Slivers of liquorice root

Cookbook | Recipes | Ingredients | Spices and herbs

Liquorice or Licorice is a sweetener and spice. It smells somewhat like star anise, fennel and anise.

Liquorice flavour is most commonly available as a liquid extract. The extract is produced by boiling liquorice root, then evaporating most of the water to leave a sweet syrup. The extract is widely used to make confectionery, especially black liquorice candies and liquorice allsorts. It can also be prepared as a tea.

Liquorice is also used in Chinese cooking, in broths and in foods simmered with soy sauce.

Liquorice increases blood pressure, is an expectorant (cough remedy), and acts as a mild laxative.