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I’ve been doing it for 20 years.
There’s a lot to love about Ikea. The Swedish retailer is home to affordable furniture, cute accessories and a food court so iconic that it’s often reason enough to trek to the store.
I have a soft spot for Ikea that rivals anyone else’s because my mom worked there for over 20 years. And yes, it was as fun as it sounds—especially on Take Your Child to Work Day. I have always been able to spot an Ikea product a mile away in any TV show or movie I watched growing up. You might say I’m a bit of an Ikea expert.
So when I see people extolling the virtues of Ikea, I always wait to see if they also know the secret tip that I learned in my youth. But I never see anyone talking about it, so it’s now my duty to share with you the single most delicious Ikea food court hack.
What is the cheap and delicious Ikea food court hack?
Haley Schueneman for Taste of Home
No, it has nothing to do with meatballs (although they are undeniably delicious). This hack has to do with the soft drink station. For $2, you can buy a drink to enjoy with your meal or while you explore the store. And I have mastered the perfect crisp and refreshing combination to accompany you while you shop. It’s a simple combination of the cola drink with the lingonberry drink.
Lingonberries, for the uninitiated, are tiny bright red berries native to the boreal forests of North America and Eurasia. They grow in abundance in Scandinavia, especially in Norway and Sweden. They’re tiny, tart and acidic—more similar to cranberries than other red berries. Ikea sells lingonberry preserves that are so good, I always end up picking up a jar when I’m there.
And lingonberry juice is one of the options at the soft drink station in the Ikea cafeteria. It’s worth a try on it’s own if you’ve never had it before, but my favorite thing to do is add it to their cola. It’s basically my version of a Scandinavian cherry cola, and it’s delicious. Everyone’s preferred ratio of juice to cola will vary, but I like to do about 80% cola, 20% lingonberry juice.
It’s such a small hack, but it’s absolutely delicious. I like to get one with a hot dog to kick off my shopping trip, then grab a refill to take with me on the drive home. If I’m honest, this drink combo is exciting enough that sometimes I’ll even make up some excuse to go to Ikea just to sip on it. Talk about customer service!
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