flipBlåbärssoppa — Blueberry Soup to Drink
Blåbärssoppa — Blueberry Soup to Drink
Why this dish? This hot blueberry drink is served to skiers in the Vasaloppet to give them energy in the cold. Greta, who crossed the Atlantic by sailboat without a refrigerator to avoid flying, appreciates a portable, local, comforting drink — and she can pick the blueberries herself in the forest.
A slightly thickened blueberry soup, drunk hot from a mug. Tart, sweet, invigorating: portable energy from the Swedish forest.
When I crossed the Atlantic by sailboat to avoid flying, we had no fridge, no extras. Blueberry soup, you drink it hot: it warms you up and gives you energy in one go — the Vasaloppet skiers swear by it. Blueberries, here, you pick them yourself in the forest, it's everyone's right. Nothing more local, nothing simpler.
- •Blueberries (wild, foraged) — two handfuls (base)
- •Water — as needed (liquid)
- •Sugar or honey — to taste (sweetness)
- •Potato starch — a little (light thickener)
Blåbärssoppa — Blueberry Soup to Drink
A slightly thickened blueberry soup, drunk hot from a mug. Tart, sweet, invigorating: portable energy from the Swedish forest.
Why this dish? This hot blueberry drink is served to skiers in the Vasaloppet to give them energy in the cold. Greta, who crossed the Atlantic by sailboat without a refrigerator to avoid flying, appreciates a portable, local, comforting drink — and she can pick the blueberries herself in the forest.
When I crossed the Atlantic by sailboat to avoid flying, we had no fridge, no extras. Blueberry soup, you drink it hot: it warms you up and gives you energy in one go — the Vasaloppet skiers swear by it. Blueberries, here, you pick them yourself in the forest, it's everyone's right. Nothing more local, nothing simpler.
Ingredients (period version)
- Blueberries (wild, foraged) — two handfuls (base)
- Water — as needed (liquid)
- Sugar or honey — to taste (sweetness)
- Potato starch — a little (light thickener)
Ingredients
- Fresh or frozen blueberries — 300 g (base)
- Water — 700 ml (liquid)
- Sugar — 60 g (adjust to taste) (sweetness)
- Potato starch (or cornstarch) — 2 tbsp dissolved in a little cold water (thickener)
- Lemon juice — a squeeze (tangy freshness)
Method
- Bring the blueberries, water, and sugar to a boil, then simmer for 5–10 minutes until the berries burst.
- Blend if you want a smooth texture, or leave chunky for a rustic character.
- Dissolve the starch in a little cold water, pour into the soup while stirring, and let thicken for 1–2 minutes without boiling too hard.
- Add a squeeze of lemon, taste, and adjust sugar.
- Serve hot in a mug to drink, or warm in a bowl.
How it was made : Blåbärssoppa is a traditional Swedish drink, notably distributed along the Vasaloppet cross-country ski race. Rich in quick sugars and easy to carry in a thermos, it served as fuel for skiers and hikers in the Nordic cold.
The contemporary twist : In a thermos for a hike or a sailing crossing; a pinch of cardamom for a subtle Nordic fragrance.
Greta Thunberg · Charactorium
