How to Make ORIGINAL Licorice Candy

Original licorice candy was made with the root of the licorice plant (Glycyrrhiza glabra) and while you can still find licorice candy made with licorice root (mostly at health food stores) most commercially made American licorice does not contain any licorice root at all.

Things You'll Need

• 1 cup molasses
• 1 teaspoon powdered licorice root (or to taste)
• 1 teaspoon dried anise, root (POWDERED ( or to taste)
• 1 cup flour (enough to make a workable dough)
• powdered sugar

Instructions

1. Boil the molasses gently for 5 minutes. Be careful it does not burn. Cool. When it is still very warm, add the licorice root powder and the dried anise powder.

2. Mix in enough flour so the dough is workable. Take a small amount and roll it into a tube ~ 1/2 in diameter. Cut into desired lengths.

3. Place on cookie sheets and allow to dry. The licorice will harden when cool.

4. Licorice root is a perennial herb that is very hardy and easy to grow in partial shade or sun. It can be invasive so make sure the area you grow it is either contained or you don't care if it spreads.

   Licorice is used medicinally to treat allergies, bronchitis, colds, sore throats, and tuberculosis. It is sometimes used to treat ulcers. For those that actually suffer with low blood pressure, licorice root can help to get your blood pressure into the normal range.

Tips & Warnings

• May need to make your own anise powder by processing anise seed with a food grinder or coffee bean grinder.

• Licorice root raises blood pressure a LOT

• Licorice root causes water retention and loss of potassium

• Licorice root should not be consumed by those with diabetes, glaucoma, heart disease or a history of stroke or kidney disease