Licorice candy is traditionally flavored with extract from the licorice plant, which contains glycyrrhizic acid, 50 times sweeter than sugar. Modern versions use aniseed oil. Red licorice is often flavored with cherry or strawberry and does not contain licorice or anise oil. The candy comes in a variety of shapes.
Licorice candy is a confection with a glossy exterior and chewy texture that is traditionally flavored by the extract from the root of the licorice plant. The licorice plant grows in South Asia and Europe and its roots contain a sweet substance known as glycyrrhizic acid. Glycyrrhizic acid is the main ingredient responsible for giving licorice a sweet taste and is widely considered to be around 50 times sweeter than sugar. Modern versions of the candy are often made with oil extracted from the aniseed plant, a Mediterranean plant that tastes similar to licorice.
Traditional licorice candies are also commonly referred to as black licorice. It is black in color and is usually made by combining licorice extract with a binder, such as cornstarch or gelatin, and adding it to a mold to give the candy a textured texture. Once the liquid mixture dries, a thin wax is typically applied to the outside of the candy to give it a shiny appearance. Because this type of licorice uses a licorice root extract for its flavor, it is thought to have a deeper, more distinctive taste than versions that use anise oil.
While typically packaged as a licorice candy, the version that tends to be more common in modern times is often flavored with oil extracted from the seeds of the aniseed plant, rather than using licorice extract. The candies can also be flavored with a combination of licorice extract and anise oil. The United States tends to be the most likely to have versions of the candy made with anise oil rather than authentic licorice extract, depending on the availability of the extracts.
Licorice candy also comes in a red color that can come in a variety of specific flavors. This type of candy is usually marketed as a licorice product but does not usually contain any licorice flavor or anise oil. Red licorice is often flavored with cherry or strawberry, but has the same rough texture, chewiness, and shiny appearance as traditional licorice. Other common flavor variations of the candy include chocolate licorice, which is usually brown, and blue raspberry, which tends to have a bright blue hue.
Although most licorice candies tend to share the same rough texture, shiny appearance, and chewy, manufacturers can produce the candies in a variety of different shapes. Thin, hollow licorice strings are one of the most common shapes, as are small bite-sized pieces of licorice. The candies can also be shaped into wheels or made into thin strands that are pulled apart before eating.
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