Australian customs quarantine salty licorice from Sweden.
Moving all the way to Australia was a bit harder than I expect because it is far away and the cultural differences; but ‘what does not kill you will only make you stronger’, said Nietzsche. What has helped me is to enjoy Scandinavian licorice to remind me of home; which is the only licorice that is edible, according to all Scandinavians. Especially salty licorice. That is something really unique; at least that is what I have heard from non-Scnadinavians who have tasted it. Some like it, some think you are trying to poison them. This usually happens when you try to feed them the Swedish salty licorice called, Djungelvrål.
I think I have received two packages within a month or so, and I was expecting one more coming from my sister in Sweden. I had no clue what she sent me, other than it was filled with licorice, and I was just expecting a small A5 padded envelope. So I was kind of surprised to learn it was a nice and thick A4 padded envelope that came in the mail today; but when I turned it over I saw something really interesting.
Apparently the content and the way it had been packed made some alarms go off at the NSW international mail centre. From what I can interpret from the sticker you see in the first picture, is that they quarantined it so they could open it and inspect the odd and assumed contraband.
Inside I was greeted with some extra information from AQIS (Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service) letting me know it was cleared and nothing was removed; and some extra info about what can and can not be sent to Australia from abroad.
I understood that they have had a peek inside the package, but it just felt funny that they left this information in my mail. Of course, I understand the practicality of doing so; but it is still odd as it really makes you understand that it had really been opened.
There is really not much to say about this picture above, other than this was the content.
Yes, I love licorice.
Privacy and freedom is very important to me, but I do understand why they do it. I am not surprised that this bag set off some alarms as its content is very mixed too; plastic, paper, soft, powder and hard.
It was an interesting experience. First thing I did when I saw the yellow sticker I just laughed at it. I am surprised if they were not tempted to have a taste, as the plastic bag with the hard bonbons smells so good.
Now I am going to enjoy some Swedish salty licorice and hope my IBS will not make too much of a fuss about it.
