Chew On This
Licorice
Images Copyright © 2009 Jennifer Iserloh
Licorice seems to be one of those “love it” or “hate it” flavors – probably because it has such a strong and distinct taste. Licorice is not just a candy, it is actually an extract from the Glycyrrhiza Glabra plant, which means sweet root.
Despite their strikingly similar flavors, licorice is not related to anise or fennel, and is actually a legume, related to beans and peas. While licorice has a stronger flavor, anise and fennel are commonly used to artificially flavor licorice products.
Licorice is a very popular flavor in Europe, found in many candies, soft drinks and liquors. It is also used in its natural state as a breath freshener – so move over tic tacs!
The licorice candy, as it is best known to most Americans, is made up of licorice extract, sugar, a binder, and additional ingredients to add to its appearance. The candy concoction is poured into molds to get its familiar shape – whether it be licorice ropes, dots, gumdrops, coins, and other fanciful shapes.
You may be thinking “what about red licorice?” Well, it just so happens that red licorice contains no real licorice at all since it has no licorice root in it.
It is called licorice simply because it is soft candy molded to look the same as its black “cousin”, but has plenty of artificial colorings and flavorings. Nowadays, there are many different flavors of licorice candy ranging from apple to watermelon. While all of these “licorices” have the same texture of black licorice, none of them are licorice in the true sense of the word.
I prefer to enjoy the real McCoy in the form of tea.
Health Benefits
Licorice has many medicinal qualities and has been used for centuries around the world in folk medicine for its health benefits. It is considered by healers and yogis to be a very powerful anti-inflammatory, but is also used in some over-the-counter medicines you can find in your local drugstore. It’s uses include:
- Used as expectorant – licorice is a common ingredient in cough syrups
- Offers relief for mouth ulcers and canker sores
- Used to calm spastic bowel syndromes
When enjoying real licorice, be mindful, licorice is not pure sweetness. It can have negative side effects especially when it comes to high blood pressure, and should be avoided for those who take blood pressure medication. As I always say, everything in moderation and always check with your doctor before including any herbal remedy in your diet.
Related Posts
- Like licorice candy? Read more on my salty sweets blog post!
- Learn about absinthe, a licorice-tasting liquor, courtesy from nutritionist Leslie Dantchik.
- Learn about the healing properties of herbs from Science Daily.
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August 28, 2009, 7:12 am
When it comes to licorice, I am definitely a “love it.” I didn’t know it helped with mouth sores and digestive issues…now I have new “excuses” to indulge