Sense and Sensibility (and Salmiakki)

Salmiakki (salty liquorice) is more than just candy in Finland; it is a national obsession. While long treated as a pungent curiosity, recent scientific research suggests that ammonium chloride may trigger a unique sixth basic taste. This substance evolved from 19th-century pharmacy cough remedies into a definitive icon of Finnish culture. I have written a blog post exploring the history and the surprising science behind this "black gold."