Licorice

Licorice candy used to be made exclusively from the hard, dried, yellow root of Glycyrrhiza glabra. A member of the pea family and native to southeastern Europe, licorice grows about four feet high. The plant has bluish purple and white flowers that resemble the blooms of the sweet pea.

Licorice has been discovered in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs, including that of Tutankhamen, who lived from 1356 to 1339 B.C. Perhaps their subjects intended that in the afterlife, the rulers should drink mai sus, a sweet, licorice-flavored drink still enjoyed in Egypt. The ancient Egyptians, as well as the Greeks and Romans, used licorice as a cold and cough medicine. Ancient Indians and Chinese knew the root and believed that consuming it increased their vigor and strength.

In the A.D. 800's, the Moors grew licorice in Spain, which they occupied from 711 to 1492. In the 1500's, the plant arrived in England with Roman Catholic monks of the Dominican order. The friars established a thriving licorice industry near Pontefract Castle in northeastern England. Pontefract became known for its lush licorice fields and for its candies, called Pontefract Cakes. These days, the licorice fields of Pontefract are long gone, but the candies still produced there carry a picture of Pontefract Castle.

Pontefract Castle

The licorice that flavors the treats comes from Turkey. Russia, Spain, Iran and India also produce licorice.

These days licorice flavors candies, gum and medicines that would otherwise taste awful. European cough medicines frequently contain licorice extracts. A coating made of licorice keeps pills from sticking together. (Meredith Sayles Hughes in Flavor Foods.)

"True licorice is preferred over anise in European countries while nearly 90% of that used in the United States goes into tobacco blends." (Sandra Bowens)

Pontefract Licorice

Pontefract's deep, sandy soil makes it one of the few British places in which liquorice can be successfully grown. The town has a liquorice-sweet industry; and the famous Pontefract Cakes are still produced, though the liquorice plant itself is no longer grown there. The town's two liquorice factories are owned by Haribo (formerly known as Dunhills) and Monkhill Confectionery (formerly known as Wilkinson's), respectively. A Liquorice Festival is held each year. Poet laureate Sir John Betjeman wrote a poem entitled "The Liquorice Fields at Pontefract".

Licorice Roots

Licorice roots

The licorice roots are cleaned, grinded and then boiled. The curdled very strong tasting extract is dried again. This is again dissolved in water and founded in moulds. The taste is obtained by adding natural flavours. The licorice was thickened. The plant where licorice is obtained from is mainly found in the countries surrounding the mediterranean see. Robust plants with feathered leaves, which can grow to one and a half meters. Well known in Holland and Belgium is the cultivated violet papilion flower, of which the dried roots are known as a goodie. It is also used as an element in the preparation of medicines against pain in the throat and as an ingredient for cough mixtures. licorice is a benefit for your throat! (source)

Pontefract Licorice Festival

The town of Pontefract provides a fantastic backdrop to the annual Liquorice festival. In this unique historic market town with a Norman Castle, you can catch the aroma of warm liquorice emanating from the town's sweet factories. Whilst soaking up the atmosphere of the town and castle, celebrate ancient arts, crafts, music and historic entertainment at Pontefract Castle on the Saturday. Then join us on Sunday for Liquorice Day in the Town Centre, and sampling fresh locally produced Allsorts, Pontefract Cakes, Liquorice foods and international liquorice products.

With the very best street performers, art, craft, live music dancing and fairground rides entertaining visitors from all over the world. There are liquorice talks, a 15th century pub to visit, an extraordinary array of liquorice goods to purchase and rare liquorice plants to acquire.

Licorice Facts

Licorice candy fabric

There are many different varieties of Liquorice. From very sweet to a sharp almost peppery flavour. If you don't like one try another.

Liquorice was found in the tombs of ancient Egyptian Pharaohs.

Recently a sample of historic Liquorice from 756 A.D. was analysed and found to still have active principles.

Native Americans used it to alleviate pain in difficult childbirth

Liquoricehas been a mainstay of traditional Chinese Medicine for over 3,000 years.

In Buddhist religion an infusion of the Liquorice root is used to ceremonially bath the statue of the Buddha on the morning of his birthday, the eight day of the eight-month.

Liquorice is 50 times sweeter than sugar, but only contains 100 calories, per ounce and is widely used in the food industry.

Miners Sucked Liquorice Wafers whilst down the pit to quench their thirst.

The waste root of Liquorice is crushed and made into, chemical wood pulp, pressed into boards and made into boxes; it is also incorporated into Mushroom Pulp.

Liquorice is one of the most effective flavourings in Cigarettes greatly enhancing the quality of the final product.

Accordingto the British Association of Tobacco Manufacturers, quality flavourings play a vital role in masking the bad taste of low quality tobacco, thus making it a more pleasurable experience.

As Liquorice is an effective expectorant it also enables the lungs to expand more, enabling smokers to inhale more smoke at any one time.

During the Second World War women would lick the red Liquorice Comforts sweet and rub the red colouring onto their lip as a lipstick substitute.

Liquorice is used by Brewers, in Stout, Porter and Beer to give it thickness and blackness.

Liquorice can be found in many skin care products.

It is highly likely that you eat or use Liquorice in one form or another every day of your life.

You can buy a compact yet comprehensive book, titled "Liquorice", written by Briony Hudson & Richard Van Reil, on the history of Liquorice and Pontefract's association with it. Richard is the Curator of Pontefract Museum. It is said, "What he doesn't know about Pontefract's long and rich history probably isn't worth knowing". The book can be obtained from Pontefract Museum price £3.99, Tel; 01977 722741.

(Source: Pontefract Licorice Trust)

American Licorice Company

American Licorice Company building, Chicago, 1914;
Licorice shoe for Charlie Chaplin to chew on in the movie The Gold Rush, 1925
(source of both images)

American Licorice Company is a world leader in the manufacture of extruded candy products. Its brands include Red Vines®, Snaps®, Sour Punch® and Super Ropes®.

American Licorice is one of the oldest companies in the US candy industry. Since its establishment in 1914 in Chicago by a candy entrepreneur, American Licorice has brought enjoyment to people through its products. American Licorice respects and continues in its tradition of producing premium-quality candies like Red Vines Black Licorice and Original Red Twists, Snaps bite size licorice pieces and Super Ropes candy.(American Licorice Company)

Salt Licorice

"Salty liquorice or salmiakki is a variety of liquorice candy that contains ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) in addition to the liquorice root extract, sugar, and starch or gum arabic that constitute normal liquorice. Many agree that it is an acquired taste and is not generally appreciated outside of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Northern Germany and the Netherlands, in a similar manner that Marmite/Vegemite is typically loathed outside of the British Commonwealth, and Haggis is scorned outside of Scotland. Ammonium chloride has a spicy taste that vaguely resembles that of sodium chloride (table salt). However, salty liquorice does not contain any sodium chloride.

Salty liquorice candies are almost always black or very dark brown and can range from very soft to very hard and may be brittle. The other colours used are white and variants of grey. Since pure ammonium chloride is a white powder, the reason why black is the preferred colour for salmiakki is somewhat unclear. It might be partly to provide a "tougher image" for the candies, and partly because of the liquorice used to vary and soften the salty flavour. Carbon black is used as a food colouring agent in these candies." (Source)

More about Licorice

The Magic of Licorice

Licorice Finder: source of licorice products in USA, Netherlands and elsewhere

How licorice was grown

Making licorice cakes

Pontefract licorice

American Licorice Company

Dutch licorice products

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