If you are in the United States and looking for the unmistakable salty, sharp taste of Swedish licorice, you do not have to wait for a trip to Sweden. Swedish salty licorice can be ordered online in the USA from specialist Swedish food stores that ship authentic candy from Sweden. At Swedish Cravings, you can browse a dedicated Swedish & Nordic Licorice collection with everything from relatively approachable salty licorice to intense salmiak classics such as Djungelvrål, Tyrkisk Peber and Lakrisal.
The confusing part for first-time buyers is that “Swedish licorice” can mean several very different things. Some varieties are soft and sweet, some combine fruit and licorice, while others are covered in salty salmiak powder and can be surprisingly intense. This guide explains where to buy Swedish salty licorice in the USA, what salmiak actually is, and which varieties are best to try first.
Where Can You Buy Swedish Salty Licorice in the USA?
The easiest way to buy authentic Swedish salty licorice in the USA is through an online store specializing in Swedish and Nordic food. This gives you access to the same brands and styles of licorice that are familiar in Sweden rather than only the sweeter black licorice more commonly found in American candy aisles.
Swedish Cravings ships Swedish food and candy internationally from Sweden, including a dedicated selection of Swedish and Nordic licorice. You can buy individual styles, multipacks and curated licorice boxes depending on whether you already know what you like or want to compare several varieties.
If you are completely new to Swedish candy, you can also start with our broader guide to where to buy Swedish candy online in the USA.
And if you want to see where salty licorice fits alongside Sweden's other everyday favourites, 25 Swedish Snacks You Need to Try covers everything from Djungelvrål and Polly to chips, Kexchoklad, Ballerina and fika treats.
What Is Swedish Salty Licorice?
Swedish salty licorice, often called saltlakrits, is black licorice combined with a salty mineral flavor that can range from mildly savory to extremely intense. It is one of the clearest examples of a candy taste that feels completely ordinary to many Swedes but can be startling to someone trying it for the first time.
The important thing to know is that salty licorice is not one single flavor. Texture, sweetness, saltiness and salmiak strength all vary. A soft foam candy such as Ahlgrens Bilar Saltlakrits gives a very different experience from a powder-coated Djungelvrål or a hard Tyrkisk Peber candy.
What Is Salmiak?
Salmiak is ammonium chloride, a mineral salt used to create the distinctive sharp, salty taste found in many Nordic licorice candies. In Sweden you will often see the words salmiak, salmiakki or saltlakrits associated with the strongest licorice products.
Salmiak does not simply make candy taste like ordinary table salt. It creates a dry, mineral, almost electric saltiness that works together with the deep herbal bitterness of licorice. That combination is the flavor people usually mean when they talk about “real Scandinavian salty licorice.”
Is Swedish Salty Licorice Different From Regular Black Licorice?
Yes. Regular black licorice can be soft, sweet and relatively mild. Swedish salty licorice often adds salmiak and may deliberately emphasize bitterness, saltiness and a more aggressive licorice flavor.
That is why someone who says “I do not like black licorice” may still be surprised by Swedish saltlakrits, for better or worse. It is almost its own candy category. Conversely, people who love intense savory, sour or unusual flavors often become enthusiastic salty-licorice fans very quickly.
Which Swedish Salty Licorice Should Beginners Try First?
If you have never eaten salmiak before, you do not need to start with the strongest candy available. A better first tasting is to move gradually from familiar sweetness toward stronger salt and salmiak.
A sensible progression is:
- Ahlgrens Bilar Saltlakrits for a softer, familiar foam-candy texture.
- Gott & Blandat Salt if you want licorice mixed with other candy textures and flavors.
- Salta Katten or Lakrisal when you are ready for a clearer salmiak taste.
- Djungelvrål when you want the classic Swedish salty-licorice challenge.
- Tyrkisk Peber if you want hard candy, strong salmiak and a fiery character.
If you would rather taste several levels side by side, a curated licorice box is usually the easiest introduction.
Djungelvrål – The Classic Swedish Salmiak Challenge
Malaco Djungelvrål is one of the names most closely associated with Swedish salty licorice. The candy has a chewy licorice center and a very salty salmiak coating. The first few seconds can be dramatically salty before the licorice underneath becomes more noticeable.
For Swedes who grew up with saltlakrits, Djungelvrål can feel nostalgic. For first-time American tasters, it is often the candy that produces the biggest reaction. If your goal is to understand why Scandinavian salty licorice has such a reputation, this is one of the essential varieties to try.
Tyrkisk Peber – Salty Licorice With a Fiery Center
Fazer Tyrkisk Peber is another Nordic classic, but the experience is very different from Djungelvrål. It is a hard candy with a powerful salty-licorice flavor and a hot, peppery character that intensifies as you reach the center.
It is a good choice for people who enjoy strong candy rather than those looking for a gentle introduction. Tyrkisk Peber also demonstrates why Nordic licorice is broader than simply “sweet black candy”: salt, heat, bitterness and sweetness can all appear in the same piece.
Lakrisal and Salta Katten – Small but Strong
Do not let the size fool you. Lakrisal is a compact pastille with a concentrated salmiak flavor. It is dry, direct and very different from a chewy gummy.
Salta Katten is another classic small-format salty licorice. These types of pastilles are useful if you want to understand salmiak itself without the distraction of lots of fruit flavor, chocolate or filling.
Ahlgrens Bilar Saltlakrits – An Easier Starting Point
If Djungelvrål sounds like too much for a first attempt, Ahlgrens Bilar Saltlakrits can be a friendlier place to begin. The familiar soft, foamy car shape gives you a gentler texture while still introducing the Swedish salty-licorice profile.
