Liquorice

The liquorice plant is a relative of the pea. It is native to southern Europe and parts of Asia. Very little commercial liquorice is grown in North America, but wild liquorice[?] (G. lepidota) is quite common.

The liquorice flavouring is extracted from the roots of the plants, usually by boiling them. The flavour is common in medicines to disguise unpleasant flavours. Liquorice can also be found in many candies. The most popular in the United Kingdom and North America are very sweet Liquorice Allsorts[?]. In continental Europe, however, far stronger, saltier, candies are preferred. Liquorice is also found in many soft drinks[?].

Liquorice is a mild laxative.

The word liquorice means 'sweet root' in Ancient Greek.

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Division: Magnoliophyta
• Class: Magnoliopsida
• Order: Fabales
• Family: Fabaceae
• Genus: Glycyrrhiza
• Species: Glabra