Licorice is a graceful, arching, deciduous perennial which grows to about 1.5m. It has a thick, deep taproot and spreads underground via extensive stolons. Above ground it has pinnately compound leaves and loose spikes of purple flowers. Licorice grows particularly well on the rich alluvial plains of Turkey, which, together with Spain and Greece, is still a leading world supplier.
Licorice prefers a rich, deep, sandy loam and a sunny position. New crops are propagated by rhizome segments planted in spring, but can also be propagated by seed. Portions of rhizome left in the soil at harvest time will generate new plants.
Both the taproot and the rhizomes can be used. They are usually dug when 3 years old and air-dried before being ground and then processed. Licorice root is one of the many spices and herbs used in Chinese master stocks, adding to their intensity and depth of flavour. Add the chopped root sparingly (as it can be bitter) when stewing fruit.
Information sourced from The Complete Book of Herbs
When we were in France, Bev and I found licourice bark for sale in one of the shops. We decided to buy some and see how it would work for making tea and baking. I can say, this was not as successful as making use of licourice powder!
Hope you are having a great time Tandy. So sad to have missed you 🙁
thanks Jac, it was an awesome holiday and I am sad we did not get to meet xox
Hope you are having fun my friend!
Thanks for this informative post – I love licorice!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thanks CCU, we had a lot of fun!
I’m sure you’re having a wonderful time in Scotland, Tandy. Enjoy every minute. Thanks for the licorice info. I thought it grew as black sticks. 😉 xxx
I wish it grew like that! We had an amazing time AD 🙂
I didn’t know that Turkey, Spain and Greece were key suppliers of licorice!
It is amazing as I always think of olives when I think of those countries 🙂
Not sure this is something I would grow but it does look pretty though.
:-)Mandy
I don’t think I would grow it either 🙂
Hope the trip is going well! 🙂
Thanks Jen, it was awesome – we have just got back home 🙂
I was thinking you must be back home! I love licorice flavor.. it actually makes me feel like a child again, I guess because I used to buy it at the corner store!!
I love things that remind me of my childhood 🙂