancy Michelin restaurants serve dishes made with ingredients from their own city fungi farms, and I’m loving it. Whatever is healthy, fun to grow and smells better than my husband’s lockdown-kimchi – I’m here for it.

‘Döstädning’: By Heidi Kokborg Finding freedom and joy in decluttering your home

I recently came across the book The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter by Margareta Magnusson. While I realise the book mostly focuses on putting your home in order to avoid your family having to do it when you’re no longer around, I really like how it embraces minimalism, and this quote deeply resonated with me: “Life will become more pleasant and comfortable if we get rid of some of the abundance.”

So many of us have a tendency to hoard stuff: drawers full of take-out menus we never use, clothes in the closet we haven’t worn in years or that no longer fit, perhaps a junk drawer stuffed with everything we don’t know what else to do with. Perhaps you even have a garage or an attic filled to the brim with things you don’t actually need.

I have moved 11 times in the past six years, so I know a thing or two about getting rid of stuff. When this magazine comes out, I’ll be travelling through Asia, and the majority of my belongings will be in a storage unit. Typically, the older you get, the more things you accumulate; but in my case, the opposite has been true. When you move and travel as often as I do, you quickly realise that the less stuff you have, the better. This means that I now only have things I truly love.

The more things I’ve gotten rid of over the years, the happier I’ve become; freer, less attached. I almost feel lighter, and the things I do have bring me joy. I’m not telling you to donate half of your home to charity, but I truthfully believe that our mental health and overall wellbeing could benefit from a Swedish death cleaning, or as the Swedes call it: ‘döstädning’.

Heidi Kokborg is a journalist and health coach from Denmark. She runs her own online business and writes a column for ScanMagazineabout health and wellness in Scandinavia. Web: www.heidikokborg.com

The dentist healing teeth and dental fears one cavity at a time

Based in Drammen, Norway, Hvite Smil and its team aim to cure people’s teeth – and fear of dentists. The private clinic offers everything from general dental health care to aesthetic procedures, while also being a leader on the Scandinavian market in treating snoring and sleep apnea.

Hvite Smil’s journey began over 20 years ago, when dentist Claus Gamborg Nielsen decided to start his own clinic. Nielsen, who has 30 years of experience under his belt, focuses on treating his patients’ odontophobia, along with their teeth.

“We understand that a visit to the dentist can be scary to many people. I don’t even like it myself!” he says. “It’s important to us that our patients’ experience is as comfortable and good as possible.”

The clinic offers several options for those with a fear of dentists, from breaking treatments into several sessions to relaxation medication, allowing them to be in complete control of their treatment. The most reassuring factor for those with fear of the dentist, however, is Nielsen and his team’s long experience.

“Our surgeon, Brengt Lewin, has over 30 years’ experience and the world record in tooth implantation surgeries,” Nielsen says proudly. “Over 40,000 tooth implants!”

Nielsen praises his Hvite Smil team for following and providing a comfortable journey all the way from the waiting room to the dentist’s chair, and out the door. “We’re like a family now, having worked so closely for so long. I hope we’ll be able to welcome more staff to our dental family soon!”

By Celina Tran | Photos: Hvite Smil

Claus Gamborg Nielsen.

Web: www.hvitesmil.no Facebook: Tannlegesenteret Hvite Smil Instagram: @hvitesmil.no

Alpine skier Maiju Laurila. Gold medallist and alpine skier, Santeri Kiiveri.

Showcasing exceptional talent

Sport has the power to bring people together. For the athletes, competing in the Paralympics is proof of their passion, hard work, commitment and sheer determination. The Finnish Paralympic Committee is on a mission to encourage more athletes to join in and see what great things they can achieve.

