(no subject)

[mipeltaja]

Today, I tasted Root Beer for the first time in my life.

Being Finnish, I don't really have room to talk (I eat salmiakki and mämmi, after all) but is this stuff seriously as popular in America as popular culture would have me believe? It tastes plain weird to me.

Comments

[darylchan.livejournal.com]

Eh, it's reasonably popular. I like it.

[mipeltaja.livejournal.com]

It's probably that Finns and Americans are generally used to different kind of tastes. Could be that's the reason it's not widely available here (this can came from a special "US import" shelf at a supermarket).

Question~

[atiko.livejournal.com]

Oh, oh. I can't help you with root beer, never had any, but I do have one question about salmiakki. Could you link me to a picture of TRUE Finnish salmiakki?
... because if it turns out to be the same stuff as Salmiak, then I don't understand why it's made out to be so horrible in Hetalia. :|a I adore salmiak licorice and salmiak candy, for example, but maybe Finnish salmiakki is different/stronger by many levels?

Reposting the links

[mipeltaja.livejournal.com]

There are a few different kinds of Finnish salmiakki, some of which even I don't like that much.

Sisu (http://www.leaf.fi/tuotteet/tuoteryhma/t=Sisu/gid=02.04) and Leijona () are perhaps the strongest kind, whereas this (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/Salmiakki_-_Halva.jpg) is what most people think of as the definitive salmiakki.

I believe it's made out to be so bad because most people expect candy to taste sweet, but salmiakki tastes more salty. Then there's the kind that has tar in it, which just weirds people out.

Re: Reposting the links

[darylchan.livejournal.com]

o_O Salty licorice? Not sure if want. (I can't stand black licorice as it is.)

Re: Reposting the links

[mipeltaja.livejournal.com]

Haha, you probably don't want. It's a much stronger taste than black licorice and most people who didn't grow up with find it very objectionable.
If you've ever tasted ammonium chloride, imagine that taste with a little bit of sugar and licorice in it, and you have a rough idea of what salmiakki candies taste like. Because pure salmiakki is simply ammonium chloride.

Re: Reposting the links

[darylchan.livejournal.com]

I haven't, but yeah, probably do not want just based on your description.

(That other stuff you mentioned up there though? I Wiki'd it. It sounds good. *_*)

Re: Question~

[mipeltaja.livejournal.com]

I see I still managed to screw up one link.

This is Leijona: http://www.leaf.fi/tuotteet/tuoteryhma/t=Leijona/gid=02.05

Re: Question~

[atiko.livejournal.com]

Ah! This looks familiar, especially the ones from Halva... but I'll keep my eyes open, sometimes you can get imported stuff on weekly markets and then I'll definitely try it. Thanks a lot!

[seaslide.livejournal.com]

i am just as confused about orangina

[carmine-eyes.livejournal.com]

The question is, do you really want to believe anything American popular culture would have you believe?

And, if you don't like root beer, I suggest avoiding Dr. Pepper, too, if it ever comes up. The tastes are similar, I've found.

[mipeltaja.livejournal.com]

That is a good point.

And I actually don't like Dr. Pepper. I haven't had it in such a long time that I can't remember if that's what root beer's taste reminded me of, but I'm prepared to believe it is.