My New Year's Resolution: Eat More Licorice

Now that's the kind of New Year's resolution I like: Something positive. There are lots of reasons to eat licorice (besides its great taste). Licorice contains glycyrrhizin, a natural sweetener that's 50 times sweeter than sucrose. That means you can satisfy your sweet tooth without a lot of extra sugar. There are even sugar free varieties. Panda licorice is made with all natural ingredients, and organic licorice is another healthy alternative.

But that's not all. Licorice is just plain good for you. It's an expectorant, an antiviral/antifungal AND contains antioxidants. It has been shown to help peptic ulcers, cold sores and PMS. One study shows that licorice makes LDL cholesterol more resistant to oxidation.

So, instead of concentrating on what you're going to give up for the New Year, think about what you're going to add: more licorice!

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Licorice that tastes like Jolly Ranchers?

Everyone at my licorice tasting party agreed: The Darrell Lea Soft Eating Green Apple Liquorice reminded them of Jolly Ranchers, those wonderful hard candies known for their authentic fruit flavors.

This Australian licorice was a big hit at my party. My friends appreciated the mild, pleasant flavor and the fact that it wasn't too sour (which is what they expected from a green apple candy). They also liked the soft texture.

Those who weren't fans of black licorice found they loved this candy, even though it does contain real licorice root.

"Liquorice" is the British and Australian spelling. Darrell Lea, a family-owned business, is well-known in Australia for its candy stores. They developed soft-eating licorice in 1957 and introduced the green apple flavor in 2004. Their licorice is so popular that now 25 percent of the Australian licorice market is soft eating. It is created using a special cooking process and has a shelf life of 12 months.

Purchase Darrell Lea Soft Eating Green Apple Liquorice here.

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There's still time to enter our "Taste the Licorice Memories Contest"

Do you remember when you tasted sweet black licorice for the first time? Maybe you're a more recent licorice enthusiast with a story to tell. Did you receive licorice as a special gift? You can win a gift certificate to Licorice International simply by sharing your favorite licorice memory.

We've received some great entries so far. To give everyone a chance to enter, we've extended the deadline of our contest to January 31, 2009. You can find complete instructions here or below at "Taste the Licorice Memories Contest."

Be sure to send your entries by e-mail to licorice@oakviewresources.com and include complete complete contact information, including name, address, telephone and e-mail address. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Worried About Your Weight? Eat Licorice.

Are you worried about gaining weight over the holidays? There's good news for licorice lovers. Eating licorice has been shown to help reduce body fat mass. A team of researchers at the University of Padua in Italy studied 15 normal weight subjects who consumed 3.5 grams of real licorice per day for two months. At the end of the study the subjects' body fat mass was reduced. Licorice also satisfies your sweet tooth without adding a lot of calories, and it has zero fat. Make sure you are eating real licorice made from the licorice root.


So when those Christmas cookies start calling you, reach instead for a piece of licorice.


You can find many varieties of real licorice from all over the world at Licorice International.


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Tell Us About Your Visit to Licorice International

Have you visited the Licorice International retail store in Lincoln, Nebraska? Located in the city's historic Haymarket district, the store has become a favorite destination, both for Nebraskans as well as visitors from across the United States.

We'd love to hear about your visit to our store. What kinds of licorice did you sample? What's your favorite? Did you meet the "Licorice Ladies"?

Don't be shy . . . we really want to hear from you.

Licorice Cupcakes

Here's an idea for something different: Licorice cupcakes. You can see the recipe here:
The recipe uses Licorice Spice tea, which you can get here. For the licorice pieces on top, I recommend Black Tire Tread, which you can get here. If you prefer organic products, try Tubi's Organic Soft Licorice, which you can get here.

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Drink Coffee. Eat Licorice.

The Mill has been around long before coffeehouses were “cool.” It had its roots in the mid-70s and moved to its present location in Lincoln’s historic Haymarket in 1987.

Rustic wood floors, exposed brick and comfy armchairs welcome you to “sit a spell” in the warehouse-turned coffeehouse. It’s about the community as well as the coffee. Whether you come with friends or alone, you just feel comfortable there, said co-owner Todd Ogden.

“We have lots of meetings, lots of studying and lots of socializing,” he said. “We have one of the most diverse clienteles of any business that I’ve ever seen.”

Mill employees roast their own coffee and do all the flavoring and blending, focusing on classic European style lattes and cappuccinos. A huge selection of teas, fruit smoothies and cold drinks are also available, as well as a wide selection of pastries and even a few sandwiches.

The Mill is a great place to hang out after visiting Licorice International in Lincoln’s Historic Haymarket. It’s located at 800 P Street and is open Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m. to midnight and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. For more information call 475-5522 or see http://www.millcoffee.com/

Do you like hanging out at the Mill? Share your stories by leaving a comment.

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Taste the Licorice Memories Contest

Do you remember the first time you tasted good, old-fashioned licorice? Who shared the experience with you? What about a special event that happened while you were enjoying licorice? Perhaps a recent memory comes to mind—a moment when you rediscovered this tasty treat.

Now close your eyes and taste those licorice memories again. Then tell us your story in 250 words or less. You could win a gift certificate to Licorice International.

The Taste the Licorice Memories Contest will run from December 1, 2008 – January 31, 2009. Entries will be judged on creativity, originality, relevancy and believability. Contest entries exceeding the 250-word limit will be disqualified.

The contest is open to all US residents of any age. You may submit up to three entries per person.

Three prizes will be awarded:
1st place: $50 gift certificate to Licorice International
2nd place: $25 gift certificate to Licorice International
3rd place: $10 gift certificate to Licorice International

Click here to send us your licorice memories by e-mail (or send to licorice@oakviewresources.com) Be sure to include complete contact information, including complete name, mailing address, telephone (with area code), and e-mail address. We will use this information only to notify the winners.

By submitting your entry to the Taste the Licorice Memories Contest, you attest to the truth of the story.

Don’t forget – The deadline is January 31, 2009.

Read the winning entry for 2008, written by Clancy Quigley of Fort Wayne, Indiana:

Have you ever wished you could reach into a barrel of licorice and keep all you could pull out? Well I lived that dream and remember it with fondness. I loved licorice and at age 76 I still do. When I was a little girl we lived a few blocks from a licorice factory in Dubuque, Iowa. We could smell it cooking. My brothers and I would go there in the early evening (with permission I think) and enter through a side door (again with permission I think). We would hold one brother by his feet and he would go into the barrel head first and gather up the scraps and pieces of licorice that fell off the production line. We would fill our pockets and scoot out the door. My favorite was the solid pipes. We had such fun. My favorite now is tire treads.

For complete rules, click here.

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