By Ndéla Faye | Photos: Harri Kapustamäki / KIHU

For many Paralympic athletes, competing – and for some, even being alive – is a big deal. This certainly is the case for Tomi Taskinen, a snowboarder who, at the age of 19, had an accident at a snowboarding competition, which almost cost him his life. The rehabilitation process was long and arduous, and it seemed unlikely he would ever walk again. Two years after his accident, however, he defeated the odds and returned to snowboarding –and in 2019, he started competing on Finland’s national team. In 2022, Taskinen made his first appearance at the Paralympics in Beijing.

In addition to Taskinen, the Finnish Paralympic team had five other athletes competing in Beijing. “We’re always encouraging new athletes to try out and join us. It’s never too late to start,” says Lauri Jaakkola, head of communications at the Finnish Paralympic Committee. The Committee’s mission is to encourage young athletes with disabilities to test their limits in sport. “It’s not just about winning medals, though. For many of our athletes, competing in the Paralympic games is about the sense of community and camaraderie. It’s also a source of inspiration and strength,” he adds.

The Finnish Paralympic Committee’s mission is to raise awareness of the Paralympic Games, but also to spread knowledge about what hobbies are available to people with disabilities. In the Paralympics, athletes are grouped to compete against other athletes with similar disabilities in order to make the competition fairer. “Our athletes have a range of stories and starting points. We want to show those who may be thinking of joining in that becoming an athlete is an attainable dream to have. We want to showcase the exceptional talent we currently have,” Jaakkola says.

The Paralympics are among the mostwatched sporting events in the world. The next Summer Paralympics will be held in 2024 in Paris, and then Milan will host the Winter Games in 2026. “Sport has the power to make dreams come true. We want to invite athletes with disabilities to create memories, and to become part of a community, and to be able to inspire people across the world in the process,” Jaakkola concludes.

Snowboarder and gold medallist Matti Suur-Hamari.

Web: www.paralympia.fi Instagram: @finnparalympic Twitter: @finnparalympic

At Gammelbro Camping, you’ll be greeted by a newly built check-in area, which also includes a new general store. Gammelbro Camping is located at the very coast of Årø Sund.

Enjoy your holiday in the peaceful and cosy surroundings of Gammelbro Camping

For a lot of Europeans, a holiday equals camping. You won’t find many things more relaxing than pitching a tent and enjoying the friendly atmosphere among your new neighbours – but it can be difficult to find the perfect camping site for you and your family. Not if you’re familiar with Gammelbro Camping – Denmark’s best camping site anno 2021. greet you and your family when you arrive. It is of course also the place where you say goodbye after an unforgettable holiday at Gammelbro Camping.

By Robin Dixen Eggert | Photos: Gammelbro Camping

To the east of the city of Haderslev in southern Jutland, you’ll find Gammelbro Camping. Located at the very coast of Årø Sund, with the little island of Årø just across the water, this gem of a camping site offers almost everything you could want in a camping holiday. And it seems that the guests would agree. It so happens that Gammelbro Camping was voted Denmark’s best camping site in 2021 by the guests themselves. So what is it that makes Gammelbro Camping so popular?

Firstly, this camping site has existed for more than 60 years and is run by the third generation of the Knudsen family. This of course means that Gammelbro Camping has been through a natural evolution over the years. Secondly, with the same family behind the wheels for three generations, the Knudsens know what it takes to offer the very best holiday experience, whether you want an active holiday, a traditional family trip or simply a week in the sun.

But it all starts with the facilities. Gammelbro Camping offers a lot of fun activities within the camping site. How about a day of water fun at the indoor pool area, which includes a bubble zone and waterslide? Or maybe you like the sound of being creative at the workshop. There is also minigolf and tennis on the site, and if you want something a little extra, go diving in Lillebælt or go for a run in the nature that surrounds Gammelbro Camping.

When you wake up the next morning, you can start the day with freshly baked bread from the supermarket – a shop located at the brand-new check-in facilities that

Gammelbro Camping has existed for more than 60 years. Here is one of the very first pictures of the camping site, from 1958.

Among the facilities, you’ll find an indoor swimming pool with a waterslide.

Web: gammelbro.dk Facebook: GammelbroCamping Instagram: @gammelbrocamping