for a bit on the wild side!

For the third celebration today, let's end with something a little bit sweet that claims a unique flavor all its own! It is one of those flavors that you either like or dislike. There's really not much in between. Licorice is best known as a type of candy but its subtle flavor can truly make a recipe zing!

National Licorice Day Desserts

While Americans have enjoyed licorice for over 100 years, the distinctive black licorice dates back to the Middle Ages. Licorice root, which can be chewed for its taste and sweetness, is an integral part of Chinese cuisine and traditional Chinese medicine. Licorice is a unique flavor. A subtle flavor that voila! can make taste buds go WOW! and everyone scrambling for the recipe! The more modern red licorice isn’t really licorice at all, except in name. It’s just a red candy, which can be made with many different flavorings, including strawberry, cherry, raspberry, and cinnamon.

Sidenote: Despite similarities in taste, licorice is not related to anise or fennel.

A Bit of History...

Company History

In 1914, the American Licorice Company’s factory began in a rented space on West Jackson Boulevard in Chicago. The company’s first product was Black Licorice Twists. During the depression black licorice cigarettes and licorice cigars were made. At the time, every metropolitan center in the country (except for the southern states) had at least one licorice manufacturer. All the licorice was sold unwrapped and was generally not shipped outside the metropolitan areas. Read MORE...

So, if you fancy something a little bit sweet, why not chew on some licorice for Licorice Day. Enjoyed by people across the globe, licorice with its distinctive flavor is found in many modern sweets.

Some great ways you can share the enjoyment of Licorice Day with your friends and family include giving licorice as a gift, researching the history of the plant and its uses (a idea for a school project!) and sampling some licorice tea. Its flavor is loved by many people, from children to the older generation, so Licorice Day is sure to be a big hit with your family, whatever their ages.

Why not bake some...