The licorice root is a species in the pea family, and the extract from it forms the basis of real licorice candy.

What exactly is licorice?

In Sweden, we consume about 1 kilo of licorice per person per year, which is significantly more than in the rest of Europe. Why this particular black food has such an effect on us northerners, no one really knows. What is known, however, is that licorice comes from the licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra), which is part of the pea family. It is a 1-2 meter tall bush-like plant that is found from eastern and southern Europe down to Asia and is also cultivated in France and Germany. It has been cultivated in Europe since the 1200th century and it must be at least three years old before it can be harvested.

It grows with meter-long roots and it is precisely the root that is used in drinks, sweets, medicines or tobacco. Licorice can have either a sweet or salty taste and is one of our oldest and most common aromas. In dried form, licorice root can be found in health stores and in China it has long been used in Chinese medicine. As a medicinal plant, it is actually 4000 years old and was previously found in pharmacies in Sweden.