Drop is what the Dutch call their licorice, and honestly nobody does more with the category. There’s sweet drop and salty drop (zoute drop) and soft pieces and hard ones, in shapes like coins and diamonds and even cats. Per person the Netherlands gets through more licorice than just about anywhere else on earth, which probably explains the devoted following among expats and enthusiasts alike.
Sweet vs salty
Sweet drop is where we’d send somebody new, since it’s widely liked and there are no surprises in it. Zoute drop is another thing entirely, flavored with salmiak and carrying that savory, slightly numbing bite serious fans care about. Stock both and the curious newcomer and the die-hard fan end up shopping the same aisle anyway.
Textures and shapes
Texture runs from soft and chewy right up to firm and hard. The shapes go from plain coins and diamonds to the iconic cats (katjes) and that’s honestly half the appeal. If you’re building out a section, the licorice category and the Dutch lines are the places to look.
FAQ
What is Dutch drop?
Drop is just the Dutch word for licorice and under it you’ll find sweet ones and salty ones and soft and hard ones in lots of shapes.
What is salty Dutch licorice?
Zoute drop is licorice made salty with salmiak (ammonium chloride), so the taste is savory and a bit numbing and enthusiasts really like that.
