Food is an important part of traveling and experiencing new countries and cultures. Disko Bay is placed north of the Arctic Circle, which means cold weather and long winters with no sunlight.  

There are no trees higher than one meter, and the vegetation is sparse. You will find no industrial farming in Disko Bay region (not yet at least). In stead you will be able to taste food that you have never seen before. 

Good things come from the ocean 

Traditionally Inuit mostly lived on meat and animail products along with berries, mushrooms and roots found in the short summer. The traditional Disko Bay Inuit were hunters and fishermen. Still today, industry fishing is the biggest profession of Greenland.  

This means that the people of Greenland are very dependent on the ocean, and this probably led to the myth of Mother of the Sea (who would tangle all the animals into her hair, if the hunters were to greedy).  

Local food to try 

• Mattak: The lard and skin from narwhales or white whales. It is known as “Greenlandic chewing gum”, since it is a cartilage-like speciality. It is served with spices and nothing else, and you chew it until you can’t chew anymore and then swallow it. 
• Seal: The seals are hunted all year round and you can eat both the lard and the meat.  
• Reindeer and musk ox: Both are hunted during summer and early autumn for their meat and fur. In Disko Bay, the musk ox are mostly hunted in the mainland behind Qasigiannguit, while reindeer are hunted along the big fjords south of Kangaatsiaq.
• Fish or shrimps: Today the biggest income of Greenland are fish and shrimps, and many of them are caught in Disko Bay region. In Aasiaat the fish plant is one of the towns biggest work places.  
• Crowberries: In July and August you can’t walk many steps into the back country of the towns of Disko Bay without stepping on the crowberries. Feel free to collect yourself a handful. The berries are best after a rainy day. 
• Angelica: The tall plants are mostly found around Qeqertarsuaq on Disko Island. It smells and tastes very strong and is used both raw and pickled for different Greenlandic dishes. 
• Sea urchins: Dangerous to step on but a treat to your taste buds if it is made in the right way. 
• Snow crabs: The large red crabs are caught near the settlement of Akunaaq between Qasigiannguit and Aasiaat. You eat the meat inside their shelly legs, and it takes a bit of practice to learn how to get the meat out. But it is worth the work; the meat is very tasteful.