Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Brunberg Lakritsi Alku

What better way to start the new year than with salmiac? Actually, that was a rhetorical question. Technically, it's impossible to answer since it would encompass every known and unknown activity in the entire universe.

The salmiac I opted for today was the Alku Lakritsi from Brunberg. It was one of those tar-textured ones I've become so un-fond of.

IMG_20130116_170820

Expecting the worst, I carefully nibbled on the bite-sized piece, making sure not to get the gooey tar embedded in my teeth. I was surprised to find a dark caramely taste with a strong hint of liquorice. The texture and taste reminded me of a circus peanut, though not nearly as sweet – and there was little, if any, salt to be found.

It was a fairly pleasant taste... though after the last one, I suppose anything would be. I had a few other pieces before reminding myself that one of my new years resolutions was learning portion control, and so I stopped. And I suppose that was a good thing – the salt found its way back a few minutes later.

None the less, the Lakritsi Alku earns the coveted halfway-decent rating.

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34 comments:

  1. There doesn't seem to be any trend in the ratings. I would like more tasting data to see if a trend would arise (possibly positive). In year 2010, 40% of ratings where edible or better, in 2011 a whopping 56% and in 2012: 43% (currently 2013: 100%). Salmiyuck rating chart

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. We'll probably have to send Alex some more salmiakki to reduce the effects of sampling bias. Meanwhile, I suppose these Alku candies have only very little salmiakki in them.

      Delete

  2. The "regular" Alku is a toffee candy: http://www.brunberg.fi/en/tuotteet_alku.html

    You tested the liquorice variant of it, as the Finnish word "lakritsi" translates to "liquorice": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquorice_%28confectionery%29

    No wonder you gave the "Alku lakritsi" a halfway-decent rating, as there was (as you suspected) no ammonium chloride in it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salty_liquorice. It's not a salmiac product!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. I recall checking the ingredients list earlier and confirming it actually does contain a little bit of ammonium chloride, just not very much. I can double check later to verify it. It'd indeed be horribly embarrassing if it actually doesn't contain any.

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    2. I said I'd check the ingredients list and I finally remembered to do so.

      Yes, salmiakki is listed, but it's near the very end of the list, after the food coloring. I think the list might be ordered by the amount, which means there's only very very little salmiakki in the candy for minimal flavoring purposes only.

      Ohwell. At least it contains a little bit of salmiakki.

      Delete

  4. It's funny because Alku means "the beginning" and you ate them at the beginning of the year.

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  5. Hahaha, Awesome. I come from the town where the Brunberg factory is. And I also know one of Brunberg's product designers.
    Too bad you only got the Liquorice Alku (although, too bad is the point of this blog, I guess), for there are also caramel, lemon-liquorice, fruit and chocolate flavoured Alkus. Brunberg also produces some pretty tasty salty liquorice. Hopefully someone sends it to you.

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  6. How much you have stuff left to taste? Just worrying you run out of.

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    1. Don't worry, I recently sent him some delicious stuff to sample. But I suppose it'd be good to send more to make sure he always has some fresh salmiakki around if he gets the cravings.

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  7. Nice fingerprints! =D Come on, your Finnish audience is waiting for a new post with excitement...

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    1. Indeed, Alex has been slacking waaaay too much. He should just grab a video camera and start handing the sweets to any random children on the streets near the office if he can't find volunteers otherwise. Kids love free candy!

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  8. I must say I was somewhat impressed that you have made such a collection of salmiak review experiences. I personally love salty licorice and my mouth is watering just looking at all the stuff that you have here. though some of it does look simply disgusting. LOL .. I will be looking at all your posts tonight .. keep up God's work my friend..

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  9. Last bite killed him?

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  10. Please, tell us more about your crusade against salmiac!

    ReplyDelete

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    ReplyDelete
  12. Replies

    1. I guess he's just running low again. The man is insatiable.

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    2. Maybe he ran out of products to test? Where does this guy get his stock anyway?:)

      Delete

  14. It's my belief that this "treat" must have come to be when an enterprising Finn decided to trick an acquaintance into eating a piece of tar from a freshly tarred road that had been covered in road salt and the joke that it's actually some sort of licorice has been perpetuated from there.

    At least, that makes more sense than any other origin theory I can imagine.

    ReplyDelete

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