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Licorice Facts |
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Licorice has been around since ancient times and is believed to give vitality and longevity.
Information provided by The Beechworth Sweet Co.
Licorice has been around since ancient times and is believed to give vitality and longevity. It is sometimes used as a beautifying agent and aphrodisiac- an "elixir of life".
Natural licorice can be an effective medicine. Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is a medicinal herb that dates back over 4000 years. Ancient clay tablets describe licorice as the "elixir of life" for its cure-all characteristics.
Recent research confirms these ancient claims by revealing that licorice: boosts the immune system; is a mild pain reliever; aids endurance; activates the liver; rejuvenates the pancreas; strengthens the respiratory system; aids digestion; cures ulcers and most recently has been found to fight tooth decay.
To top it all off licorice tastes good too. The botanical name for licorice actually means sweet root and is the key to the remarkable taste and medicinal properties of licorice. In the root of the licorice plant is a substance called glycyrrhizin, which is 50 times sweeter than cane sugar. This has made the root of the licorice plant a versatile and healthy flavouring in many foods and medicines.
But the most enduring quality of Licorice continues to be its potential for sweetness of flavor. Its botanical name is Glycyrrhiza, from the Greek meaning "sweet root." The taste of the licorice root is so distinctive that its sweetness is detectable in water even when diluted to 1 part licorice to 20,000 parts water!
The Chinese (dating back 5,000 years) maintained that eating the root would give them strength and endurance. Licorice still holds a prominent place in Chinese herbal combinations since it is believed to harmonize with the action of other herbs.
Great quantities were found with the fabulous treasures of King Tut and other Egyptian rulers -- for it was believed that the licorice could be used to prepare a sweet drink in the next world.
Alexander the Great, the Scythian armies, Roman Emperor Caesar, and even India's great prophet, Brahma, are on record endorsing the beneficial properties contained in Licorice. Warriors used it for its ability to quench thirst while on the march, while others (including Brahma and venerable Chinese Buddhist sages), recognized Licorice's valuable healing properties.
In the early 16th Century, licorice began to be cultivated in the monastery garden at Pontefract, England and later this became the center of the licorice confectionery industry.
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