This is especially useful for a tasting with friends or family where some people are curious about saltlakrits but are not yet ready for the most intense salmiak products.
S-Märke Supersalt and Salt Sill – For Serious Salt Licorice Fans
Once mild salty licorice feels easy, there are plenty of stronger options. S-Märke Supersalt is made for people who actively want a pronounced salty coating and an unmistakable licorice hit.
Malaco Salt Sill is another well-known Swedish style. The fish shape is playful, but the salty licorice flavor is very real. These are better choices after you know that salmiak is a flavor you actually enjoy.
What About Sweet, Filled and Chocolate Licorice?
Not all Swedish and Nordic licorice is aggressively salty. There are also sweet licorice candies, fruit-and-licorice combinations, mint-filled varieties and chocolate-coated licorice. These can make a much easier bridge for someone who likes the flavor of licorice but not a heavy salmiak coating.
For example, Fazer Skolkritor combines licorice with a peppermint-style filling, while chocolate-coated licorice gives a completely different balance of bitter, sweet and creamy flavors.
You can compare these styles alongside saltier varieties in the full Swedish & Nordic Licorice collection.
Swedish Licorice Taste Boxes – The Easiest Way to Compare Styles
If you do not already have a favorite, buying several full-size products separately can make choosing difficult. The Swedish Licorice Taste Boxes were created to make the first tasting simpler by bringing together different styles and intensities in one order.
The Swedish Licorice Taste Box – Small is the compact introduction. It focuses on a handful of salty-licorice favorites and is a good option if you want to discover whether this flavor category is for you.
The Swedish Licorice Taste Box – Medium expands the tasting to more salty licorice and salmiak styles, including stronger classics.
The Swedish Licorice Taste Box – Large gives the broadest comparison, with salty licorice, salmiak and softer or sweeter Nordic licorice styles in the same box.
Which Licorice Box Should I Choose?
Choose the Small box if this is your first serious salty-licorice tasting or you want a gift that is easy to sample. Choose the Medium box if you already know you like licorice and want to compare several salty and salmiak styles. Choose the Large box if you want the widest tasting experience or plan to share it with several people.
There is no need to start with the largest box simply because you want “authentic” Swedish licorice. The small box is still built around genuine Scandinavian flavors; the larger sizes simply give you more variety.
Can Swedish Salty Licorice Be Shipped to the USA?
Yes. Swedish salty licorice is a packaged shelf-stable candy and generally travels very well. Swedish Cravings ships Swedish candy to customers in the United States, so you can order authentic licorice without relying on whatever happens to be available in a local international-food aisle.
Delivery options and shipping cost are calculated according to the order and destination. If you are ordering several bags or one of the larger taste boxes, the checkout will show the available shipping option for your shipment.
Does Salty Licorice Need Refrigeration During Shipping?
No refrigeration is normally needed for packaged salty licorice. It is designed to be stored at room temperature and is typically fine during normal shipping for a few days. Once your order arrives, keep the candy cool, dry and away from direct sunlight, and follow any storage information printed on the package.
Very hot weather can soften some gummy or chocolate-containing candies, but ordinary salty licorice is one of the easier Swedish candy categories to ship internationally.
Why Do Swedes Like Salty Licorice So Much?
For many Swedes, salty licorice is not an exotic novelty. It is simply part of the candy landscape they grew up with. That familiarity matters: a flavor that can seem startling on a first taste can be connected with childhood, Saturday candy, road trips, cinemas and the ordinary ritual of choosing loose candy from a wall of bins.
If you are more interested in the cultural side than the shopping side, read our separate guide Why Do Swedes Love Salty Licorice? The Story of Sweden’s Boldest Candy. That article goes deeper into why the flavor became such a Nordic favorite.
What Is the Best Swedish Salty Licorice for a Beginner?
For a complete beginner, Ahlgrens Bilar Saltlakrits or a mixed salty candy such as Gott & Blandat Salt is often easier than starting with the strongest salmiak. If you specifically want to experience the famous Scandinavian saltiness, move next to Salta Katten or Lakrisal before trying Djungelvrål.
The best option depends on whether you want a gentle introduction or the full “why do Swedes eat this?” experience immediately.
What Is the Saltiest Swedish Licorice?
There is no single objective winner because recipes and coatings create different kinds of intensity, but candies such as Djungelvrål and S-Märke Supersalt sit firmly at the strong end of the Swedish saltlakrits spectrum. Concentrated salmiak pastilles such as Lakrisal can also feel extremely strong despite their small size.
Is Salmiak the Same as Licorice?
No. Licorice provides the characteristic herbal licorice flavor, while salmiak is ammonium chloride, the mineral salt that adds the sharp salty character. Many Scandinavian candies combine the two, which is why the words are often discussed together.
Where Can I Buy Djungelvrål in the USA?
You can order Malaco Djungelvrål online from Swedish Cravings for delivery to the United States. It is also included in broader licorice tasting options when available, making it easy to compare with other salmiak styles in the same order.
Can I Buy Swedish Licorice Without Buying a Full Taste Box?
Yes. The taste boxes are designed for comparison, but you can also choose individual products and multipacks from the Swedish & Nordic Licorice collection. That is the better option if you already know you want a specific favorite such as Djungelvrål, Tyrkisk Peber, Lakrisal or Salta Katten.
Ready to Try Swedish Salty Licorice?
If you already love saltlakrits, go directly to the Swedish & Nordic Licorice collection and choose the classics you miss. If this is your first experience with salmiak, start small, compare a few different styles and work your way toward the stronger candies.
Swedish salty licorice is one of those foods that makes people take sides immediately. Whether your first reaction is delight, confusion or disbelief, you will at least understand why this small corner of Swedish candy culture has such a passionate following.
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