Is Salty Licorice an Acquired Taste?
Is salty licorice really an acquired taste, or just bad? The honest answer, plus how to actually acquire the taste for salmiak.
Yes, salty licorice is genuinely an acquired taste for most people who did not grow up with it. The salmiak salt reads as shocking at first, but the taste almost always grows on people who start mild and go slow. Scandinavians are not pretending to like it; their palates were trained from childhood.
Why it tastes so strange at first
The salmiak salt is unfamiliar and intense, so your brain flags it as wrong before it learns to enjoy it.
How to acquire the taste
Start with mild salty licorice, take small pieces, and repeat. Our step-by-step guide walks you through it, working up to Djungelvrål.
Be patient
Most people go from wincing to craving within a few tries. Give it three honest attempts before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
Is salty licorice an acquired taste?+
Yes, for most non-Scandinavians. Starting mild and going slow almost always wins people over.
How do you learn to like salmiak?+
Start with mild salty licorice, eat small pieces, and repeat. The taste grows fast with practice.
Keep reading
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 7/20/2026