Skyr

Skyr is Iceland's ancient dairy staple, a thick, mild, protein-rich cultured product technically a soft cheese but eaten like a strained yogurt. Made in Iceland since the settlement over a thousand years ago, it is a national breakfast and snack, eaten plain, with berries and cream, or blended into smoothies, and has become a global health-food export.

The main sights

• Plain skyr - the thick, mild, high-protein base.
• Skyr with berries - the classic serving with Icelandic berries and cream.
• Skyr in cooking - the smoothies, cakes and dishes it is used in.
• The thousand-year tradition - the staple made since the settlement.

When to go

Year-round; a breakfast and snack staple found in every shop and cafe. Try it plain to taste the real thing before the sweetened versions.

Before you go

It is a simple everyday food rather than a special dish, so enjoy it as the healthy staple it is. The sweetened flavoured versions abroad differ from the plain traditional one. It is genuinely high in protein and low in fat, hence its export success.

Nearby

Found in every Icelandic shop; it belongs with the country's rye bread and berries.