Välling is Sweden’s Favorite Drink For A Perfect Night’s Sleep. Here’s How To Make It.

by Arielle Bloom September 9, 2022, 1:31 pmupdated September 9, 2022, 1:37 pm 312 Views 14 Comments

I came across this traditional Swedish beverage called Välling when looking at different sleep traditions around the world. It sounded pretty delicious so I had to dig a little deeper!

Välling is a traditional Swedish warm drink consumed at night that supposedly helps drinkers wind down and get to sleep. It’s so popular in Sweden that many companies produce their own formulas and sell directly to the public. And a lot of the companies try to sell it directly to new mothers as a baby formula product, but it seems the entire country swears by this simple, yet effective warm beverage. According to those who drink it, the thick, warm porridge-like concoction sits easily on the stomach throughout the night — sort of like that sleepy feeling you get after eating a satisfying meal.

Välling is traditionally made with milk and oats, but there are some additional ingredients you can add (like sweetener or fruit) depending on your preferences. According to the few recipes I was able to find for this warm porridge, adding sugar is pretty customary now, but that wasn’t always the case. Bananas are also a common addition to this mixture when eating out of a bowl. And if you want to turn your Välling into a bulletproof wellness tonic, add some high quality coconut oil and a few scoops of collagen powder to the mix.

Below is a simple recipe to make Välling yourself to enjoy as a nighttime treat.

Ingredients:

4 cups whole milk (or any kind of dairy milk, but the point is to help you sleep, so we recommend full fat)

½ cup steel cut oats

⅛ tsp high quality sea salt

Optional:

3tbsp sugar (or ¼ cup honey)

Coconut oil and/or collagen powder

Cacao powder (improves digestion of the milk + improves cognitive function and reduces risk of heart disease)

Directions:

Pour the milk into a medium, thick bottom pot and add salt and the optional sweetener. Bring to a gentle boil, making sure the milk doesn’t boil too aggressively.

Once the milk starts to boil, add oats to the pot and stir until there are no lumps and the mixture looks smooth. It should be thicker than milk but not as thick as oatmeal.

Reduce to low heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring often to avoid milk sticking to the bottom of the pot.

The mixture will combine and thicken after about 20 minutes — this is how you’ll know it’s ready.

Serve in a bowl with a banana, or in a cup to sip on. Enjoy your Välling sleep drink!