The Dutch Love Affair With ‘Drop’ (Licorice)
When you walk into the candy aisle of a Dutch supermarket, you might notice something unusual. One type of candy takes up far more space than the others. It comes in countless varieties; sweet, salty, bitter, herbal, and sometimes all at once. Welcome to one of Netherlands’ most beloved treat: drop (licorice).
From medicine to obsession
Drop’s story in the Netherlands begins long before it appeared in colourful supermarket bags. Licorice root has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties, to soothe sore throats, calm coughs, and aid digestion. Apothecaries once sold licorice extracts as remedies, not as sweets.
Somewhere along the way, the Dutch decided that this bitter, herbal flavour wasn’t just useful, it was delicious! Sugar was added, shapes became playful, textures ranged from soft and chewy to hard and salty, and drop slowly transformed from medicine into an everyday indulgence.
It has quite a peculiar flavour, and many visitors can agree on how creative we tend to be with it. Sweet drop. Salty drop. Extra-salty drop (dubbelzout). Honey drop. Drop shaped like coins, cats, diamonds, or tiny figures.
Most Dutch people don’t just like drop; they have preferences. Strong opinions. Loyalty to specific brands or textures. And yes, debates about which type is best can become surprisingly intense.
An acquired taste
Unlike chocolate or caramel, drop doesn’t aim to please everyone. And that’s exactly the point. Its flavour is bold, unapologetic, and a little rebellious. Much like the Dutch relationship with it.
Many people in the Netherlands grow up with drop. It’s handed out during car rides, shared at school, eaten during long meetings, and tucked into coat pockets for winter walks. It’s comfort food, but with an edge.
For outsiders, learning to love drop often takes time. But when it clicks, it really clicks. Consider it a rite of passage.
Drop today
The Netherlands remains one of the world’s largest consumers of licorice per capita. Dedicated drop shops still exist, where you can scoop your own mix like a carefully curated flavour journey.
In a country known for directness, practicality, and doing things its own way, drop makes perfect sense. So if you’re ever offered a piece of drop, give it a shot. Liking it is optional, haha. Trying it is part of understanding the Netherlands.
So... what do you think of drop?
When you walk into the candy aisle of a Dutch supermarket, you might notice something unusual. One type of candy takes up far more space than the others. It comes in countless varieties; sweet, salty, bitter, herbal, and sometimes all at once. Welcome to one of Netherlands’ most beloved treat: drop (licorice).
From medicine to obsession
Drop’s story in the Netherlands begins long before it appeared in colourful supermarket bags. Licorice root has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties, to soothe sore throats, calm coughs, and aid digestion. Apothecaries once sold licorice extracts as remedies, not as sweets.
Somewhere along the way, the Dutch decided that this bitter, herbal flavour wasn’t just useful, it was delicious! Sugar was added, shapes became playful, textures ranged from soft and chewy to hard and salty, and drop slowly transformed from medicine into an everyday indulgence.
It has quite a peculiar flavour, and many visitors can agree on how creative we tend to be with it. Sweet drop. Salty drop. Extra-salty drop (dubbelzout). Honey drop. Drop shaped like coins, cats, diamonds, or tiny figures.
Most Dutch people don’t just like drop; they have preferences. Strong opinions. Loyalty to specific brands or textures. And yes, debates about which type is best can become surprisingly intense.
An acquired taste
Unlike chocolate or caramel, drop doesn’t aim to please everyone. And that’s exactly the point. Its flavour is bold, unapologetic, and a little rebellious. Much like the Dutch relationship with it.
Many people in the Netherlands grow up with drop. It’s handed out during car rides, shared at school, eaten during long meetings, and tucked into coat pockets for winter walks. It’s comfort food, but with an edge.
For outsiders, learning to love drop often takes time. But when it clicks, it really clicks. Consider it a rite of passage.
Drop today
The Netherlands remains one of the world’s largest consumers of licorice per capita. Dedicated drop shops still exist, where you can scoop your own mix like a carefully curated flavour journey.
In a country known for directness, practicality, and doing things its own way, drop makes perfect sense. So if you’re ever offered a piece of drop, give it a shot. Liking it is optional, haha. Trying it is part of understanding the Netherlands.
So... what do you think of drop?