Salty Black Licorice: A Guide
Salty black licorice is the Nordic specialty that splits opinion. Here is what makes it salty, how it differs from sweet licorice, and how to try it.
Salty black licorice is black licorice flavored with salmiak salt (ammonium chloride), giving it a sharp, savory, slightly numbing taste rather than sweetness. It is a Nordic specialty, hugely popular in Sweden and Finland, and an acquired taste for most newcomers.
What makes it salty?
The salt is salmiak (ammonium chloride), not table salt, which is what gives it the sharp savory edge.
Salty vs sweet licorice
Sweet licorice is mellow and candy-like; salty licorice is bracing and savory. The Dutch make both too.
How to try it
Start mild and small, per our how-to-eat-salty-licorice guide, then build a bag.
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Gustav Lindqvist · Candy Master
Gustav grew up in Sweden on a strict Saturday-candy schedule, mixing his lördagsgodis bag at the lösgodis wall before he could spell salmiak. He has spent years tasting his way across Scandinavian candy, and now curates the range at TheSweetsTruck, from BUBS sour skulls to the saltiest licorice most people cannot finish.
Last updated 7/16/2026