Licorice sticks are a popular gummy candy flavored with licorice root extract. They come in various colors and flavors, and the shape has been modified over time. Licorice root is also used as an herbal remedy and a substitute for cigarettes. “Licorice stick” can also refer to a clarinet in music slang.
A licorice stick is usually a type of gummy candy, in stick form, that tastes like the licorice plant. Licorice, or Glycyrrhiza glabra, is a herbaceous plant that has been appreciated for its medicinal properties for centuries. It has become popular as a source of the flavor known in the United States as black licorice, which is sweet, tangy, and reminiscent of aniseed. Today, licorice is an umbrella term for the type of gummi candy often sold in sticks. Alternatively, “licorice sticks” may refer to actual sections of the licorice root itself or to a clarinet.
Licorice candy is one of the most popular forms of candy in the world today and in its traditional form, it consists of a ribbed stick of sweet and gummy candy, which is black in color and flavored with licorice root extract. The immense popularity of the candy and the fact that many people don’t care for the traditional licorice flavor has led candy makers to come up with alternative flavors for licorice sticks, and today hundreds of colors and flavors of this chewy treat are available from a large number of manufacturers around the world.
While the licorice stick itself is an iconic and instantly recognizable shape to candy lovers everywhere, it has undergone many modifications and variations over the decades, although many manufacturers still produce the traditional shape. A stick of licorice can be solid or hollow, and the rib and degree of twist generally vary from product to product. Very long sticks of licorice are called strings and licorice sticks can be formed from a number of smaller licorice strands twisted and pressed together so that they can be detached from the stick individually.
Used for centuries as an herbal remedy, licorice root is still available in all its forms and is commonly used by those trying to quit smoking as a substitute for the cigarette. Chewing the root can help ease the craving for cigarettes. It is traditionally thought to have many useful medicinal properties and is still used in many parts of the world in this way today. It is believed by some to be a calming digestive tonic, helping to regulate blood sugar, relieve arthritis symptoms, and act as an antioxidant and detoxifier.
Used as a slang term in music, particularly among jazz musicians and jazz music devotees, “licorice stick” refers to a clarinet. The long, straight shape and traditional black color of the instrument at one point led some to call it a licorice stick. However, the exact origin of this usage, first encountered during the big band period in American music, is unknown.
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