Licorice: good and abundant

Licorice is a member of the legume family and, although it has a similar flavor, it is not related to anise. Countries that currently produce licorice include India, Iran, Italy, Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, and Iraq. In the Netherlands, licorice drops are one of the most popular forms of candy and have been valued for thousands of years for dozens of purposes, including a remedy for leaky gut, coughs, and colds. Its uses date back to ancient Egypt, where it was turned into a drink to cure digestive problems, after boiling the root and adding liquid. It is still prevalent throughout the world in herbal teas.

Naturally sweet and easy to grow, it has been recognized for its therapeutic value in helping to relieve pain, irritable bowels, joint pain, sore throats, heartburn, and even as an antioxidant. Although excessive use of licorice can be harmful, it is highly unlikely that someone would ingest enough of it to cause a problem. It came to the United States via Great Britain, and since licorice has been a long-standing favorite around the world, it did not go unnoticed by early candy makers, who began introducing it to satisfy the growing sweet tooth of United States in the late 19th century:

Good & Plenty – The oldest branded candy, introduced in 1893 in its distinctive box with pink and white candy, identified with its signature character “Choo-Choo Charlie” on early television, and a favorite candy in movies; the kids loved to rattle those boxes and annoy other moviegoers;

Black Crows gumdrops also date back to the late 1890s;

Chuckles Jelly Candies – five flavors in a package that included a piece of licorice, introduced in 1921;

Assorted Licorice Mixes and Twist Sticks: Fun to chew and stretch, chewing licorice root was used in African countries for centuries as a means of cleaning teeth;

Black Jelly Beans – Everyone has a favorite flavor, with many reaching for the black ones first;

Smith brothers. cough drops – the first brand introduced in 1847 and a hit with its distinctive package featuring two bearded gentlemen, sadly out of business now; (wild cherry flavor came later)

Black Jack Gum – 1884, a gum maker named Thomas Adams began adding licorice flavoring to his gum and named his creation Adams’ Black Jack, the first flavored gum in the U.S. It was also the first gum to be offered in bars; (not popular anymore, but still available)

Not as popular as it was a century ago, licorice still attracts a loyal following, especially among fans of hard, chewy candies. Aside from the fact that it can turn your teeth and gums gray, it still has a definite following. It’s one of those flavors that you either like or dislike, and it’s pretty much limited to sweets. The licorice ice cream and cookies don’t seem to appear anywhere, but that’s fine for those who love it. And Choo-Choo Charlie may be gone, but the legend of him lives on. It’s good and filling to be sure.