Klene Honingbijtjes sugar-free liquorice

Klene is a quintessential Dutch brand specializing in liquorice (drop), founded in 1876 by Johannes Coenraad Klene. The brand is famous for pioneering various types of liquorice, including the 'Honingbijtjes' (honey bees) shown in the image. Although it started as a family business in Amsterdam and later Zaandam, it is now manufactured in the Netherlands under modern industrial standards.

Over the decades, the brand's ownership evolved as the Dutch confectionery market consolidated. In 1999, Klene was acquired by the Dutch company RBV Leaf. Following a subsequent merger in 2012, Klene became part of the Cloetta Group, a leading Swedish confectionery company. Today, Klene remains one of the most popular liquorice brands in the Netherlands, known for its balance of traditional recipes and modern health-conscious options like the sugar-free Stevia-sweetened variety pictured.