Salted liquorice in the shape of herrings

Salty Dutch liquorice in the shape of herrings

The salty liquorice from Remmelt S. Smid is Dutch 'drop' made according to a traditional recipe. It is the Red Label line of his brand: small herrings with seven percent salmiak, matte on the surface, soft to the bite. Not a casual sweet treat, but liquorice for adults with a distinct flavor.

Salty liquorice in the shape of herrings is a small, bold confection made from liquorice root and salmiak—Dutch 'drop' in its most honest form. Dutchman Remmelt Smid has offered them as the Red Label of his brand since 2001, cooked according to an old recipe and shipped to Germany from Tynaarlo near Groningen. Seven percent salmiak gives the herrings a distinctly salty kick, the bite remains yielding, and the flavor lingers on the tongue. This is how Dutch salty liquorice tastes, just as it has been loved in the Netherlands for generations.

Matte, soft, distinctly salty

The small liquorice herrings do not shine; they have a matte shimmer, almost like old slate, and feel velvety in the hand. There is no glossy glaze here; what you find in the tin is pure liquorice.

With the first bite, the herring gives way—no hard crunch, but rather a yielding pressure—then the salty liquorice flavor slowly unfolds: first the sweet liquorice root, then the well-rounded saltiness of the salmiak, and finally a slight bitterness that resonates for a long time. Anyone familiar with Dutch liquorice knows this is 'drop' as it should come from Holland: bold, honest, and unadorned.

From espresso to travel luggage

Salty liquorice fits perfectly where something crisp is needed: after lunch, with a strong coffee, or on a long walk.

After an espresso, the herrings show their strength; they bring out the roasted aromas again and cleanse the palate of sweetness. A glass of whisky also goes well with them, as does a hearty beer. For on the go, the 75 g travel tin fits in every jacket pocket, the 150 g pouch with a bow makes a pretty little gift, and for those who need a supply at home, there is the 300 g aluminum tin or the 400 g refill for the large cardboard canister.

Remmelt from Groningen, 'drop' from Walther Matthijs since 1920

Since 2001, Remmelt Smid from Tynaarlo near Groningen has been importing traditional Dutch confectionery, formerly under the name "Het Hanze Huis," now under his own. He selects products that are not made industrially, but in old family-run businesses.

The herrings themselves are cooked by Walther Matthijs, a family business from North Brabant that has been producing liquorice since 1920—that’s over a hundred years of experience in 'drop' making, using the same roller, the same mold, and the same pace. Liquorice root, glucose syrup, starch, and salmiak salt; the ingredient list is short, but the craftsmanship behind it is not.

“Liquorice as it used to be,” is how Remmelt summarizes the philosophy behind his selection, and that is exactly what the small matte-black herring stands for—a variety that is not reinvented every year, but preserved, as Remmelt is convinced.

The iconic red cardboard canister with a metal lid has become a trademark; the red label on the lid identifies the salty herrings as the Red Label line, in contrast to the black label of the sweet pastilles. Once you have held them in your hand, you will recognize them even on your neighbor's kitchen shelf. Hats off.

Adult liquorice, not for small children

Salty liquorice is for adults and is not suitable for small children; the high salmiak content is simply too much for young taste buds. Stored in a cool and dry place, it will last for months, ideally in the original tin. If you are trying Dutch 'drop' for the first time, start with the 75 g travel tin and then decide whether you would like the milder liquorice pastilles in the Black Label, or go straight for the 450 g red cardboard canister, the classic on the shelf. You can find more varieties in the liquorice category.