3 ms·

I am a huge fan of liquorice and have been for years but had no idea it could cause hypertension. Since my favorite type is the really salty Dutch kind, I did w

I am a huge fan of liquorice and have been for years but had no idea it could cause hypertension. Since my favorite type is the really salty Dutch kind, I did wonder if that made it worse. However, one of the symptoms is hypokalemia (low potassium) and I think the Dutch salt is potassium based so maybe it's actually helpful. He said, optimistically.

vidarh 6y ago
Is it not using ammonium chloride? That's usually what is used for salty licorice in Scandinavia. It takes huge amounts or really low amounts of potassium in your diet for it to be a problem. Frankly you're likely to notice it on your stools long before you consume enough to be a problem. If you eat lots of licorice mostly just ensure you get enough potassium from other sources.
- callumprentice 6y ago
  Oh yes - that's right. I knew it wasn't plain old sodium chloride but I remember now that's it's ammonium chloride. Thanks for pointing that out.
gambiting 6y ago
So as an aside - I've had some salted liquorice in Sweden, and the closest I can't compare this experience to is having drain cleaner poured on your tongue, and then rubbed in with some sandpaper. But hey, we eat pickled mushrooms and meat in jelly, so what do I know ;-)
- SAI_Peregrinus 6y ago
  Aaah, but it's like having drain cleaner poured on your tongue and rubbed in with sandpaper, but in a way that for whatever weird reason makes you want to try it again. And again. It's oddly tasty, and you keep thinking "it can't possibly be as bad as the last time" and then it is. But still hauntingly tasty. Weird experience. I want to spit it out, but I also want another piece. On a side note, the salt used (ammonium chloride) is also a primary component of soldering iron tip cleaner. You can buy blocks of the stuff for that purpose, it's highly effective (though extremely aggressive, so to be used only after the wet sponge and brass wool have failed to remove the oxide). Works about like you'd expect it to, given the taste.
- callumprentice 6y ago
  Wait until you try the Finnish salty liquorice alcohol called Salmiakkikossu. I love the salty candy but this is foul :) I read once that it was best described as old tractor tires marinated in moose piss :)
  - polytely 6y ago
    Oooh I really like salmiak candy, so that actually sounds pretty good to me. It's really interesting that love for salty licorice & salmiak is concentrated in only a handfull of countries.
    - callumprentice 6y ago
      I agree. Almost everyone I know hates liquorice more than they hate Marmite! I was surprised to see how many replies here said they really like it.

vidarh 6y ago

Is it not using ammonium chloride? That's usually what is used for salty licorice in Scandinavia. It takes huge amounts or really low amounts of potassium in your diet for it to be a problem. Frankly you're likely to notice it on your stools long before you consume enough to be a problem. If you eat lots of licorice mostly just ensure you get enough potassium from other sources.

callumprentice 6y ago
Oh yes - that's right. I knew it wasn't plain old sodium chloride but I remember now that's it's ammonium chloride. Thanks for pointing that out.

gambiting 6y ago

So as an aside - I've had some salted liquorice in Sweden, and the closest I can't compare this experience to is having drain cleaner poured on your tongue, and then rubbed in with some sandpaper. But hey, we eat pickled mushrooms and meat in jelly, so what do I know ;-)

SAI_Peregrinus 6y ago
Aaah, but it's like having drain cleaner poured on your tongue and rubbed in with sandpaper, but in a way that for whatever weird reason makes you want to try it again. And again. It's oddly tasty, and you keep thinking "it can't possibly be as bad as the last time" and then it is. But still hauntingly tasty. Weird experience. I want to spit it out, but I also want another piece. On a side note, the salt used (ammonium chloride) is also a primary component of soldering iron tip cleaner. You can buy blocks of the stuff for that purpose, it's highly effective (though extremely aggressive, so to be used only after the wet sponge and brass wool have failed to remove the oxide). Works about like you'd expect it to, given the taste.
callumprentice 6y ago
Wait until you try the Finnish salty liquorice alcohol called Salmiakkikossu. I love the salty candy but this is foul :) I read once that it was best described as old tractor tires marinated in moose piss :)
- polytely 6y ago
  Oooh I really like salmiak candy, so that actually sounds pretty good to me. It's really interesting that love for salty licorice & salmiak is concentrated in only a handfull of countries.
  - callumprentice 6y ago
    I agree. Almost everyone I know hates liquorice more than they hate Marmite! I was surprised to see how many replies here said they really like it.