Black licorice has a serious, centuries-old tradition in three corners of Northern Europe: Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Each country has developed its own approach to the ingredient, different intensities of salmiak, different textures, different flavor philosophies, and each has produced confectionery traditions that are recognizable to enthusiasts worldwide. If you are exploring real licorice for the first time, understanding these differences helps you navigate the options intelligently.
Swedish Licorice (Lakrits)
Sweden is the defining country of modern premium licorice. The Swedish word for licorice, lakrits, has become internationally associated with artisan quality, and Swedish licorice brands have led the global expansion of real black licorice into markets that previously knew only artificial imitations.
Swedish licorice is characterized by real licorice root extract, high salmiak content in the salty varieties, and a strong tradition of pairing licorice with chocolate. The flavor profile ranges from gently sweet, accessible introductions for newcomers, to aggressively salmiak, with products like Svenskjävlar (Swedish Bastards) representing some of the most intensely salted licorice produced anywhere on earth.
Sweden also leads in licorice innovation: chocolate-coated licorice, licorice with chili, licorice with caramel, licorice with ginger, the Swedish approach treats licorice root as a premium ingredient to be combined and elevated, not just eaten plain. Haupt Lakrits, founded in Stockholm, is a direct product of this tradition.
Swedish licorice consumption: approximately 2 kilograms per person per year.
Danish Licorice (Lakrids)
Denmark's licorice tradition is perhaps the most internationally recognized in terms of premium artisan positioning. Danish licorice, lakrids, shares the Swedish emphasis on real licorice root extract and quality ingredients, with a slightly different balance: Danish products tend toward elegance over extremity, with careful attention to texture, coating, and flavour balance.
Danish salty licorice exists and is popular domestically, but Danish licorice culture has a stronger chocolate-coated and coated-ball tradition than Sweden's. The round, chocolate-coated licorice ball format, a small sphere of salty black licorice in a crackly chocolate shell, is a Danish format that has spread globally. Danish licorice is often considered slightly more approachable than Swedish salmiak licorice at its most intense, though serious salty varieties are still very much part of the tradition.
Danish licorice consumption: approximately 1.5–2 kilograms per person per year.
Dutch Licorice (Drop)
Dutch licorice, called drop, is in a category of its own. The Netherlands has the most complex and varied licorice culture of any country in the world, with hundreds of distinct drop varieties sold in dedicated licorice shops, pharmacies, and supermarkets. Drop comes in soft and hard textures, sweet and salty versions, and a dizzying array of shapes: coins, cats, diamonds, wheels, windmills, and more.
The Dutch relationship with salmiak is different from the Scandinavian one: double salt drop (dubbel zout drop) is among the most intensely salted licorice candy produced anywhere, challenging even experienced Nordic licorice eaters. Sweet Dutch drop, on the other hand, is often enriched with laurel or honey for a gentler, more aromatic profile.
Dutch licorice is made with real licorice root extract and salmiak as standard. Per-capita consumption in the Netherlands is among the highest in the world, rivaling Sweden and Finland.
Finnish Licorice (Salmiakki)
Finland leads the world in per-capita licorice consumption, approximately 3 kilograms per person per year, and Finnish licorice culture is the most salmiak-forward of all. The Finnish word for salmiak licorice, salmiakki, has become internationally known as a shorthand for extreme ammonium chloride intensity. Finnish licorice products routinely hit salmiak concentrations that cause uninitiated tasters to recoil, while Finnish consumers consider them completely normal.
Is It "Licorice" or "Liquorice"?
Both spellings refer to the same plant (Glycyrrhiza glabra) and the same candy. "Licorice" is the American English spelling, used throughout the United States. "Liquorice" is the British English spelling, used in the UK and Australia. The Danish and Swedish word is lakrits, derived from the medieval Latin liquiritia. On this site we use the American spelling throughout.
What They All Have in Common
Despite the national differences, Swedish, Danish, Dutch, and Finnish licorice traditions share the fundamentals: real licorice root extract, salmiak as a standard ingredient in salty varieties, and a cultural seriousness about the ingredient that has no equivalent in American or British candy culture. All four have found audiences among the growing number of American consumers seeking real licorice.
Haupt Lakrits brings Swedish black licorice to the US market. Browse the full range at hauptlakrits.us/collections/licorice, or start with the best-sellers collection for a curated introduction. For more on why Scandinavians developed this relationship with licorice, see Why Do Scandinavians Love Licorice So Much? For the complete overview, see Swedish Black Licorice: The Complete Guide.