How to Eat Salty Licorice for the First Time
Salty licorice is an acquired taste, but there is a right way to start. Here is a step-by-step for trying salmiak without writing it off.
To eat salty licorice for the first time, start with mild salmiak rather than the extreme kind, take one small piece, and let it dissolve slowly so the salty, savory flavor unfolds gradually. Expect salt, not sweetness, pair it with coffee or chocolate, and work up to stronger salmiak over time.
Why salty licorice feels so strong at first
The salt is salmiak (ammonium chloride), which your palate reads as intense and unfamiliar. Going slow is the whole trick.
The beginner's approach
Follow the steps below, starting mild and building up. Within a few tries, most people go from wincing to genuinely enjoying it.
What to try
Start with salty licorice cats, then work toward Djungelvral. Build a pick-and-mix bag with a few salmiak pieces, or start with BUBS licorice. For the wider context, see Salty licorice, explained.
Step by step
1. Start mild
Begin with mild salmiak, not Djungelvral. Soft salty licorice cats or a lightly salted licorice are the right entry point.
2. Take a small piece
Eat one small piece, not a handful. Let it sit on your tongue so the flavor unfolds instead of hitting all at once.
3. Expect salty, not sweet
Brace for a sharp, savory, slightly numbing taste rather than sweetness. That salty kick is the salmiak, and it is supposed to be there.
4. Pair it
Many people enjoy salmiak with coffee or alongside chocolate, which balances the salt.
5. Work up the scale
Once mild salmiak feels good, try saltier pieces like Djungelvral. Your palate adjusts faster than you expect.
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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 6/13/2026