There is one candy that divides the world more sharply than any other. To millions of Scandinavians it’s the taste of home; to many first-timers it’s a small act of betrayal by a piece of candy. It’s salty liquorice — salmiak — and we think it’s one of the great acquired tastes worth acquiring.

What is salmiak, exactly?

Regular liquorice gets its flavor from liquorice root. Salty liquorice adds one magic ingredient: ammonium chloride, known as salmiak salt. That’s what gives it the sharp, tongue-tingling, almost savory hit that sets it apart from the sweet liquorice you may know. It’s not “salty” like potato chips — it’s a deeper, more complex savoriness layered over the liquorice.

The intensity varies wildly. Some salmiak is mild and sweet with just a whisper of salt; some is so strong it’s practically a rite of passage.

A Nordic obsession

Salty liquorice is huge across Sweden, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Iceland. In Finland it flavors ice cream, sodas, and even liqueurs. In Sweden it turns up in everything from gentle pastilles to face-puckering foam skulls. Kids grow up on it. Adults never grow out of it. It is woven so deeply into Nordic life that, for many people, the smell alone is a hit of pure nostalgia.

To a Scandinavian, salmiak doesn’t taste strange. It tastes like childhood.

Why first-timers struggle (and then convert)

If you didn’t grow up with it, your first salmiak is a shock — your brain expects sweet and gets salty-savory-bitter instead. That mismatch is exactly why the reaction videos are so funny. But here’s the thing: most people who push past the first piece start to get it. The flavor is complex in a way sweet candy simply isn’t, and complexity is what keeps you reaching for more. It’s the same journey people take with strong coffee, dark chocolate, or blue cheese.

How to try salmiak (without scaring yourself off)

A few tips for a fair first taste:

• Start mild. Don’t begin with the most hardcore salmiak on the wall. Ease in with a gentler salty-sweet piece.
• Let it dissolve. Don’t chew and swallow fast. Give the flavor a few seconds to unfold — that’s where the magic is.
• Try it more than once. Acquired tastes are acquired for a reason. Piece two is always less shocking than piece one.
• Pair it. A salty-liquorice piece next to a sweet foam sweet is a revelation — the contrast makes both taste better.

The low-risk way to find out

You don’t have to commit to a whole bag to discover whether you’re a salmiak person. Because we sell by the quarter-pound scoop at Nannies Sweet Treats, you can grab just a few pieces, run the experiment, and decide for yourself. Already a convert? Our build-your-own mix and Skulls-heavy selections let you load up on all the salty liquorice your heart desires.

An acquired taste worth acquiring

Some flavors give themselves up on the first bite. Salmiak makes you work for it — and that’s precisely why the people who love it love it so fiercely. Give it an honest three pieces. You might just join the club.

Try a scoop of salty liquorice →