We use flaky, large-grained sea salt to add contrasting texture and bright bursts of salinity to all manner of cooked dishes. Gorgeous decorative tin aside, this pure-tasting Icelandic salt balances crispy flakes with crunchy chunks for a near perfect garnish. Keep a bowl next to the stovetop to sprinkle onto dishes before serving and another on the on the table—you’ll want more. Don’t, however, use it for seasoning while cooking—its delicate texture and flavor will melt away. We particularly like the salt sprinkled over avocado toast, a simple cheese omelet or pasta carbonara.

Johan Bülow is on a mission to share with the world Scandinavia's most popular and polarizing treat: licorice. Lakrids by Bülow uses traditional black licorice—prepared using centuries-old methods—to make this small-batch candy. Licorice-lovers will appreciate the natural sweetness and earthy, herbal depth of these sweets, which don't taste like artificial or perfumey like some varieties we've tried. And the candies have a fudgy, toothsome quality rather than a gritty or grainy texture.

Johan Bülow is on a mission to share with the world Scandinavia's most popular and polarizing treat: black licorice. Lakrids by Bülow uses traditional black licorice—prepared using centuries-old methods—to make small-batch candies with flavors that are more familiar to international consumers. These chocolate-covered licorice balls have a fudgy, toothsome quality that is much more satisfying than the gritty or grainy texture you'll find with other brands. The company's spherical Chocolate-Coated Licorice uses an especially creamy variety of milk chocolate that tempers licorice's bitter notes, for a balanced, aromatic candy. You don't have to be a licorice aficionado to fall for these treats: Even Milk Street staff members who claim to hate licorice were surprised by how much they loved Lakrids by Bülow.

Originally used as a condiment by the Phoenicians and ancient Romans, garam is a fermented fish sauce that adds a rich umami flavor to savory dishes, oftentimes using oily fish. We especially love this version from Danish producer Norður & Co, which only uses autumn mackerel from Breiðafjörður. Autumn is the ideal time to catch mackerel, since it’s at the end of their fishing season and the fish have had time to develop a rich, fatty flavor by then. Mackerel is also a much more mild fish than those that typically are in fish sauces (anchovies, sardines, etc.), yielding a more mellow flavor and a light sweetness without the abrasive, too-salty kick that some fish sauces have. It’s also made with Iceland’s famous Norður salt—which is evaporated from arctic seawater and has an unmatched, clean taste.