Buying Honey Licorice: How to Avoid a Bad Purchase

Honey licorice is a quintessential Dutch classic. The combination of sweet licorice with the smooth taste of honey is a favourite for many. But anyone searching online can easily feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of options. One package promises a soft texture, while another claims throat-soothing properties. Unfortunately, this often leads to disappointment. Before you place a bag in your digital shopping cart, it's wise to know what to look for.

Common pitfalls when choosing honey licorice include:

1. The "honey" promise isn't always what it seems: Some products contain only a trace amount of honey or use just a "honey flavouring." The taste is often artificial and lacks the depth of real honey.
2. Unexpected texture: You're looking for a delicious soft honey licorice to savour, but you end up with a hard variety that you could break a tooth on. The term "soft" is not protected and is interpreted differently by manufacturers.
3. Hidden sugars or unwanted sweeteners: A throat-soothing licorice sounds like a sensible choice, but it can be loaded with sugar. Sugar-free honey licorice is an alternative, but it often contains polyols (like maltitol) which can have a laxative effect if consumed excessively.

What to Look For Before Choosing Your Honey Licorice

To ensure you find the right licorice with honey that suits your taste, there are a few specifications you can easily check on the packaging or in the product description.

1. Ingredient List and Honey Percentage

The order of the ingredients tells the whole story. If honey is at the top of the list, it's a main ingredient. If it's at the bottom, just before the flavourings, the amount is minimal. Brands like Klene and Venco are often transparent about this.

• Real honey: Look for "honey" in the ingredients. A product like Klene Puur with Real Honey, for example, states a percentage of 15.8%.
• Flavouring: If the list only mentions "flavouring" or "honey flavouring," the taste has been artificially added, and the product likely contains little to no real honey.

2. Texture: Soft, Firm, or Chewy?

The texture of licorice is determined by the binding agents used and their proportions.

• Gum arabic: This ingredient often creates a firmer, yet smooth structure that melts slowly. Products from Klene honey licorice often use this.
• Gelatin: Widely used for a chewier, more "gummy-like" texture. You'll often find this in more classic sweet licorice.
• Starch (modified): This also helps create a soft and chewable structure.

So, look for these ingredients to get an idea of the hardness before you even open the bag.

3. Sugar Content and Sweeteners

The choice between sugar and sweeteners is a personal one.

• With sugar: Ingredients like sugar, glucose syrup, or molasses provide the classic sweet taste. This is the standard for most traditional licorice.
• Sugar-free: Here, sugar is replaced by sweeteners such as maltitol syrup or steviol glycosides. These provide fewer calories, but it's important to read the warning on the packaging about the potential laxative effect.

Our Recommended Products

To help you with your choice, we've matched some popular options to different preferences.

MATCH FOR: The Conscious Indulger

Klene Sugarfree Honey Liquorice - 110 g

Why This Fits Their Persona: Ideal for those who want to experience the classic honey flavour without the sugar. Perfect for a treat without worrying about sugar intake.

How It Avoids the Trap

This product is explicitly sugar-free and uses sweeteners. So, no hidden sugars. The ingredient list is clear about the sweeteners used (maltitol and stevia).

Key Advantage & Pros

Completely sugar-free with a Nutri-Score B. Made with gum arabic for an authentic Klene texture.

MATCH FOR: The Soft Licorice Aficionado

Harlequins Soft Honey Licorice - 300 g

Why This Fits Their Persona: For those who love a soft, easy-to-eat licorice. This is a truly moreish treat, ideal for a moment of indulgence on the sofa.

How It Avoids the Trap

The name and description are direct and honest: this is soft honey licorice. No surprises about the texture. The product delivers exactly what it promises.

Key Advantage & Pros

A guaranteed soft texture from the combination of gelatin and modified corn starch. Plus, your purchase supports the work of the CliniClowns foundation.

MATCH FOR: The Traditional Flavour Purist

Venco Honey Licorice - 235 g

Why This Fits Their Persona: For the fan of the trusted flavour of a premium brand. Venco honey licorice offers the classic, sweet licorice experience that has been loved for generations.

How It Avoids the Trap

This is an established, no-frills product. It's a sweet licorice with a hint of honey (0.3%), exactly as a traditionalist would expect. No misleading claims.

Key Advantage & Pros

Contains 2.5% licorice root extract for a full-bodied licorice flavour. The gelatin provides a firm yet pleasant bite.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes honey licorice soft?

The texture of soft honey licorice is usually determined by the binding agents. Ingredients like gum arabic can provide a smooth texture that melts slowly in the mouth, while a specific balance of gelatin, starch, and glucose syrup creates a more chewable, soft bite. Check the ingredient list to get an idea of the expected texture.

Is sugar-free honey licorice a better choice?

Sugar-free honey licorice replaces sugar with sweeteners like maltitol or stevia. This can be an advantage if you want to limit your sugar intake. However, it's a personal choice. The packaging often states that excessive consumption can have a laxative effect, which is important to be aware of.

How much honey is actually in honey licorice?

This varies greatly by brand and product. Some types, like Klene Puur with Real Honey, specify a high percentage (e.g., 15.8%). Others, like the classic Venco Honey Licorice, use a smaller percentage (0.3%) as a flavour accent. The ingredient list is the most reliable source: the higher "honey" appears on the list, the larger its proportion in the product.