Best Swedish Candy If You Hate Licorice

Let's Clear Something Up

The biggest misconception about Swedish candy: "It's all licorice." This is like saying American candy is all candy corn — technically it exists, but it's a fraction of the picture and most people have strong opinions about it.

Sweden produces an enormous range of candy categories: sour gummies, fruit chews, chocolate, marshmallow foam, toffee, caramel, and yes, licorice. Licorice (and its saltier cousin salmiak) gets outsized attention because of TikTok reaction videos, but the majority of Swedish candy has zero licorice content. So if you're worried about accidentally eating something that tastes like a tire factory smells — relax. We've got you covered.

100% Licorice-Free Swedish Candy Picks

Sour Gummies (The Safest Category)

Sour candy is the single safest category for licorice-phobes. Almost no sour Swedish candy contains licorice — the flavor profile is entirely fruit-based with sour coatings.

BUBS Sour Skulls — The TikTok sensation. Sour crystal coating over berry gummy. Zero licorice, maximum satisfaction. These are probably the best entry point into Swedish candy, period. Read our full BUBS guide for more.

BUBS Sour Watermelon — Bright, authentic watermelon flavor with a lighter sour coating. Tastes like actual watermelon, not "watermelon flavor #7." Completely licorice-free.

BUBS Cool Cola — Cola-flavored gummy with a cooling menthol twist. Sounds weird, tastes amazing. No licorice anywhere near it, despite the dark color that might make you suspicious.

BUBS Strawberry Vanilla — Sweet rather than sour, with a creamy vanilla note underneath the strawberry. If you want something gentler than the sour options, this is your pick.

BUBS Banana Ovals — Foam candy with real banana flavor — nothing like the artificial banana taste in American candy (looking at you, banana Runts). Light, sweet, and completely inoffensive.

🛒 Shop at Mums Swedish Candy →

🛒 Also available at Swedish Sweets →

Chocolate (Obviously Licorice-Free)

Swedish chocolate is a whole world unto itself, and almost none of it involves licorice. (There is Marabou Black Saltlakrits, but it's very clearly labeled, so you'd have to actively seek it out to accidentally eat licorice chocolate.)

Marabou Mjölkchoklad — Sweden's #1 chocolate bar. Creamy, rich, real cocoa butter. If Hershey's is a sedan, Marabou is a Volvo — Swedish engineering at its finest. See our full chocolate ranking.

Daim — Crunchy almond butter toffee coated in chocolate. You've probably seen it at IKEA. Buy it. You won't regret it.

Kexchoklad — Crispy wafer + milk chocolate. Sweden's Kit-Kat, except better in every measurable way. Perfect with coffee.

Marabou Schweizernöt — Marabou milk chocolate stuffed with whole roasted hazelnuts. The Ferrero Rocher of Sweden, minus the wrapper you can never open.

Marshmallow & Foam Candy

Swedish foam candy is its own category and it's entirely licorice-free. The textures are unlike anything in American candy.

Ahlgrens Bilar — The little foam cars that outsell actual cars in Sweden. Soft, subtly fruity, and absolutely zero licorice. These are so safe they're basically the candy equivalent of a warm blanket. Read our complete Bilar guide.

Polly — Chocolate-covered marshmallow foam with a vanilla note. Light, not too sweet, and a great example of how Swedish candy does texture differently.

Toffee & Caramel

Plopp — Chocolate shell, soft toffee center. The name is hilarious, the candy is excellent. No licorice in sight.

Dumle — Chewy chocolate toffee from Fazer. Like a Milk Dud that went to finishing school. Entirely licorice-free.

🛒 Shop at Mums Swedish Candy →

🛒 Also available at Swedish Sweets →

How to Spot Licorice Before You Eat It

Even armed with this guide, you might encounter unfamiliar Swedish candy at a store or in a mixed bag. Here's how to avoid accidental licorice:

Look for these Swedish words on packaging:

"Lakrits" = licorice. "Salt" = could be salty licorice. "Salmiak" = ammonium chloride-flavored licorice (the intense kind). If any of these words appear, proceed with caution or avoid entirely.

Color is a decent (but not perfect) indicator:

Black candy is almost always licorice. Dark brown can go either way (could be cola or chocolate). Everything else — pink, green, white, yellow, orange, red — is virtually guaranteed licorice-free.

Salty = suspicious:

If a Swedish candy is described as "salt" or "salty," it's probably salmiak. Salmiak is salty licorice made with ammonium chloride, and it's the flavor most non-Scandinavians find challenging. Regular sour candy will say "sur" (sour), not "salt."

The "Maybe Eventually" List

Here's a secret: many people who "hate licorice" end up loving Swedish licorice eventually. The Swedish versions are often softer, more nuanced, and less aggressively anise-flavored than the black licorice ropes you find in American grocery stores. If you ever feel curious:

Step 1: Try Skipper's Pipes — soft, mild licorice that's the least challenging option.

Step 2: Try Malaco Gott & Blandat — a mix bag where licorice pieces are mixed with fruit gummies. You can eat around the licorice ones (or not).

Step 3: If steps 1 and 2 didn't traumatize you, read our Swedish licorice guide for the full deep dive.

No pressure. Some people never make it past step 1, and that's completely fine. There's plenty of Swedish candy to enjoy without ever touching licorice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of Swedish candy contains licorice?

Roughly 25-30% of Swedish candy varieties contain licorice or salmiak. That leaves 70-75% that's completely licorice-free — including all sour gummies, most fruit candy, all chocolate, all marshmallow/foam candy, and all toffee.

Can I order a licorice-free Swedish candy box?

Yes! Most online Swedish candy retailers offer "no licorice" or "beginner-friendly" boxes. Check our where-to-buy guide for stores that offer customizable selections.

Is BUBS candy licorice-free?

Most BUBS products are licorice-free. BUBS does make a few licorice varieties (like BUBS Raspberry Licorice), but their core sour range — Skulls, Watermelon, Cool Cola — contains zero licorice. The BUBS brand is one of the safest choices for licorice-phobes.

Why do Swedes love licorice so much?

It's genuinely cultural — Swedes grow up eating licorice and salmiak from childhood, so it's an acquired taste they acquire very early. For a deeper look at this phenomenon, check our salmiak guide. But remember: even in Sweden, not everyone loves licorice. You're in good company.