I Tried 42 Types of Dutch Liquorice – Which was the Worst?
Dutch liquorice is infamous. The Dutch love it. Expats fear it. This is probably because the Dutch enjoy a particularly extreme tasting variety of liquorice (known in The Netherlands as drop), some of which is often very salty, or very sour, or both.
That’s not to say all Dutch liquorice is horrible. However, a lot of horrible liquorice is Dutch. No expat in their right mind (who is aware of the dangers) would voluntarily risk eating the stuff. They would have to be completely mad to do so. They certainly would not try over forty types of Dutch liquorice just so they could rate them (from safest to most insanity-inducing taste) in some kind of bizarre self imposed scientific experiment…
But that’s what I did in an attempt to answer the question…
What is the worst flavor of Dutch liquorice for an expat to try?
Dutch Liquorice – Conclusion and Side Effects:
So what did I learn during my search for the worst flavors of Dutch liquorice for an expat to try? I learned that no one should ever eat this much drop. I had to halt the experiment three times because I started to get very nauseous (especially at the extreme end of the drop scale).
Going into this experiment I knew that salty liquorice would not agree with my British taste buds. We usually eat sweet liquorice. However, it was the salmiak flavors that proved to be the most torture. Psychologically speaking I might never get over some of the salmiak tastes that I experienced during this experiment.
Asides from the occasional nausea, the salt vs. salmiak discovery and the drop related nightmares that I now have (every night) there was another interesting side effect of note. I think my taste buds started to adapt.
To keep things scientifically accurate I had to recheck my findings (a few times) after I had made the initial list. I had to try some of the drop more than once. This was horrible because each time I found a new contender for worst tasting drop it meant I had to double-check it against the previous worst drop.
However, it was in the mid-range of drop that I noticed I no longer found them as bad as when I had first tried them. They were still bad but they were not as bad. Could it be possible that with continued exposure I could start to tolerate Dutch drop? Maybe even like it? Only farther research would answer this question but is it worth it?
“Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.” – Doctor Ian Malcolm
Special Thanks
Special thanks to my Dutch colleague Daniël (featured in the cartoon). He is responsible for the spark that spawned this idea (during a conversation about the origins of Engelse drop) and was enthusiastic about it in a way that made it impossible for me to back out (before I later became slightly obsessed with it in a way that I think even he found weird). Daniël acted as my guide through the world of Dutch drop. He showed me what to buy, were to start and made sure I didn’t get any of the names mixed up.
I also have to give special thanks to my drop underworld contact who hooked me up with the stronger stuff (some of it in powder form) that I could not easily buy over the counter. For obvious reasons he wishes to remain anonymous.
I’d also like to thank my wife for thinking of even more drop for me to try and for tracking down Trekdrop when I could not find it. Also, the rest of my Dutch colleagues who helped give advice and suggestions as news of this crazy idea spread around the office.
And thanks to all of you, the readers, who also gave suggestions and support during all of this on twitter and facebook.
Now I think I’m gonna go and lie down.
Disclaimers
- Not all the drop on this list was Dutch in origin but it was all available in The Netherlands and enjoyed by the Dutch (for some bizarre reason).
- The opinions expressed in this experiment are my own. Other people’s taste might differ (especially if they are Dutch).
- No expats were harmed (physically) during the conducting of this experiment.
- Most drop used in this experiment was purchased at a pick’n’mix. Separate bags were used for sweet and salty drop to avoid cross contamination.
Is there any drop missing from the list? Is there some Dutch liquorice that I still have to try? ‘Drop’ a comment below.
And if you’d like to read more about salty dutch liquorice check out my other post on the subject: The Horrors of Dutch Drop.
One there’s one more: TZ, or Triple Zout. Only for the really seasoned drop eaters.
I was trying to find Triple Zout but had no luck. I was starting to wonder if it was for real or just something Dutch people told expats to scare them :D
This made for nice reading! Maybe it can even help me to get over my identity crisis: as a Dutch expat living in Sweden since the mid 1980’s, I’m never sure if I’m Swedish or Dutch. However, Napoleon is my absolute favorite: that should prove that I’m Dutch. Ja, toch?
Oh yes. If most of your favorites are in the last half of the list you are most definitely Dutch :D
Yes, I also missed muntdrop, my alltime favorite. Or maybe it’s called ‘zout zakgeld’ on this list? I’ve never heard it called it.
When I lived in the US in the 80’s, my parents sent me a kilo muntdrop for my birthday. It only lasted 2 days. Just couldn’t stop
Yeah. It’s called zakgeld on the list but since you’re the second person to mention it that might be a particular brand name. I guess the more known name is muntdrop. I’ll have to change it in the list.
It can he hard for us Dutchies to find proper drop in the far flung corners of the world, in this case, Australia. However, my local supermarket (Coles) must have a secret Dutch person in the buying department. There is a good assortment of dubbelzout, catjes, and various others in the specialities corner. Going through the checkout the other day, the checkout chick picked them up and said – ‘wow, I didn’t know we had these – where are they?’ Turned out her grandma was Dutch and she always remembered the yummy liquorice treats of her childhood.
I can’t stand the sweet liquorice that English and Australian people were raised on, so I get that Stu is of a similar view about ours.
But, I salute you, sir, for going above and beyond the call of duty in conducting this, the first ever consumer test of Dutch liquorice by a non-Dutch person.
You are a hero, a trailblazer, and it is something to tell your grandchildren about. :)
Actually in Finland they love their Salmiakki too and actually put it in Chocolate, horrifying even the Dutch. Just thought you might be interested to know we are not the only country that likes salmiak.
that is…. disgusting!
Oh it does not surprise me that there are more horrors out there :D
This is a great overview, I love it :) I would disagree though when it comes to the laurierdrop. Compared to the rest of the “hell’s bottom” tier I find it rather mild and enjoyable; not too sweet, not too salty, with a hint of bay leaf. One of my favourites in fact. Also friends from other countries find it quite civil.
Oh and for the true connoisseur of ammonium chloride I can’t recommend enough the one and only nordic gem, Tyrkisk Peber https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrkisk_peber
I bought gwoon gemengde zoete drops. Been eating a handful each day for the last two weeks. I was at the doctors office for 2 hours trying to bring down my very high blood pressure, which I never had before. It looks like this drop put me in the 200s status. Could somebody tell if this drop does that?
Funny story about drop haring.
Its not just salt because its a salt water fish. Back in the days they used to put haring(and other fish)
In ton’s with a layer of salt between every layer of fish. This in order to keep the fish from rotting, while it was being shipped.
Thank you for this list! I will use it as a shopping list, starting from nro 1 when going to Amsterdam next month. I think you should visit Finland for salmiakki-testing or try to reach one bag of Fazer Tyrkish Peber. It is THE BEST!!
No, they are not. They are quite flat and matte black.
You can ignore the above comment. Something went wrong.
Zwart op with (the powdery stuff) is also available in a sweet version. I don’t care much for the salty one.
Then there are candies that have the “zwart op wit” powder in it. It all tastes nice and sweet until you come to the middle. I love this one but non-dutchies will most likely spit it out.
Having been gone from the Netherlands for many years I really miss the soft/sweet licorice. And when I find something here in the US then I will stock up.