A Norwegian has been crowned world porridge making champion 2025 after impressing judges with his ancient black oats recipe.
Sven Seljom, from Mandal, walked off with the Golden Spurtle trophy at this year’s competition, in Carrbridge in the Scottish Highlands.
The contest drew competitors from 14 different countries, with contestants from as far as Australia, Pakistan and The Philippines .
Sven, 57, made his porridge from Norwegian black oats, an ancient grain which used to be grown all over Europe, but disappeared in the 1800s.
He also added Norwegian sea salt, and water which he brought with him from home.
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Sven said his ‘secret’ was using a ‘special’ wooden slatted spoon rather than a traditional spurtle to stir the porridge.
‘I heard about the World Porridge Making Championship many years ago on Norwegian radio and thought it sounded really different, and I’ve wanted to enter ever since,’ the care technology consultant said.
‘I started experimenting with different types of steel cut oats. I really love the texture. The oats I used came from an organic farm, and I soaked them for 24 hours before the competition.’
The top prize goes to the contestant who has made the best traditional porridge using just three ingredients, oatmeal, water and salt.
But the competition also features a ‘Speciality Porridge’ category, where entrants can get creative with a variety of ingredients.
This year it was won by food stylist Caroline Velik from Australia, who was also runner-up in the main category.
Caroline’s Porridge Jaffles, a yogurt flatbread, were filled with Caroline’s mother’s recipe for rum bananas, with Bundaberg banana toffee rum liqueur, bananas, oatmeal and waffle seeds, tossed in Davidson plum sugar.
Alan Rankin, chieftain of the Golden Spurtle, said: ‘We are delighted to welcome porridge enthusiasts and visitors from around the globe to our village.
‘While the event is renowned for its quirky charm, it is underpinned by the fierce determination of each competitor to claim the coveted Golden Spurtle trophy.’
The 2023 championships were filmed for the documentary The Golden Spurtle, which had its UK premiere at this year’s Edinburgh Film Festival.
Clips from the film were also shown at this year’s contest.
The exact origin of porridge isn’t known, but a study revealed it was eaten by people in the Outer Hebrides more than 5,500 years ago.
Researchers found evidence that cereals were cooked in well-preserved pots found in the isles as far back as 3600 BC, The Scotsman reported.
Today, porridge made of oats is the most common type enjoyed by Brits, but, according to the study, ancient Scots are believed to have eaten a wheat porridge.
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