Tag: Licorice plant

The sweetness in the true licorice root, a compound called glycyrrhizin, is up to 50 times sweeter than sugar. However, not all plants bearing the name "licorice" are edible or safe for human consumption, making careful identification essential before use.

The intensely sweet and divisive flavor of black licorice, which people either love or hate, comes from the root of the licorice plant, *Glycyrrhiza glabra*. However, many modern confections that taste like licorice don't use this plant at all, instead relying on other botanicals like anise and star anise to achieve a similar profile.