Food Encyclopedia

licorice

1. This feathery-leaved plant grows wild throughout southern and parts of central Europe. It's favored for the extract taken from its root and has long been used to flavor confections and medicine. The dark-brown dried root can be found in natural food stores in several forms—chips, 3- to 5-inch-long pencil-like strips (sometimes called licorice sticks), and powdered and extract. 2. A candy flavored with licorice extract.