5/2/23


I wasn't prepared for the backlash against my current favorite candy. 
And then I made a small error by inferring that Twizzlers were licorice.
They are not because they do not include licorice extract so my humblest of apologies for that mistake.
Jenny_o gave me one licorice recommendation.
Does anybody else have one? 
I have had Australian licorice and it was OK. 
How about some more gibberish about licorice? 


Here's almost everything you wanted to know about licorice and more: 
  • The word licorice is derived from the Greek, meaning “sweet root.” 
  • The spelling 'licorice' is used in Canada and the US, while the spelling 'liquorice' is used in the United Kingdom. 
  • Licorice is actually a type of flowering plant that is native to southern Europe and Asia.
  • If you were to find the licorice plant in the wild, it would stand about 5 ft tall and have small purple and blue flowers. 
  • Glycyrrhizin is what gives licorice its sweet flavor…. And glycyrrhizin is 50 times sweeter than sugar! That’s a whole lot of sweet!
  • Some of the most popular licorice-flavored candies on the market today are actually flavored with anise, a similar tasting flavor, but not true licorice!
  • You can celebrate your love of licorice every year during National Licorice Day on April 12th.
  • Salmiak or salmiakki is a type of licorice confectionery common in Germany, Finland, Sweden, and other Nordic countries. It’s flavored with ammonium chloride, which gives it a salty flavor. It’s commonly referred to as “salty liquorice.
  • Licorice was known and favored among Ancient Egyptians. It was used as a medicine and in beverages and was even found in the famous pharaoh King Tutankhamun’s tomb!
  • In England, there’s mention of licorice dating back to as early as the 16th century. It’s thought that Dominican monks brought licorice to Britain and became established around Pontefract in Yorkshire.
  • Many popular figures in history have enjoyed licorice including famous French military leader Napoleon Bonaparte who loved licorice and ate so much of it that his teeth turned black! Now that’s a lot of licorice. And here’s another bit of trivia: Alexander the Great had his armies take licorice with them to chew on if they were thirsty and water was scarce!
  • Licorice has been used for medicinal purposes worldwide by the ancient Greeks, Romans, Chinese, and Hindus. It can be used to treat sore throats and ulcers and even helps to promote adrenal gland function.
  • In the Middle Ages, Italian knights would use this romantic phrase to dedicate to the ladies they were sweet on: "L’amore e’ un sogno, dolce come il latte e la liquirizia." What does it mean? “Love is a dream, sweet as milk and licorice.” How sweet!

Thanks for being sweet on me and maybe I will talk to you tomorrow. Bye!

I will persevere.
I will keep moving forward.
I will be the stream

Comments

  1. This is NOT a recommendation, just sharing my favorites. I like ouzo and sambuca. I generally hate licorice, but I now enjoy the black jelly beans. Licorice Altoids were pretty good, too.

    ReplyDelete
  2. All my notions about the candy I love gone, shattered! So this brings us back to Good 'n Plenty as the licorice candy easiest to find. That still leaves Twizzlers as the best red or black twisted sugar stick around.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love Twizzlers! Now, like Joanne, I'm going to call them red twisted sugar sticks too! As for licorice, I like those little round, clear Greek ouzo candies wrapped in blue cellophane. And the black licorice jelly beans.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I must investigate those Greek ouzo candies. Deedles mentioned them as well.

      Delete
  4. I will eat a Twizzler in a pinch and not spit it out. Can't say the same for licorice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are back in with the Twizzler comment

      Delete
  5. Those are fun facts about licorice! Bahaha…I’m just teasing you!
    I’m not opposed to the flavor of licorice, I just hate candy that is chewy and gets stuck in my molars.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love Twizzlers too! I usually smuggle them into the theater because they're too expensive to buy there! I like the dark licorice too. Australian, I think they are?

    XOXO

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have done some smuggling as well

      Delete
  7. No licorice for me, though as a child I did enjoy the red stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have no idea if they're true licorice, but I always liked black jellybeans and black gumdrops.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love black licorice but not in all its forms. Jelly beans, no. Drinks, no.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I believe that root beer is partially flavoured with licorice flavour (or anise), yet I love root beer but not anything else with that flavouring. It must be mostly counteracted by whatever else is in root beer. Also, did you know that too much licorice can cause health problems? From the National Health Services in the UK: "Eating more than 57g (2 ounces) of black liquorice a day for at least 2 weeks could lead to potentially serious health problems, such as an increase in blood pressure and an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia)." This was also on an episode of Dr. House once upon a time :) Your research on licorice/liquorice was very enlightening, especially the info about why salty licorice tastes salty - I did not know that bit!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Doing my part to make the world more interesting, jenny_o.

      Delete
  11. What a well-researched compilation of licorice facts :-)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I like the molasses licorice available in some Health food shops here in Adelaide South Australia, also love black jelly beans, but hate the red licorice/twizzlers.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment