What's the difference between red and black licorice, besides color?

This article appeared on Boston.com on August 29, 2011 and was written by Northeastern University physicist John Swain. E-mail questions to drknowledge@globe.com or write to Dr. Knowledge, c/o The Boston Globe, PO Box 55819, Boston, MA 02205-5819.

Real licorice, which is in black licorice candy, is made from the roots of the licorice plant, which can also be spelled liquorice.

Red licorice isn’t really licorice at all, except in name. It’s just a red candy, which can be made with many different flavorings, including strawberry, cherry, raspberry, and cinnamon.

Despite similarities in taste, licorice is not related to anise or fennel.

American, Chinese, and European varieties of the licorice plant are all slightly different but have many similarities.

Each variety is a legume. Each produces a compound in its roots called anethole, which gives black licorice its distinctive flavor. Each also produces a compound called glycyrrhizin, a substance that is 30 to 50 times sweeter than sugar.

Glycyrrhizin can have negative physiological effects, including raising blood pressure and causing water retention, so it’s a good idea to exercise some care in eating licorice, especially people with heart problems, who might want to consider having a chat with a doctor if they eat a lot of it.

Licorice root, which can be chewed for its taste and sweetness, is an integral part of Chinese cuisine and traditional Chinese medicine.

If you are fond of licorice candies, you might want to be aware that the ingredients used to make them can vary. European candies, for example, often are flavored with aniseed oil and may contain very little substance from licorice plants.

Licorice International Gets a Friendly Shoutout in Family Circle Magazine

Licorice International received national attention in the September 2011 issue of Family Circle magazine.

Thanks to Vicki Clarke, Lincoln, Nebraska was featured in the current issue of the magazine. Vicki mentioned several wonderful aspects of the city and included Licorice International as top spot for friendly snacks.

Here's what she said about Licorice International: "The kids like to get snacks from Licorice International, which offers more than 150 types from 12 countries. It's our favorite part of town--we love that the past and present of Lincoln mingle in such a family-friendly atmosphere."

Click here to read Vicki's article about Lincoln, Nebraska.

Licorice Lover Listed in List of Top Chocolatier Blogs

Everyone loves chocolate. (And of course, the best way to eat chocolate is paired with licorice in a sweet treat such as Chocolate Licorice Lentils or our popular Kookaburra varieites: Chocolate Covered Black Licorice or Chocolate Covered Strawberry Licorice.)

Our Licorice Lover Blog was recently mentioned in The Top 50 Chocolatier Blogs, listed in the Education Degrees Blog. We were mentioned as one of the Top Chocolatier Candy Blogs, along with blogs such as Candy Blog and Candy Addict. Here's what the reviewer said about Licorice Lover:

If licorice is your candy, this is your blog. The LL is obsessed with the candy and even features poems dedicated to it. There are also reviews of the best and worst licorice.

You can read the entire post here.

Article in Daily Nebraskan: Licorice International hosts holiday gingerbread house contest

"Over the next couple weeks, students will at long last be able to say "home sweet home" as they take delight in gobbling it all down: roof, walls, windows and doors.

"But of course, while students can eat the humble, crumble some homes entered in Licorice International's first-ever gingerbread house contest, they may not. That is, unless they wish to incur the wrath of an all-in-one architect, contractor and builder."

Read the entire article here.

Licorice International is pleased to be mentioned in the Daily Nebraskan newspaper, produced by students at the University of Nebraska.  If you're a student (or if you live in the Lincoln, Nebraska, area), be sure to stop by from December 7-16 and see the great gingerbread houses on display.  We will have a special open house on December 10th all day.