Buying liquorice sweets: how to choose sweet, salty or soft liquorice that suits you

A bag of liquorice sweets might seem simple to pick, but the difference between sweet liquorice, salty liquorice, soft liquorice and a liquorice mix isn’t just about flavour. Texture, allergens, ingredients, portion size and shelf life all determine whether your purchase really matches what you’re after.

As Joybuy Product Recommendation Officer, I filter product information down to the practical details. That way, you can quickly see which features matter and which marketing claims are worth checking against the ingredients list.

Common pitfalls when buying liquorice

1. “Sweet” doesn’t tell you the full flavour story

Sweet liquorice can still contain salmiak, ammonium chloride or aniseed. With soft liquorice and mixed bags in particular, the taste can vary a lot from one piece to the next. So check whether the product is a single flavour or combines several varieties.

A product like Venco Honey Licorice lists liquorice root extract, ammonium chloride and honey flavouring among its ingredients. That makes it a sweet choice, but not necessarily a mild one for every palate.

2. A big bag isn’t always the best value

Compare the price per 100 grams rather than just the total cost. A 550 g bag, such as the Haribo Licorice Mix Bucket, is practical for a party or the cupboard. For individual use, a pack of 110 to 245 grams can be more convenient and may stay fresher for longer.

3. “Vegan” and “gluten-free” are not the same thing

Always check both characteristics separately. Gelatine appears in various types of liquorice. Wheat flour or wheat can contain gluten, while a product free from the fourteen main EU allergens isn’t automatically vegan.

Examples from the product information:

• Vegan liquorice: Oldtimers Hindeloopers Diamonds is described as vegan and gelatine-free.
• Sugar-free liquorice: Klene Sugarfree Honey Liquorice uses maltitol syrup and steviol glycosides. The pack notes that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
• Gluten-free liquorice: Red Band Winegums Originals, Red Band Dropfruit Duos and Autodrop Vegan Cadillacs are described as gluten-free.
• Not suitable for vegans: Venco Droptoppers Soft and Sweet contains gelatine.

If you have allergies or specific dietary requirements, always check the current packaging. Product compositions can change.

Which features should you check?

1. Flavour profile and salt content

Choose based on the type of liquorice you normally enjoy:

• Sweet liquorice: often made with sugar, molasses, honey flavouring or a mild aniseed taste.
• Salty liquorice: usually contains ammonium chloride or salmiak salt.
• Double-salted liquorice: has a more pronounced salt profile. Venco Double Salt Liquorice lists 9.9% ammonium chloride in the ingredients.
• Liquorice and fruit sweets: combine liquorice with fruity or sour flavours.
• Mint liquorice: offers a fresher taste, such as Venco Tikkels Drop & Mint or Klene Mint Licorice.

With salty varieties, also check the nutritional values and ingredients. The amount of ammonium chloride varies from product to product.

2. Texture: soft, firm or hard

Texture determines how you eat the liquorice:

• Soft liquorice: ideal if you want an easy-to-chew bite. Harlekijntjes Soft Sweet Licorice and Venco Droptoppers Soft and Sweet fall into this category.
• Firm liquorice: stays chewy for longer, like Venco Sweet Licorice Katjesdrop.
• Hard liquorice: good for slow eating. Venco Black Whites Hard Salt has a hard, crunchy outside and a salty filling.
• Combined texture: Venco Tikkels Drop & Mint is described as hard on the outside and soft on the inside.

3. Ingredients, allergens and nutritional value

Look out for gelatine, wheat, milk, sulphites and sweeteners. The nutritional values per 100 grams help you compare products fairly. In the product information provided, values range from 312 kcal per 100 grams for Oldtimers Hindeloopers Diamonds to 385 kcal for Venco Black Whites Hard Salt.

A Nutri-Score is extra information, not a verdict on taste or suitability. Products like Red Band Winegums Originals and Haribo Licorice Mix Bucket have Nutri-Score E according to the product data, while Klene Sugarfree Honey Liquorice shows Nutri-Score B. Sugar-free doesn’t mean the product contains no carbohydrates.

Our recommendations by user profile

Suitable for: Budget-conscious beginners

Red Band Drop & Fruit Duo Sweets - 235 g

Why this fits the profile: An accessible combination of liquorice and fruit sweets for anyone who wants to try different flavours without buying a large mixed bag straight away.

How this product avoids the pitfall

The combination of liquorice and fruit is clearly stated in the product description. So you know upfront that this isn’t a bag of purely salty liquorice.

Key benefit & highlights

Soft bite, natural colours and flavourings according to the product information, and a 235 g content.

Suitable for: Shoppers seeking top quality

Venco Sweet Licorice Katjesdrop - 235 g

Why this fits the profile: Aimed at fans of a pronounced liquorice flavour and a firm, pleasantly chewy texture.

How this product avoids the pitfall

The product information mentions the firm texture and 5.4% liquorice root extract. That gives you more certainty than just a flavour name on the front.

Key benefit & highlights

Gluten-free according to the product description, with a firm character and 235 g content.

Suitable for: Specific use & heavy users

Oldtimers Hindeloopers Diamonds - 235 g

Why this fits the profile: A choice for anyone deliberately looking for vegan liquorice with a mild salty taste and a firm texture.

How this product avoids the pitfall

The product description explicitly states vegan, gelatine-free and gluten-free. So you don’t have to guess those features from the product name alone.

Key benefit & highlights

Arabic gum for a firm texture according to the product information, 14.9 g of fibre per 100 g and 235 g content.

Frequently asked questions about liquorice sweets

Which liquorice is suitable if I’m looking for sweet liquorice?

Look for products described as “sweet”, “soft and sweet” or “honey licorice”. Venco Honey Licorice and Harlekijntjes Soft Sweet Licorice are examples from the range. Also check for the presence of salmiak or ammonium chloride, as these can make the taste saltier or more intense.

Is sugar-free liquorice a low-calorie choice?

Not automatically. Klene Sugarfree Honey Liquorice lists 0 g of sugars per 100 g, but still contains 61 g of carbohydrates. The sweeteners used can have a laxative effect if consumed in excess. So read the full nutritional table and keep an eye on your portion size.

How should I store an opened bag of liquorice?

Store liquorice according to the pack instructions in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight, heat and moisture. Seal an opened bag tightly. This helps prevent drying out and stickiness. Always check the current best-before date and the information on the label before purchase and consumption.