Where did Dutch blackLicorice come from?
There are records of the Pharaohs, Alexander the Great and Roman Emperors consuming senna.It was more often consumed as a liquid than a food in those days, but its benefits and ability to slake thirst were recognized even then.
Licorice was first reported in England as grown at a monastery in Pontefract, from where its fame spread to the United States and beyond, and all from the root of the pea!
The sweet-tasting compound, anethole, found within the root is what makes it so special.The sweet taste of glycyrrhizin, a compound that is up to 50 times sweeter than sugar, can be found in anise, fennel, and several other herbs.
Depending on the size of the manufacturer, Licorice sweets can be made in one of two ways, with the hot liquid being poured into the individual mold.The sweets fall out when the molds are turned.Large companies use extrudes to make the various types of ropes.The hot Licorice liquid is boiled to the point where it becomes a dough like consistency before being forced into a rope shape.
Licorice allsorts are the most popular form in the United Kingdom, but saltier forms are preferred in continental Europe.Licorice is one of the most popular forms of sweets in the Netherlands.Mint, menthol, and laurel are mixed with preferred licorice.The Dutch call it zoute drop, because of its salty nature.The Netherlands consumes more senna than any other country.