For those of us in the U.S., skyr is the best-known traditional Icelandic food—brands like Siggi's and Icelandic Provisions are widely available across the U.S. Although it has a texture similar to yogurt, skyr is technically a type of cheese, made with skim milk, bacterial cultures, and rennet.
I'm a big fan of skyr, so I used my trip to Iceland as an excuse to eat as much skyr as I possibly could, trying a variety of brands and flavors purchased at the supermarket chains Bonus, Kronan, Netto, and Hagkaup. Here's my review of every cup of skyr I ate in Iceland, organized by brand.
Ísey Skyr
Ísey Skyr is produced by MS Iceland Dairies, a co-op of 600 family-run dairy farms. They've been producing skyr for over 90 years and are the only skyr brand that is both sold domestically in Iceland and exported to over a dozen countries. (I first tasted Ísey Skyr on a trip to Finland in 2022 and found a cup at a fancy Hawaiian grocery store in 2023.)
Ísey Skyr Púff, Sítróna—Instead of the traditional thick, creamy skyr texture, Ísey Skyr's Púff line has a fluffy, mousse-like texture. The lemon flavor has tart, bright citrus notes, with lemon zest throughout. The texture is slightly more substantial than Yoplait Whips yogurt and not as sweet. Although it wasn't the usual skyr texture I know and love, I did enjoy it. Rating: 7/10
Ísey Skyr, Crème Brûlée—The rest of the Ísey Skyr I tried was from the classic line, with a wonderful creamy texture. If you're familiar with U.S. skyr brands, Ísey Skyr isn't as thick as Siggi’s and Icelandic Provisions. The Crème Brûlée flavor was quite subtle—maybe I detected a hint of caramelized vanilla? However, it was a good base for granola, and the mild flavor made this one Mike's favorite. I prefer bolder flavors, with more tang. Rating: 7/10
Ísey Skyr, Bláber & Hindber—Again, I loved the texture of classic Ísey Skyr. The bláber and hindber (blueberry and raspberry) flavor had a pronounced fruity flavor, with darker, more prominent berry notes from the blueberry and a hint of brightness from the raspberry. Rating: 8.5/10
A list of additional Ísey Skyr flavors available in Iceland is available here.
Arna
Arna doesn't have an English version of their website, but based on reporting from Iceland Review, they launched in 2013 and specialize in making lactose-free versions of traditional Icelandic dairy products. According to Reykjavik City Guide, Arna is a small, privately owned company based in the village of Bolungarvik in Iceland's rural Westfjords region.
Arna Örnuskyr, Med Bláberjum—This had a runnier texture that I'm used to from skyr and reminded me of U.S. yogurts like Yoplait or Dannon. I did appreciate the generous amount of blueberry throughout and the tanginess. Rating: 7.5/10
Arna Kaffiskyr, Kaffi & Karamella—This seemed thicker than the Arna bluberry skyr, with a smooth, creamy texture. The caramel came through nicely, and the coffee notes balanced the sweetness. It paired well with a kleina (small, twisted donut) and chocolate-iced smudar (cinnamon roll) I picked up from a local bakery. Rating: 8/10
A list of additional Arna flavors is available here.
Kea Skyr
Like Ísey Skyr, Kea Skyr is produced by MS Iceland Dairies. There isn't an English-language version of their website, but it feels like Kea is positioned as the trendier brand—the lineup includes fruit-on-the-bottom flavors and cream skyr with added fat, plus a more modern packaging design.
Kea Skyr, Kaffi og Vanilla—This was one of the cream skyr flavors, with a pudding-like texture. I could see flecks of vanilla bean, and it reminded me of a vanilla latte, but made with buttermilk. It was definitely a luxurious way to start the day—it's the skyr equivalent of dessert. Rating: 9/10
Kea Skyr, Salt Karamella—This was another cream skyr flavor and again, I appreciated the luxurious, pudding-like texture. However, the salted caramel doesn't come through very well. Without a label I would have assumed it was a sweet cream or plain flavor. Rating: 8/10
Kea Skyr, Bláber og Jarðarber—This was exactly what I want from a skyr: an amazing thick, creamy texture and a berry-forward flavor, mostly blueberry with hint of strawberry. Each bite was so wholesome and satisfying, with little diced bits of fruit throughout. Since this was my favorite, it was the only skyr I bought again, and I savored it for my last breakfast in Iceland. Rating: 9.5/10
A list of additional Kea flavors is available here.
Further reading: 12 Delicious Things I Ate in Iceland