We all have food memories from our childhood; they can be some of our most evocative glimpses of our young lives. I'd like to share one of mine with you; perhaps for some readers it will remind you of your own.
Growing up my parents didn't have a lot of money but we did get a weekly allowance (pocket money). Some of that money we would be encouraged to save for our summer holidays, but we were allowed to spend a small amount on sweets (candy). Sometimes a short walk home from school would mean a stop at the little corner store to buy a few pennies worth of sweets. Back then the shopkeeper had a section of his counter that was both accessible to small children but also accessible in price. Amongst the teeth breaking mojo chews and the sherbet filled flying saucers were the "crown jewels" of cheap sweets penny sticks of liquorice and if you were careful and savoured them they would last you all the way home.
As I have mentioned before I get sent a wide range of products to try, the manufacturers and PR people hoping I will give it the thumbs up are often disappointed. My policy has always been if I can't find something good to say about the product then I prefer to say nothing.
Just occasionally I find something of real quality and feel compelled to share it with you and perhaps tell you a few fascinating facts you never heard before.
Panda Licorice, made in Finland not only tastes delicious but is also 100% all natural. Made the same way since 1927 from just 4 ingredients of Molasses syrup, wheat flour, licorice extract and aniseed oil, with no preservatives, no artificial colours or flavours. It is good to see a product that I didn't either need a degree in chemistry or a magnifying glass to read the packet.
Real licorice flavour comes from underneath the ground Licorice comes from the root of the blue flowering pea plant which is found growing wild all over Southern Europe and Asia. The plant's botanical name is glycyrrhiza glabra, which means sweet root.
History
The therapeutic use of licorice dates back thousands of years to the Greek and Roman Empires. The Greek physician Hippocrates (460 BC) and botanist Theophratus (371 BC) extolled its uses, and Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder (23 AD) recommended it as an expectorant and carminative. Licorice also figures prominently in Chinese herbal medicine
Liquorice root has an impressive list of well-documented uses and is probably one of the most over-looked of all herbal remedies. It is used for many ailments including asthma, athlete's foot, baldness, body odour, bursitis, canker sores, chronic fatigue, depression, colds and flu, coughs, dandruff, emphysema, gingivitis and tooth decay, gout, heartburn, HIV, viral infections, fungal infections, ulcers, liver problems, Lyme disease, menopause, psoriasis, shingles, sore throat, tendonitis, tuberculosis, ulcers, yeast infections, prostate enlargement and arthritis.
Hundreds of potentially healing substances have been identified in liquorice as well, including compounds called flavonoids and various plant estrogens (phytoestrogens). The herb's key therapeutic compound, glycyrrhizin (which is 50 times sweeter than sugar) exerts numerous beneficial effects on the body, making liquorice a valuable herb for treating a host of ailments. It seems to prevent the breakdown of adrenal hormones such as cortisol (the body's primary stress-fighting adrenal hormone), making these hormones more available to the body
In recent times science has been re-discovering the health benefits of liquorice. Licorice is in fact a powerful antiviral that contains 10 antioxidants, at least 25 fungicidal and 9 expectorant compounds. Licorice also includes MAO inhibitors, several XO inhibitors, and natural estrogenic ingredients. But this is not all that helps to form licorice. Licorice is also made up of beneficial components such as phytochemicals, magnesium, and sodium.
- Peptic Ulcers: Licorice is used in Europe as medicinal support for people suffering from ulcers. Scientific studies have also shown that licorice is very effective as a pharmaceutical drug when it comes to treating peptic ulcers. A special form of licorice known as DGL is the preferred treatment for ulcers; this form removes the glycyrrhizin from the licorice as this can cause high blood pressure. DGL has no side effects and is the inexpensive option when compared with drugs such as Tagomet and Zantac.
- HIV infection: Research has shown that the benefits of licorice can also be used in HIV related diseases. Licorice helps to slow the progression of HIV to AIDS and clinical studies carried out showed that licorice was able to slow HIV reproduction in test tubes. As you know the HIV virus targets the body's immune system and destroys white blood cells. Licorice helps to trigger the chemical compound interferon which is the body's virus fighting agent.
- Skin Problems: The health benefits of licorice also extend to internal and external skin diseases. Licorice has similar effects to hydrocortisone when applied topically and can be used to help fight dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis. Licorice can also be used to help speed up the healing process of cold sores and has also been known to reduce the pain associated with cold sores.
- Hepatitis: Research indicates that the use of Licorice can be effective in treating both chronic and acute hepatitis. The compound glycyrrhizin in licorice is used clinically in Japan was found to be an efficient treatment in both hepatitis B and hepatitis C patients. Licorice was as effective as alpha-interferon and it did not cause the side effects associated with alpha-interferon.
- PMS: Licorice has a mild estrogenic effect. A high estrogen level can cause many menstrual problems; licorice may help to balance the estrogen levels in the body by reducing estrogen.
- Respiratory System: It has always been common practice to use licorice in the treatment of severe respiratory problems such as coughing, asthma, sore throats, and bronchitis and modern research confirms these health benefits of licorice.
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: It is not possible to combat the effects of stress without having healthy functioning adrenal glands. Licorice supports the adrenal glands and its compound glycyrrhizic helps to block the breakdown of cortisol which in turn raises cortisol levels helping the body to fight against stress and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Licorice Side Effects
Licorice can raise blood pressure, so I do advise people who suffer from high blood not to consume licorice. Consumption during pregnancy is also not advised.
Interesting facts
Most licorice candy in the United States is actually flavored with anise, not licorice so be sure what you buy has real extract of licorice in it.
Celebrity licorice devotees include Tom Hanks, Lindsay Lohan, Brad Pitt, Anne Hathaway, Kevin Spacey, Madonna
and TV chef Heston Blumenthal
Napoleon is said to have loved licorice and used it to calm his nerves before a battle.
Tutankhamun could rest in peace in his burial chamber because he was accompanied by a jar of licorice.
The Shoe that Charlie Chaplin famously ate in the legendary silent movie The Tramp was made of licorice.
In Pontefract, West Yorkshire, in July, you will find the annual Licorice Carnival. There is even a licorice queen crowned with a licorice crown. She will wear licorice clothes and bedazzle visitors with licorice jewels. You can buy a licorice plant to take home with you.
In the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy the Orcs have black blood, so it was only natural that the inside of their mouths should not be pink but black as well. To achieve this, the Orc actors had to swill a licorice based mouthwash prior to each of their scenes.
In the James Bond movie Moonraker, where villain "Jaws" bites the cable car line, it was actually made of licorice!
It's called Panda Licorice because licorice roots are a real panda's favourite snack.
