Licorice (lakrits in Swedish) is one of the most distinctive parts of Swedish candy culture. It is also where first-time tasters are most likely to be surprised. This guide explains the main types so you can pick the right one, whether you are buying for yourself or choosing what to stock in a shop.
What makes Swedish licorice different?
Traditional licorice gets its flavor from the licorice root. In Sweden and the other Nordic countries, licorice is often made salty as well as sweet, and that salty taste is what many people mean when they talk about Swedish licorice. You will see it called salmiak or "salty licorice".
What is salmiak?
Salmiak is the flavor of ammonium chloride, a salt used to flavor candy. It gives licorice a sharp, salty taste that is very different from the sweet licorice sold in many other countries. It is an acquired taste: some people love it right away, others need a few tries, and some never come around.
A few Swedish words that help
- Lakrits: licorice
- Salt: salty
- Söt: sweet
- Fylld: filled
Where to start if you are new to it
Choose a sweet version first. Some products come in matching sweet and salty versions, which makes tasting the difference easy. GSD SalmiakTRYFFEL Sweet and GSD SalmiakTRYFFEL Salt are an example.
Try fruit-filled licorice. Jellioo makes salmiak licorice with fruit centers, such as pear, raspberry and lemon. There is also a mint-filled licorice.
Go salty when you are ready. Options include Malaco Sisu Salty Salmiak, Aroma SalmiakFrogs and Grenna Salty Licorice Caramels. For something with a kick, Fazer Tyrkisk Pepper is a peppery salmiak candy.
Tips for shops
Licorice customers tend to know what they like, so offering both sweet and salty options lets everyone find something. If your local rules allow it, letting customers try a piece can help the more adventurous ones take the step to salmiak. Our licorice is sold as pick-and-mix units, which suits a self-serve counter or a candy cart: see our guide on how to open a Swedish candy cart.
Browse the full range
See everything in our licorice collection, or read about Swedish Christmas candy for seasonal ideas.