What Is Licorice?

Licorice is considered a natural sweetener and flavoring. Since the Middle Ages licorice was consumed to add flavor and color to food. Various industries use licorice in their products such as:

Tobacco: licorice consumption in tobacco industry is considerable. It gives sweet flavor and distinctive aroma to tobacco products. Licorice improves the flavor of cigarettes. It also maintains moisture holding features of tobacco.

Food and Beverages: Licorice is used as a seasoning to flavor some food. It is also used as a flavoring for a variety of sauces, including soy sauce and pickles. Licorice root is used to flavor dry food such as sugar, coffee, salt and some other ones. This plant is found in the combination of spices, especially for meat dishes, and goes well with the taste of food.

Licorice is consumed in pastilles and chewing gum. This kind of products contains no sugar or less sugar because licorice is used as a natural sweetener and flavoring in them. Licorice has a natural taste and gives freshness to the mouth and prevents tooth decay.

For making licorice tea, we can use licorice powder or ground licorice root. Licorice is also available in tea bags. Licorice dried leaves can be used for tea. This herbal tea is very useful for our body and health. It can relieve sore throat and cough, digestive problems, headache and stress. It can control stomach acid and reflux; it treats fatty liver and strengthens the immune system; it helps to lose weight. Licorice in syrup and beverages is used as a natural flavoring and sweetener.

Licorice is also used in alcoholic beverages especially strong ones. It gives them strong and special taste.

Licorice in cooking and in the kitchen is used in different ways. The commonest way is using its powder. You can add it to flour to make sweet pasta or you can directly use it on meat meals. Some other ways are mentioned above.

Confectionary: Licorice is used as a natural flavoring and sweetener in this industry. According to Sepidan Osareh Jonoob Co. studies, the use of licorice in chocolate, sweets and candies in the Nordic countries has a long history and countless fans. These chocolates and candies are available in different forms. This plant gives a special herbal taste to the products.

Cosmetics and Healthcare: licorice contains vitamins B and E and minerals such as potassium and magnesium; licorice extract prevents infection and contamination on the skin surface and keeps it clean. Licorice extract controls the number of pigments. It prevents their accumulation (hyperpigmentation). Licorice extract is rich in antioxidants, so it is anti-aging and rejuvenating; it helps regenerate collagen to keep our skin soft and smooth. According to studies, an active antioxidant (Licochalcone A), which is the main ingredient in licorice root extract, is able to protect the skin against UV rays, and this is done by strengthening the skin’s own defense system. Licorice root can prevent hair loss and make our hair grow faster. The use of this plant opens the pores of the scalp and strengthens the hair follicles. It prevents thinning hair strands. It is also used to repair damaged and colored hair.
Because of these properties, it is used in cosmetic products such as cream, shampoo, soap, sunscreen, brightening and anti-spot creams, hydrating and anti-wrinkle etc.

Medicine and Pharmaceutical industry: cough syrups and lozenges use licorice to relieve sore throat and reduce cough. Licorice is found in topical gels and ointment to treat topical pains. In capsules and pills, it can be also used.

Licorice in Herbalism and Traditional Medicine

Licorice has been widely used in herbalism and traditional medicine for thousand years. Its positive influences on our health are considerable. At first in Europe, it was used as a herbal remedy for dry cough, asthma, and pectoral diseases. In Chinese, Indian, Greek traditional medicine, licorice was assumed an effective herbal treatment for heartburn, cough, eczema, sore throat, hair loss, bronchitis, canker sores, and so on. Egyptians assumed licorice as a pharmaceutical herb. One of the Egyptian writers recorded licorice as a popular beverage among people in ancient times. Some manuscripts related to 360 A.D talked of licorice as a cure for hair loss, cough, skin problems and eye ailments. It is documented that it has been used since prehistoric times in Europe. In traditional Chinese medicine licorice was considered as a “guide drug”. That was because of chemical transformation when interacting with other compounds. In many Chinese herbal remedies, licorice is combined with other herbs to improve the flavor and increase the effectiveness of other ingredients. In their tradition was common that licorice gave them endurance and strength. Roman emperors and their armies used this plant since they thought that it removed their thirst.