Sill or strömming? Atlantic and Baltic herring explained

Swedes use two words for herring: sill and strömming. They are close relatives, but they are not quite the same thing.

Sill: Atlantic herring

Sill is the herring of the saltier North Sea and Skagerrak waters on the west coast, where Gothenburg lies. This is the fish behind most of the classic pickled herring on the Swedish table: mustard herring, onion herring and many more. See our full Swedish herring collection.

Strömming: Baltic herring

Strömming is the Baltic herring, a smaller herring living in the brackish, less salty Baltic Sea. It is typically fried, pickled or turned into fish cakes, and is the star of dishes such as stekt inlagd strömming (fried, pickled herring).

Matjes

Matjes herring is a mild, tender style of cured herring, traditionally made from young, fatty herring. It is popular at midsummer and on the Christmas table. Try matjessillfilé.

How to serve

Serve cold with boiled new potatoes, chives, sour cream and crisp bread, and a small glass of snaps if you like. Our guide to the Swedish herring table explains the full spread.