Do you know what’s special about Finland’s salty licorice, salmiakki?
Major construction projects in Finland are drawing in domestic audiences on Monday.
Helsingin Sanomat’s readers are especially interested in a story exploring Finland’s tallest building, which will house cables when finished.
The world’s largest cable manufacturer, Prysmian Group, is constructing Finland’s tallest building in Kirkkonummi.
For just a little while longer, the title of Finland’s tallest building belongs to Tampere’s 168-meter Näsinneula observation tower. However, next year, the title will be claimed by this 185-meter cable manufacturing tower.
A maritime behemoth
A test run by the ‘Icon of the Seas’ attracted crowds in Turku on Sunday as it headed out for a sea trial in the archipelago, Iltalehti reports.
The Royal Caribbean’s massive vessel is the world’s largest cruise ship, able to accommodate some 5,600 passengers.
The ship is scheduled to be completed soon, after which it will leave the Meyer Turku shipyard and make its way to its home port in Miami. The cruise liner is set to start operations in the Caribbean next January.
Love it or hate it
Maaseudun tulevaisuus explores the science of samiakki, a traditional Finnish sweet treat, that’s actually salty.
Salmiakki’s salty flavour sets it apart from regular licorice, the agricultural paper said, explaining that this is why it’s called salty licorice in English.
The Finnish word salmiakki comes from the Latin sal ammoniacius, which refers to ammonium chloride, the salt that gives the treat its distinctive flavour. Ammonium chloride is not ordinary table salt, which is sodium chloride. Finland generally imports the compound from Germany, where local food authorities label salmiakki as ‘adult licorice’ owing to its impact on blood pressure.
Often considered an acquired taste distinctive to Finland, producing the candy requires an ingredient that doesn’t grow in Finland — licorice root, a plant thriving in much warmer climes than the far north.
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