High Demand Convinces Iceland to Reinvent Its Traditional Whey Products

Skyr and whey are part of the national diet of Iceland. Skyr is a low fat cheese introduced into the island nation over a thousand years ago by Norse settlers while whey is the remaining liquid after cow's milk is curdled and strained. Whey used to be found in homes everywhere but had fallen out of fashion in the past decades. Recently, the popularity of both products has skyrocketed locally and internationally.

Skyr can now be found in Iceland's hippest restaurants. Matur og Drykkur in Reykjavik's Grandi district serves dried fish with whey butter and pickled dulse, a red algae also known as sea lettuce. Also on the menu are skyr with blueberries and whey granita.