One hundred years of perfect cheese slices
14 March 2025
One hundred years ago, a Norwegian carpenter called Thor Bjørklund patented the country's cherished "osthøvel" (in English: cheese planer), which can be found in most kitchens across Norway – and is popular throughout Scandinavia and even across the Baltic Sea.
It was hailed as "the discovery that changed everyday life", giving people the opportunity to once and for all cut even cheese slices for their bread. It was such a big success that Sweden once marketed it as a ''Swedish product'', creating friction with their cheese-loving neighbour to the north. Similarly, many Dutch people, who are as serious and passionate about cheese as the Norwegians, believe the invention came from the Netherlands.
 | Daniela De Lorenzo The osthøvel is now sold across the world and is a popular Norwegian souvenir. It also appeared on stamps and was given as a gift to the winners at the Olympics hosted in Norway in 1994. The design hasn't changed since 1925, and Bjørklund – the original company – continues to exist. Since then, many more companies worldwide have begun producing similar sharp cheese slicers. |
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