Nordmann won the World Cup in oatmeal porridge – with Norwegian black oats in the pot

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For the very first time, a Norwegian has won the World Porridge Making Championship! This weekend, the World Porridge Making Championship took place in the small village of Carrbridge in Scotland – and it was Sven Seljom from Norway who secured the coveted title of world champion.

The competition has been held since 1994, but no Norwegian has previously stood at the top of the podium. With solid craftsmanship, good preparations and a portion of Norwegian raw material power, Seljom went all the way to the top.

–⁠ This is really surreal. I am incredibly happy , the world champion tells Lindesnes newspaper.

The winning porridge – made with Norwegian black oats

Seljom won the jury over with his warm, silky oatmeal – made with steel cut black oats , a coarse and flavorful type of oats that gives the porridge a fuller texture and deeper flavor. The raw material comes from Den Sorte Havre , a producer in Eastern Norway that has set the standard for Norwegian oat production with its focus on taste, quality and sustainability.

At Den Sorte Havre, we are very happy that our products have now helped win a world championship.
–⁠ This was just awesome. Previously we have said that we probably have the world's best oatmeal, but now we can actually claim that we have the world's best oatmeal, says Ingunn Anstensrud, one of the owners of Den Sorte Havre.

Seljom also shared the award-winning recipe with VG, so that more people can try the porridge that took the world by storm.

How to make the world champion's oatmeal:

Ingredients:

• 300 grams steel cut black oats
• 1200 grams of water
• 6 grams salt (and a little extra to taste)

Approach:

1. Soak the grains in half the water for 24 hours. Feel free to shake the container a little during this time.
2. Bring to a boil and add the rest of the water.
3. Add salt towards the end of the cooking time and cook until the porridge reaches the desired thickness.

Seljom says that the secret lies in the consistency:

A Norwegian product on the international porridge scene

The fact that a Norwegian participant wins the World Cup in oatmeal porridge, and does so with Norwegian ingredients, shows how quality products from Norwegian producers are making a name for themselves internationally. Den Sorte Havre has grown and refined black oats on its own farm in Østfold for many years, and has invested heavily in locally sourced, natural products with high quality.

A porridge with pride – and a place in history

With his victory in Scotland, Seljom is making porridge history, and at the same time he is showing how Norwegian ingredients can inspire far beyond the country's borders. Perhaps more Norwegians will now open their eyes to steel cut black oats and take porridge culture to new heights – both for everyday use and for parties.

Source: VG / Lindesnes newspaper