Hello Everybody, My hubbys work is assigned to Stockholm so i will be moving with my 3yr old son very soon after diwali... I need your help to pack my things there.. can we get basic dhal and rice there? moong, toor dhal, channa dhal, corriander seeds, vendhayam, mainly pepper, red chilli, jeera,etc ? otherwise i have to take something atleast for my son who wants rasam and curd rice atleast once a day... i heard frm my husband who left last week that a Srilankan grocery shop is there but I'm not sure what will be available... HOw would the mixie of Sweden be? can i make sambar powdr there itself (if ingredients r avaibalbe) or MTR or other readymade products available? I have no clue what to pack for stay of 6months in Sweden.. and just 1 baggage of 20kgs per person... As we have been to US earlier, I could guess what winter would be for thermal clothing. We got every Indian item there..so didnt bother to take any food item..but how would Sweden be? Pls help, Waiting, Mrs.Vijay:spin
Hello Mrs.vijay, When we travelled to stockholm,we had the same question(about indian groceries in stockholm).Pls hit this link: View topic - Indian groceries in Stockholm? - Page 1 - The Local We spent 2 days in stockholm,even shopped basic indian groceries like toordal,moongdal,fenugreek,mustard,tamarind,turmeric etc,everthing in stockholm.I am sure u wont have any problem in stockholm.I have no clue on the mixie stuff u r talking about. I hope this would help u.If u have any more questions give me a shout. Regards, Madhu.
Hi friend when r u leaving to Stockholm,my husbands work is assigned to Denmark,am looking for a travel companian,ill be travelling by this week end. Thankz Vishnu
Haine, I lived in Norway for long, and have travelled to Stockholm many, many times on work. Stockholm is a big, bustling city with many Indians, Sri Lankans etc. In the Sri Lankan shops, you will find almost all Indian (I mean both North and South Indian) spices. You will even find stuff like roasted idiyappam flour cos of the Sri Lankan Tamil population. All things like vendayam, coriander,moondal, toordal etc should be available. They will be very expensive, so keep that in mind. Regarding pepper and red chillies, I find that it is easier to get white pepper powder. And the red chillies available may be less pungent than what we are used to back home. I doubt if MTR masalas or ready mixes will be available. Please carry such stuff from India. I would suggest you take a mixie with dry and liqiuid jars from India. What you usually get in Scandinavia, might be either a blender for smoothies and even idli/doa maavu. Or you might get coffee grinders for dry grinding sambar masala etc. Better, you carry a light weight mixie from home. Dont forget a small pressure cooker also. If you are staying only for six months, take all ready masala powders like rasapodi, sambar podi etc. Also, please take woollens and thermal inner wear. You can buy good jackets and sweaters in shops like Lindex, H& M etc. But will be costly. When you shop, look out for Wasa crystal. They even have lovely crystal pieces of Hindu Gods like Valampiri Vinyagar, Venkatachalapthi, Durga etc.And pretty reasonable prices, lovely collector and gift items. Wrt the poll, I voted the first option, though I have not lived in Sweden. But who wants to leave Scandinavia? Life is heaven there. High standard of living, no racism, social security from cradle to grave, women more equal tham men in Sweden (51 to 49 points on equality for women and men), South Indian temples and culture, all Indian veggies and grocery available--- .Downsides, winter and distance from home. Goodluck! Vidya
vishnu, hey im already at stockholm! vidhya, thanks a lot for your most informative thread! its a very useful...ive started looking for crystals already...do u still live here?
hi i m here in sweden since last september. U can get all dhals n speices here. there r mny indian , bengali n pakistani shops. u can get atta (wheat flour) easily but ASHIRWAD ATTA is best n and it usally became out of stock so buy 2 packets whenever it is available. some of shops r : INDIAN FOOD CENTRE ------- IN RADHUSET HIMALAYA LIVS--------------IN TEKNISKA TAJ MAHAL ----------------- IN T CENTRAL ASIAN FOOD CENTRE --------IN FITIJA KISTA FOOD CENTRE --------IN KISTA if u want i can give u there no as i do not hav it now they r in my hubby's mobile. All these shops r near tunellbana (metro) station.u can get speices in other stores also but all my frnds prefer dhals from asian shops only as dhals from other stores taste different. u can hav MDH masalas , ACHARS , MTR brands also. but mixie r hard to find as blenders r easily available but mixie r not so common for making idli batters and so. i got BULLET MIXIE (must have seen on indian tele shopping )from ÖOB by chance but there r no more now there also but i think this one is available in MEDIA MARKET. as for clothing us should carry thermal inners for all of u either of KIDLEY , LUX , NIVEA OR JOCKEY BRANDS. U should carry basic medicines for u all. like fever n cold medicines for ur child , vicks vapours , chough medicines . strepseles , disprin , saridon nd fever tablets for both of u . when r u comin here , and where r u planning to live. this country is boring and harsh to live in winters but summers is very beautiful.let me know if i can help u in anyother way. SHALU
hi Haine, Thanks a lot for ur Reply.....I have reached Denmark on 15........Now am with my husband. Hope u r doing good.....how is life in Stockholm.......if u hav time keep in touch. From Vishnu
Dear Madhu, It is great that you gave a prompt reply to cope up with the scandinavian climate for indian vegetarian products. reg, Sujatha sreenivasan Chennai
hey shalu, i reached sweden about 2weeks back...and stay probably for 6mo-1yr... your reply was very exhaustive and very very useful one..we got an apt in norsborg... i visited Asian food center in fitja and got my basic stuffs...im unable to find rava and samiya for instant tiffin...also i got basmati par-boiled rice as i couldnt find idly rice! (got mixie from india!) one ques... do we have any provision to adjust the room temperature here...myself and kid r literally shivering during daytime... my houseowner who is asian says tht we cannot adjust the room temperature which is fuly controlled centrally..but im of the opinjion we shld be able to adjust atleast a few degrees... also do u have any suggestion to get heaters or some insulation to the windows if i have no other option... my hubby teases us seeing us in jeans and fullarms and sweater and socks, tht now we can go out quickly as we r already dressedup!