Licorice
Also known as: Sweet root, liquorice, gan cao
Sweet, earthy root spice with a distinctive anise-like aroma, used for millennia in confections, herbal remedies, and savory seasonings across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Sweet, woody, and anise-like with a balsamic, slightly bitter, lingering warmth...
Glycyrrhiza glabra
spice
Pairs Well With
Licorice, derived from the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra, is one of the oldest known sweeteners and herbal remedies. Its sweet, woody, anise-like flavor comes from glycyrrhizin, a compound far sweeter than sugar. Licorice flavors candies and liqueurs throughout Europe and the Mediterranean, season savory dishes and stocks in Chinese and Indian cuisine, and anchor centuries-old medicinal traditions for soothing coughs and calming the stomach.
Licorice's dominant compound, glycyrrhizin, gives it an intense, lingering sweetness with a woody, anise-like undertone. It blends powerfully with other warm, aromatic spices, rounding and harmonizing them while adding a deep, balsamic sweetness.
LICORICE
GLYCYRRHIZIN
sweet | balsamic | lingering
The signature compound; combine with anise and fennel to amplify and round out sweet, aromatic blends.
ANETHOLE
anise | sweet | aromatic
Adds the anise-like top note that bridges licorice with star anise and tarragon in liqueurs and teas.
LICOCHALCONE
earthy | bitter | woody
Provides the earthy, slightly bitter counterweight that balances the sweetness in savory dishes.
ISOLIQUIRITIGENIN
floral | warm | soothing
Lightens the profile with a soft floral warmth, pairing well with mint and ginger in infusions.
Simmer Whole
Simmer whole or sliced root in water, broth, or milk to slowly extract the sweet, woody flavors over 15-30 minutes.
Grind Fresh
Grind only what you need from dried root just before use to preserve the volatile oils and intense sweetness.
Make a Syrup
Reduce a licorice-infused liquid with sugar to concentrate the flavor into a versatile syrup for drinks and desserts.
Teas and infusions
Steep the root with mint or fennel for a soothing, naturally sweet herbal tea.
Confections
The classic base for black licorice candies, pastilles, and Dutch drop.
Liqueurs
An essential flavor in ouzo, pastis, sambuca, and anise liqueurs.
Savory braises
Add a small piece to Chinese five-spice stews and soy-braised meats for layered sweetness.
Baking
Ground licorice adds earthy sweetness to cookies, breads, and dark spice blends.
Powder
Ground licorice is convenient for baking and confections but loses its volatile oils quickly. Buy in small amounts and use within six months.
Whole
Whole or stick-cut roots keep their aroma for up to two years and release their sweetness slowly when simmered, ideal for teas, broths, and infusions.
Licorice is a spice derived from dried root with unique botanical and culinary properties.
Botanical Name
Glycyrrhiza glabra
Also Known As
Sweet root, liquorice, gan cao
Major Flavor Compound
Glycyrrhizin
Parts Used
Dried root
Non-Culinary Uses
Glycyrrhizin from licorice is used in throat lozenges, cough syrups, and herbal supplements, and as a natural sweetener and foaming agent in tobacco and cosmetics.
Method of Cultivation
Licorice is grown as a perennial from root cuttings or seeds, reaching harvestable size in three to four years. The long taproots are dug up, washed, and dried in the sun.
Commercial Preparation
After harvest the roots are cleaned, peeled, and either sold whole, cut into sticks, or ground into powder. Extracts are made by boiling the root and concentrating the sweet glycyrrhizin-rich syrup.
Licorice has been treasured for over 3,000 years. Egyptian pharaohs were buried with licorice root for the afterlife, Greek and Roman physicians prescribed it for stamina and thirst, and Chinese herbalists valued it as a harmonizing herb in medicinal formulas. From those ancient roots grew the European candy tradition that made licorice a household name.
Native to southern Europe and parts of Asia, licorice is now primarily cultivated in Iran, Afghanistan, China, Turkey, and the Mediterranean basin.
Growing Regions
Primary Sources:
🇮🇷 Iran
🇦🇫 Afghanistan
🇨🇳 China
🇹🇷 Turkey
🇮🇹 Italy
Available Near You
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Recipes with Licorice
Coming Soon