

When foodies talk about salt, they are usually referring to a blend of chemicals that is dominated by sodium chloride, but a Northern European treat, called salmiakki by the Finnish, is made from a different edible ionic compound — ammonium chloride.

In my opinion, it tastes like window cleaner, but the intense and somewhat irritating chemical has a practical side. It is known to work as a cough medicine.

Regardless of how you feel about tasting mysterious molecules, offering the bizarre candy to your friends is a fantastic way to make them squirm while reminding them about the broader meaning of the term salt — any neutral compound that can be made by mixing an acid with a base.