Liquorice powder

How to Incorporate Licorice into Your Cooking?

You can let licorice infuse in syrups, creams, or desserts such as ice creams and pastries. In savory dishes, you can use it to accompany your meats, particularly pork or duck.

Some Recipe Ideas to Use Licorice

• - Licorice Syrup: Prepare a syrup by infusing licorice sticks in hot water with sugar. Use this syrup to sweeten your hot drinks, such as tea or coffee;
• - Licorice Ice Cream: Incorporate licorice powder into your homemade ice cream recipe for a unique flavor. Accompany it with red fruits for a delicious combination;
• - Chicken with Licorice: Add an exotic touch to your chicken recipe by incorporating a licorice-based sauce. Mix licorice powder with honey, balsamic vinegar, and chicken broth;
• - Licorice Marinade for Salmon: Prepare a marinade by mixing licorice powder with orange juice, ginger, and soy sauce. Marinate the salmon before baking it in the oven or grilling it;
• - Licorice and Mint Infusion: Create an infusion by combining licorice sticks with fresh mint leaves. Serve it hot or cold for a refreshing drink;
• - Banana and Licorice Smoothie: Blend bananas, yogurt, honey, and licorice powder for a creamy and deliciously flavored smoothie.

The Bold Flavors of Licorice

In the mouth, licorice has a biting attack with intoxicating aniseed flavors reminiscent of childhood tastes. An impression of astonishing suppleness and sweet tannins is revealed after the disappearance of freshness sensations. It pairs perfectly with both sweet and savory preparations.

Licorice and its Botany

Licorice originates from China. It was introduced to Europe from the 10th century, mainly in the Mediterranean basin (Italy, Turkey, Spain). It is consumed in various forms: sticks, powder, pellets (cachou), or ribbons (Zan). Its powder is obtained by grating the fresh roots of the perennial plant Glycyrrhiza glabra. Once cut into sections, washed, and dried, the roots are ground and transformed into powder. In China, the powder of this dried vegetable is used in the famous five-spice blend.

Licorice, Napoleon's Favorite Treat

Did you know that licorice was the only treat that Napoleon Bonaparte allowed himself outside of meals? It allowed him to work late into the night. Suffering from digestive disorders due to his delicate stomach, the Emperor turned to licorice as a natural remedy. During his campaigns, he had large quantities of licorice delivered, which he chewed to alleviate his ailments. According to legend, his close associates thought that his teeth were damaged and decayed, when in reality, they were healthy but simply marked by licorice.