Internationally, alabaster is usually used to describe the strength of stinky tofu, referred to as AU. The odor value of stinky tofu is only 420AU, while that of canned herring is 8070AU, which is almost 20 times that of stinky tofu. This shows how strong its smell is, and it can be called a "biochemical weapon" in the food industry.
Canned herring is so smelly that many domestic food bloggers try to eat canned herring to get more attention, but so far, no food blogger has been able to conquer canned herring. Even dogs can't stand it. Dogs will vomit when they smell it. Even in Sweden, it is forbidden to open canned herring indoors. It stinks!
Why is such smelly food regarded as delicious food in Sweden? The producer of canned herring is Sweden, which is an Arctic country. Herring is one of the important catches. In the past, in order to prevent fresh herring from going bad, Swedes cooked some herring with high-temperature brine and then fermented them naturally in sterilized containers. In the process of fermentation, a large number of irritating smells such as hydrogen sulfide, acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid will be produced, and these gases have a strong smell, so the canned herring is very smelly.
Canned herring has been popular in Sweden for more than 300 years and has formed a food culture. Swedes have a special liking for canned herring, and even hold a food festival for herring. After eating for a long time, they are used to the taste. Swedes are very particular about eating canned herring. They eat in a variety of ways and play an irreplaceable role in social activities, parties, festivals and other occasions, forming a tradition. Canned herring, which is famous for its bad smell, has aroused people's curiosity all over the world and wants to challenge and try. A large number of canned herring produced in Sweden have been exported, which has created profits. For Swedish fishermen, canned herring also brings rich income, which is even more inseparable.
In the eyes of Swedes, canned herring is a rare food, which has become a daily eating habit. Just like Inuit, eating pickled puffins is the most noble food. Although it stinks, it doesn't affect their love for canned herring.