Havfruene: The ocean’s treasures in a bottle

By Celina Tran | Photos: Havfruene

In the unspoiled northern reaches of Norway, where the Arctic winds carve through crystal blue waters, Havfruene AS has emerged as a quiet revolution in health and sustainability. This women-led enterprise preserves the essence of the sea itself, bottled fresh and pure, for those who value the transformative power of real cod liver oil.

For centuries, cod liver oil has been hailed as the sea’s ultimate gift to our health – a nutrient-rich elixir brimming with Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A and D, and a treasure trove of other essential nutrients. Often referred to as ‘liquid gold’, this oil has been a cornerstone of Nordic traditions.

Havfruene: The ocean’s treasures in a bottle

Fish oil.

Its benefits are as deep as the ocean itself; Omega-3 supports brain function and heart health, while vitamin D content bolsters immunity and strengthens bones, a particularly vital boost during the dark Nordic winters. And let’s not forget vitamin A, the unsung hero of vision and skin health, all working its magic from within.

“Havfruene, or The Mermaids in English, is a female and family-run business specialising in the production of fresh, sustainable and high-quality cod-liver oil,” says Kari Øye, founder. Through its products, Havfruene wants to offer good, preventative health measures to everyone with real results.

Havfruene: The ocean’s treasures in a bottle

With women at the helm

Havfruene’s journey did not begin in a bustling corporate office, but rather around a family kitchen table. The matriarch of the operation, Kari Øye now 80, was the first mermaid to dive into the world of health and wellness. Now a retired teacher, she found herself battling chronic pain and fatigue in her 50s. “I remember telling my then son-in-law, Frank, about the pain in my joints. He holds a Master’s degree in fishery science and was a quality checker and expert at fish oil production, and he told me that I needed to start taking cod liver oil to help with my problems,” Kari explains.

Along with her daughter Kjerstin Øye, Frank Hansen, nutritional therapist Svanhild Snipstad and Kari Mæle Løge, Kari embarked on a mission to create a product that stood out in a sea of mediocre alternatives. “After nine months of routinely taking four spoons of our cod liver oil, my skin got better, my joint pain and deformations stopped, and I felt much better.”

Havfruene: The ocean’s treasures in a bottle

Today, Havfruene is run by a multi-generational team of women with a shared passion for health and sustainability, including mother, daughter, and granddaughter Ane Hansen Øye. “We started small, working from the kitchen table, and every family member had a role, whether packing bottles or other tasks – even the grandchildren!”

The company operates out of a purpose-built house, designed with sustainable principles such as geothermal heating and eco-friendly materials. In addition to recyclable packaging, operations are powered by eco-conscious practices, and oil partners are MSC-certified for sustainable sourcing. “Our mission is to create products that benefit both people and the planet,” says Kjerstin Øye, co-owner and psychologist.

Kari at the market.

Standing out in a fishy industry

For many, memories of foul smell, bad taste and burping have clouded cod liver oil’s reputation. “This has to do with how the fish livers are often stored in large containers while waiting for production, allowing them to go off. Some rely on additives, manipulation or concentration of the Omega-3 product to try to repair an oil that is already damaged,” says Kjerstin. “Real, high-quality cod liver oil is not supposed to smell nor taste bad.”

Havfruene has taken the fishy business out of fish oil, ensuring products are as fresh as the Arctic waters they come from. This is a tidal shift in how cod liver oil is produced and consumed. “Our oil is extracted mere hours after the fish is caught, always under cover of nitrogen to avoid oxidation, and kept cool. It stays that way until the bottle is opened at home. During refining all contaminations are removed, including PCB, ensuring the purest and freshest product possible, without compromise,” says Kjerstin.

The genuine, Arctic cod liver oil has a smoothness to it. The good taste has earned the company international accolades, such as the high 87.7-point score for the cod liver oil with turmeric from the prestigious International Taste Institute in Brussels.

“Another brilliant product is our collagen, which is not only good for joints, heart, and intestinal health, but also your skin,” says Kjerstin. “Around 70-75 per cent of our skin is made up of collagen, which gives the skin surface, elasticity, vitality and shape. As one gets older, the skin weakens, and our collagen supplements provide natural cell renewal from within.”

In addition to these two products, Havfruene has a thyme blend and a Vitamin C powder supplement with Camu Camu. Havfruene recommends playing around and adding the products to your smoothies and food, and you can even try to replace the olive oil in your pesto with cod liver oil!

Whether dipping a toe into wellness or diving in headfirst, cod liver oil is the ultimate catch. And with Havfruene leading the way, you can trust that this ancient remedy is as fresh as the day it was drawn from the sea.