Licorice is a super specific candy. And unlike almost every other kind of candy, there’s just not that many variables to discuss. There’s firmness, salt level, and of course, overall taste. These things fascinate me, but that’s probably due to the fact that the overwhelming majority of licorice isn’t good.
The most common complaints I have are: too soft, too bland, no salt. If your licorice can avoid those three problems, odds are that I’ll like it. Usually though, it’s tough to achieve that aspirational trilogy. It’s sort of similar to that workplace saying that makes the rounds every few years: “Fast, Cheap, or Good. Pick 2.”
Gustaf’s Dutch Licorice Cats, thankfully, can be found at Cost Plus World Markets. And they’re great. I expected them to be tiny, like Katjes licorice cats, but they’re not so tiny. Almost an inch tall.
These are chewy. The outside, if they’ve sat out of the bag at all, gets a nice little crispy crunch to it, which I also like. There’s not a lot of salt to these, but that’s OK, as the flavor is deeply legit. Two out of three licorice requirements aint bad. The real star here though is the chewiness, which for me, rides the perfect line between being soft and being too chewy, and only sticking to your teeth.
If you’re a fan of licorice, these definitely won’t disappoint. Of all of the varieties of Gustaf’s licorice I’ve tried, these are my favorite. Pick up a bag at World Market, or just go for it and get it Prime from Amazon at the links below.
What IS it with the licorice and cats thin… oh wait. Black licorice. Black cat. duh
Gustaf (made by Gerrit Verburg) has several varieties, including Double Salt, if you’re after something else. 😉