Gustaf's Dutch Licorice Coins Double Salt - 5.2 oz.

I admit I was on the fence about ordering these. I was reading a book in which one of the characters loved double salted Dutch licorice and I was intrigued. I have never cared for the licorice I've tasted but I had only ever had the common American variety, not the double salted Dutch variety. My husband loves licorice so I decided to buy some of this type and hoped that if I didn't care for it, he would eat it. To my delighted surprise, we both love it. It is VERY salty, so be prepared. It has a very bold flavor and does not taste like the common American licorice you may be familiar with. American licorice usually relies on anise oil to mimic the flavor of real licorice, so it is milder, sweeter, and traditionally unsalted. Dutch licorice (like this product) uses actual licorice root extract which is why it is less sweet and has a strong licorice flavor. The strong salty flavor comes from the traditional use of ammonium chloride (known as salmiak salt and, in case you are wondering, there are salted varieties that are not "double" salted for those who can't take the extreme salty flavor). These coin or button-shaped candies are soft and chewy (they do stick to your teeth a bit so if that bothers you or if you have dental work that precludes caramels and such, you might search for something else) and are so unique (in my experience, anyway). This is not a candy you eat by the handful. This is a "take one, nibble it , and savor" kind of candy. Highly recommended for those with an adventurous palate (and normal to low blood pressure). Bottom line: this is a salty treat, not a sugary sweet candy. Arrived promptly, soft, fresh & delicious.

These are VERY salted so need to discard as they are not returnable. I usually order Gustaf's lightly salted licorice coins but they were no available. Shipping was ok.

The order was just fine. I found it a little too salty. My fault, next time Gustaf's less salty Duch Licorice will be ordered. But it is a very generous amount of licorice for a very reasonable amount of money. So thank you Gustaf and Amazon. Very nice.

So, just to throw this out there, this product has ammonium chloride, not sodium chloride (table salt), to give it the salty taste. It tastes like salt, but your sodium levels are not in danger. That being said, it definitely is an experience to eat. This is a SAVORY candy, not a sweet candy. If you've never had a savory licorice candy before, I recommend starting out with the single salt first, and see how you like that, if at all. If you think amping up the bitterness and astringency is something you may find enjoyable, go for the double salt. If you're a parent and want to pull a prank on your child by giving them a piece with the (technical) truth that it is candy, you will just make them sad, even if you think it's hilarious. Yes, my father did this. Yes, it's very funny in retrospect. But I also remember this moment as one of the few times he actually gifted me candy, by hand, before the age of 10. So if you're planning on using this product to prank on your own child, be sure to follow that prank immediately with a gift of your child's favorite candy or sugary beverage. Not only will your child grow up with a healthy sense of humor, but their memory of you as a parent in their childhood will be slightly rosier, and thus they will be more willing to fund your retirement home when your savings finally dries up. Let this candy sit on your tongue. On occasion, dare to apply light pressure on the tablet, by sandwiching it between your molars lightly, but do not crush. Do NOT bite through and cut the tablet into smaller pieces in your mouth, because your saliva will overflow to combat the rush of ammonium chloride. After consuming three of these (in succession, not all at once), the rinsing of all that saliva will make your breath clean and sweet to the point that you'll feel anise all the way up in your sinuses. I love that there is a three-pack of this. I can keep one bag for myself. Another I'll donate to my team's collective candy table at work (and I will give them ample warning). The last bag I'm adding to the birthday care package that I will send to my father soon.

My husband loves it but too salty for me.

Shipping was rapid. The price was nice. Alas, I found the licorice too salty for my taste.

Absolutely nasty!! I purchase double salted licorice often, this brand is so salty and nasty. Not in the least bit tasty or enjoyable. I lived in Germany and Holland for many years and miss the taste of salted licorice, I absolutely cannot eat these at all. Terrible !!!

This was a big hit & surprise for my hubby. His mom was born in Holland. She grew up eating Dutch Salted Licorice. There was a small candy store 40 years ago that sold it locally, but it’s been long gone. He took one bite and he looked like a little kid again. He’s bringing a bag to his sister today, lol. Now that we know it’s the real deal, lol, we’ll be buying a lot more soon.