What Is Salmiak Liquorice? And Why Is It So Different from UK Liquorice?
Nefeli
JAN 06, 2026
The distinct taste of liquorice makes people either lifelong lovers, or people that try it once and never again. With the unique and interesting taste that might linger in your mouth for a while after you’ve eaten a piece, liquorice continues to be a popular sweet with different flavors, textures, shapes, patterns, and even different colors.
In parts of Europe and the United Kingdom you will find sweeter, sugary flavors of liquorice, where in the Scandinavian countries you will find a saltier liquorice that uses ammonium chloride salts in the making process. Although many different varieties are offered, there is only one type of liquorice that can truly be called liquorice, and that is black liquorice.
Some notable liquorice types to come out of the United Kingdom include Pontefract cakes, Liquorice allsorts, and Victory V, which are liquorice-flavored throat lozenges.
What Is Salmiak?
Salmiak is liquorice flavoured with ammonium chloride, a naturally salty compound that delivers a sharp, mouth-watering hit unlike anything in traditional British sweets.
While standard liquorice relies on sweetness from liquorice root extract, sugar, and aniseed flavours, salmiak introduces a salty, mineral edge that completely changes the experience.
The result is a flavour that’s:
- Salty rather than sweet
- Sharp and savoury
- Deep, earthy, and long-lasting
It’s not designed to be subtle. Salmiak announces itself.
Where Does Salmiak Come From?
Salmiak liquorice is deeply rooted in Nordic and Northern European food culture. In countries like Finland and Sweden, it’s not a niche product—it’s mainstream.
Children grow up eating it. Adults crave it. Supermarkets dedicate entire aisles to it.
In contrast, the UK’s sweet culture historically leaned towards sugar, toffee, and fruit flavours. That cultural gap explains why salmiak often feels so alien to British palates at first taste.
But once it clicks, it really clicks.
What Is Salmiak?
1. Sweet vs Salty
UK liquorice is typically sweet or mildly aniseed. Salmiak flips that balance completely, prioritising saltiness and sharpness over sugar.
2. Flavour Intensity
British liquorice tends to be gentle and comforting. Salmiak is bold, punchy, and lingering. It doesn’t fade quietly.
3. Texture Variety
Salmiak often comes in firmer, chewier forms—diamonds, coins, pellets, or dense shapes—designed to be savoured slowly rather than chewed quickly.
4. Taste Expectation
UK liquorice tastes like a sweet. Salmiak tastes like a statement.
Why Do People Love Salmiak So Much?
There’s science—and psychology—at play.
Salmiak stimulates saliva production, hits multiple taste receptors at once, and delivers a flavour that evolves as you chew. That complexity makes it addictive to fans.
It’s also a classic “acquired taste”. The first try might surprise you. The second intrigues you. The third has you reaching for another piece without thinking.
Many liquorice lovers eventually find that once they enjoy salmiak, sweeter liquorice can feel almost too mild.
Is Salmiak an Acquired Taste?
Short answer: yes—but a rewarding one.
If you already enjoy:
Dark chocolate
Strong coffee
Marmite
Salty snacks
Then salmiak liquorice is very likely your next obsession.
The key is starting with a balanced salty mix, rather than jumping straight into the strongest varieties.
Exploring Salmiak Liquorice at MyLiquorice
At MyLiquorice, we stock a carefully curated range of salmiak and salty liquorice, sourced from across Europe and selected for flavour, texture, and quality. Whether you’re salmiak-curious or a full-blown Nordic-style liquorice fan, there’s something to suit you.
Here are a few great places to start:
Salty Liquorice Mix
A carefully balanced introduction to salmiak and salty liquorice. This mix combines classic Nordic styles with varied textures and strengths, making it ideal for first-timers and seasoned fans alike.
👉 https://myliquorice.co.uk/products/salty-liquorice-mix
Mixed Gourmet Liquorice
While not exclusively salmiak, this best-selling mix includes salty and savoury liquorice alongside sweeter varieties—perfect if you want to explore the contrast between UK-style and Nordic flavours in one bag.
👉 https://myliquorice.co.uk/products/mixed-gourmet-liquorice
Liquorice Gift Boxes
Many of our liquorice gift boxes include salty and salmiak styles, making them a brilliant way to introduce someone to Nordic liquorice—or to treat yourself to a curated selection.
Salmiak Isn’t “Better”—It’s Different
Salmiak liquorice isn’t here to replace traditional UK liquorice. It exists alongside it, offering a completely different flavour experience rooted in European tradition and bold taste.
If you love liquorice and haven’t tried salmiak yet, you’re missing a fascinating corner of the liquorice world. And if you have tried it and loved it… you already understand why people talk about it with near-religious devotion.
Liquorice is deeper than most people realise. Salmiak proves it.