Plock Candy guide
Swedish licorice
Swedish licorice, lakrits, is candy made with licorice root extract, and in Sweden it comes in two main styles: sweet licorice and salty licorice flavored with salmiak. Pieces range from soft and chewy to firm, and the strongest are double-salted. Licorice is one of the core flavors of a Swedish pick-and-mix.
- Swedish word
- Lakrits
- Made from
- Licorice root extract, sugar, syrup and usually wheat flour
- Main styles
- Sweet, salty (saltlakrits) and double-salted
- Gluten
- Most licorice contains wheat flour, so it is not gluten-free
- Try it
- The licorice section of the pick-and-mix at Plock Candy
What is Swedish licorice?
Swedish licorice is candy flavored with extract from the root of the licorice plant, Glycyrrhiza glabra. Most recipes combine the extract with sugar, syrup and wheat flour, which creates the chewy texture. Swedes eat it sweet or salty, on its own or combined with fruit gum, foam or chocolate.
Sweet, salty and double-salted
- Sweet licorice is soft, earthy and mild, and the easiest place to start.
- Salty licorice adds salmiak, ammonium chloride, for a sharp, salty taste. About salty licorice and salmiak
- Double-salted licorice is packed or coated with extra salmiak and is the strongest style.
Why is licorice so popular in Sweden?
Licorice has a long history across Northern Europe, where licorice and salmiak lozenges were sold as remedies for coughs and sore throats long before they became everyday candy. Salty licorice grew into a Nordic taste of its own, and today licorice is a fixture in every Swedish pick-and-mix. More about Scandinavian candy.
Is Swedish licorice good for you?
Treat it as candy. Licorice root extract contains glycyrrhizin, which can raise blood pressure when eaten in large amounts over time, and the US Food and Drug Administration warns that people aged 40 and over who eat two ounces of black licorice a day for at least two weeks could develop an irregular heart rhythm. Most licorice also contains wheat, so it does not suit a gluten-free diet.
Where to try Swedish licorice in San Francisco
Licorice is one of the pick-and-mix categories at Plock Candy, 3101 Fillmore St. Scoop one sweet and one salty piece to find out which style you prefer.
Frequently asked questions
What is Swedish licorice made of?
Licorice root extract, sugar, syrup and usually wheat flour. Salty Swedish licorice also contains salmiak, ammonium chloride, which gives it a sharp, salty taste.
Is Swedish licorice gluten-free?
Usually not. Most licorice candy uses wheat flour for its chewy texture. Gluten-free licorice does exist, so check the label for wheat before you buy.
What is the best licorice in the world?
It depends on taste. Salty licorice fans usually point to the Nordic countries and the Netherlands, while sweet licorice fans prefer soft, mild styles. The easiest way to decide is to try one sweet and one salty piece side by side.