Surströmming is a regular cast member of viral videos where fame-hungry content creators crack open a can and (more often than not) proceed to gag, choke, and splutter as they attempt to eat this unusual-looking slurry of fish. But what exactly is this curious delicacy, and why does it smell so notoriously terrible? Fortunately, science has some answers. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.

What is surströmming?

Surströmming (pronounced sur-stroh-ming ) means “sour herring” in Swedish. It’s a traditional Swedish delicacy with a reputation for being one of the stinkiest foods in the world.

It’s essentially slightly salted Baltic herring that’s been left to ferment for months.

The fish are caught in the Baltic Sea between

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