Ahus

Ahus is a medieval town at the mouth of the Helge river with a preserved centre of low houses, but two things put it on the food map. The Absolut distillery is here: the vodka is made from winter wheat grown within the district and distilled at Nobbelov just outside town, and everything sold worldwide comes from this one place. The other is eel. The Skane coast north of Ahus is eel country and the alegille, the eel feast, is an autumn tradition in the fishing huts along the shore - eel served several ways at one sitting, smoked, boiled and grilled. Eel stocks have collapsed and fishing is now tightly restricted.

What to look for

• The Absolut distillery - all production for the world in one district.
• Autumn eel feasts - in huts along the coast north of town.
• A medieval town centre - low houses by the river mouth.
• Wheat grown locally - the base of the spirit.

When to go

June to September for the town; autumn for eel. Half a day.

What to expect

Distillery visits need booking and are not always available. Eel feasts are seasonal, priced high and need reserving. Eel stocks are severely depleted and the tradition is contested for that reason. The beaches fill in July.

Nearby

Kristianstad and the Vattenriket are inland; Osterlen begins south.

Key facts