The best black licorice candy shares three qualities: real licorice root extract rather than artificial flavoring, a clear flavor identity (whether sweet, salty, or chocolate-coated), and an ingredient list short enough to read without confusion. By those criteria, Swedish black licorice, specifically the Haupt Lakrits range, is among the best in the world and the best available to buyers in the USA.
This guide ranks the best black licorice candy available in 2026 by category, starting with the most important distinction of all: real vs artificial.
Real Black Licorice vs Artificial Black Licorice
Most black licorice sold in the USA is artificial. Twizzlers Black, Good & Plenty, and the majority of supermarket black licorice use anise oil as the primary flavoring agent rather than actual licorice root. Anise oil (from star anise or anise seed) produces a similar flavor to real licorice root but without the herbal depth, the mineral undertones, or the complex aftertaste that come from glycyrrhizin, the primary active compound in Glycyrrhiza glabra root.
Real black licorice, made from licorice root extract, has a flavor that evolves through the piece: an immediate sweetness, a mid-palate herbal note, and a long finish with a slightly bitter, almost anise-like aftertaste. Artificial licorice peaks immediately and fades fast. The difference is substantial enough that people who have tried both rarely confuse them.
For a detailed breakdown of real vs artificial licorice, see Natural vs Artificial Licorice: What's Actually in Your Candy?
The Best Black Licorice for Newcomers
If you are new to real black licorice, the best starting point is a product with moderate salmiak intensity and a familiar texture. These products are accessible without being watered down.
Sweet Swedish Bastards is the gentlest entry point in the Haupt Lakrits range. Real licorice root, mild salmiak, soft texture. It is the product most likely to convert someone who thinks they dislike black licorice, because most people who dislike "black licorice" have only tried artificial versions. Sweet Swedish Bastards shows what the real thing tastes like without the salmiak intensity that can be off-putting to first-timers.
Chilla Gunilla, chocolate-coated licorice in milk and dark chocolate, is another strong starting point. The chocolate provides familiarity while the real licorice underneath introduces the genuine flavor. If someone has tried and enjoyed chocolate-covered licorice from a specialty shop and wants more, Chilla Gunilla is the step up.
The Best Salty Black Licorice
Salmiak licorice is the category in which Swedish candy is most distinctive and in which Haupt Lakrits is most authoritative. The salmiak intensity scale runs from mild to extreme, with the following key reference points:
Smalanningar is medium-intensity salmiak licorice: noticeable mineral character, real licorice root, firm texture. It is a benchmark product for what real Swedish salmiak licorice tastes like at a level most adults can appreciate without previous experience.
Svenskjavlar is the most extreme product in the standard range. Recognized as the world's saltiest licorice, it has the highest ammonium chloride (salmiak) concentration of any Haupt Lakrits product. The licorice root character is present but the salmiak is the dominant note. It is not the right starting point for newcomers, but for experienced licorice buyers it is a reference product: the thing you try to understand what salmiak is actually capable of.
For the full story of Svenskjavlar, see Svenskjavlar: The Story Behind the World's Saltiest Licorice.
The Best Chocolate Black Licorice
Chocolate-covered Swedish licorice is the most accessible category for American buyers and the one most likely to produce immediate repeat purchases. The best options in the Haupt Lakrits chocolate range are:
Ultra Violet (white chocolate + bold salmiak licorice): award-winning, the most striking flavor contrast in the range. Best for experienced licorice eaters who want something unusual.
Chokade Svenskjavlar (dark chocolate + world's saltiest licorice): the most intense piece in the range. Dark chocolate does not soften the salmiak; it adds bitterness alongside it. For people who want maximum flavor from both components.
Nice Mint (peppermint + dark/milk chocolate + salmiak licorice): the most layered piece in the range. Three distinct flavor components that evolve through the piece. Best for anyone who appreciates complexity over intensity.
For the full guide to chocolate-covered licorice, see Chocolate Covered Licorice: The Complete Guide.
The Best Black Licorice in the World
The countries with the most sophisticated black licorice traditions are Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Swedish and Finnish licorice tend toward salmiak intensity. Dutch licorice (drop) covers a similar range but with a harder, more brittle texture in many varieties. Danish licorice is often considered the most approachable internationally, with high-quality ingredients and slightly less extreme salmiak.
Within the Swedish tradition, Haupt Lakrits is the brand most focused on producing the full spectrum of what Swedish black licorice can be, from mild sweet to extreme salmiak, from plain to chocolate-coated. For a broader look at international licorice traditions, see Licorice Candy Around the World: Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands.
How to Buy the Best Black Licorice in the USA
The Haupt Lakrits best sellers collection is the most practical starting point for a first order. It covers the range without requiring you to commit to a single style before you know your preference. From there, individual products can be ordered as you identify your preferred intensity and format.
For a complete picture of the range, see the full licorice collection. For help navigating it, see 10 Types of Swedish Licorice You Should Try and Swedish Candy Online USA: The Complete Buyer's Guide.