Licorice is a root, it is used as a flavoring and sweetener in the industry. Licorice powder (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is liquorice that has been dried and turned into powder, thus being an entirely natural ingredient.
Licorice root is one of the most widely used medicinal herbs worldwide and the most widely used herb in Chinese medicine, and also in other cultures for its magnificent properties. It was used by the Egyptians. Large quantities of this root were found in King Tut's tomb for his journey to the afterlife. Dioscides, in his travels with Alexander the Great, recommended that his troops carry liquorice to resist the long marches, as well as for thirst in the dry areas. In the Middle Ages it was taken to alleviate the negative effects of very spicy or overcooked food. In a recent survey of phytotherapists, liquorice was classified as the most important herb used. A staggering number of Chinese herbal formulas (over 5,000) use licorice. Its first documented use dates back to the time of the great herbal China, about 190 AD, but it was certainly used many centuries earlier.
Culinary uses:
- Ideal in both sweet and savory preparations, such as licorice ice cream, licorice sweet bread, pumpkin biscuits, and also smoothies and shakes.
