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> It's basically fermented fish

I’ve personally only ever heard it described as exactly that: fermented fish.

The "disgusting" reports of surströmming refer mostly to its smell, mostly of persons who it is involuntary forced upon. [0]

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surströmming#German_eviction

> The smell is very concentrated because it's been canned.

And this is why it's recommended that you open the can underwater. Most of the videos of people reacting badly to it are because someone just opened the can in the middle of a room. Don't do that.