Sweet or salty, licorice usually divides groups down the middle between fans and detractors. For the fans, today is National Licorice Day. Most of this bright red variety can be described as candy rather than the savory options out there, and West Coasters will rave about Red Vines, while everyone else seems satisfied with Twizzlers. European licorice made with root extract is typically savory and enjoyed after dinner and is called salmiaklakrits in Sweden, salmiaklakrids or saltlakrids in the Netherlands, and salmiakki in Finland (but, notably, may also interact with several prescription drugs). Regardless of the taste, licorice comes in ropes, twists, coins, lozenge-shapes, rounds, “pipes,” and flat pieces of “leather” to suit your needs (pictured), from theater snacks to after-school treats. Pharaohs of ancient Egypt enjoyed the root in the form of a sweet drink (and King Tut was buried with licorice in his tomb), and most pharmacists will be able to tell you that licorice has medicinal benefits, as well, aiding digestion. It’s also been used by different cultures for dental health thanks to the compound glycyrrhizin, which helps reduce tooth decay.
NCPA
