My 74 year old aunt was prescribed licorice root pills by her hippie doctor. 30 days later, her blood pressure
shot over 230. An ambulance took her to the ER where they suspected a stroke. Several days in ICU. Turns out it was the licorice.
When I was a little kid, many years ago, people used to think that black licorice sticks were appropriate for Halloween. If I had a chance, I’d grab something else. If one of them was forced on me, I’d give it away or toss it in the bushes.
Evidently I had the right instincts.
I've NEVER got licorice for Halloween.
Didn’t see a lot of “over 40” trick or treaters this year.
I think it’s hooey. My grandmother loved black licorice and imported it from Germany. When we were in Germany, at one of the train stations, there were barrels of black licorice for sale at one of the shops. No warnings on them at all. In the hierarchy of ‘what could kill you,’ I think it’s down there with too much chocolate and other such warnings.
A) it’s medically correct
B). I know no one who would eat two ounces of black licorice for fourteen straight days. But that’s just me
I like black licorice, but since I’m diabetic, I rarely have it, and when I do, I limit it to two to three pieces once in a blue moon. I don’t eat the long strips, but the small pieces about 1 1/2 inches in length. The package I have says a serving size is 3 pieces, and that those three pieces contain 23mg of Calcium, 1mg of Iron, and 110mg of Potassium, which is strange since the article says eating too much of it can lower your potassium level. I ended up in the hospital two years ago with low sodium, low potassium, and low magnesium. I’d been taking a doctor prescribed potassium supplement for years at the time to offset the hydrochlorothiazide I’d been on for the same number of years. They told me to stop taking both, because too much potassium is as bad as too little.
We didn't mind seeing those go but having to surrender the full-size Reece's Peanut Butter Cups (the 2-packs) was almost too much to bear.
I shop for black licorice as often as I go looking for leprechauns. I do recall eating a green colored licorice as a youngster. That green candy tasted exactly like Ajax scouring powder. Not that I ever purposely ate it.
Most black licorice comes from the Anise plant. It’s a big and hardy plant we have growing wild along the freeways and walk trails. Anise requires almost no maintenance and almost no water. It has a thick stem (like a Sunflower)that holds a lot of water.
I might be wrong, but black licorice used to be made of molasses (rendered from sorghum cane) but it is near impossible to find the real deal these days. Most of it is now made of corn syrup, artificial flavors and colors. Sorghum is actually extremely nutritious.
Anise seed tastes like licorice. Is the compound in that as well?
Black licorice turns the, uh, final product, somewhat green.
Love the taste, though (the licorice, NOT the final product).
Potassium problems are easily handled by eating a banana or a kiwi, or popping a pill.
For licorice lovers, try Romana Black - this is a sambuca with added licorice. On the rocks it is fantastic. The benefit is that anyone who hates black licorice (like most females, for example), won’t touch your booze. One of my favorite candies with a buzz...there’s nothing better in a glass.
I can attest to this. There was a sale on licorice and I overdid it, and ended up with scary high blood pressure.
glycyrrhizin
I think that name looks like it was made from leftover Scrabble tiles.
Many years later I brought this up in a conversation about how products were just flavored now, not the real thing. No one had any idea what I was talking about. I cant find a reference to a federal law that might of caused this.
Anyone know what Im talking about? Eas it not licorice related and actually part of some other "food safety" type law removing tars? Was this maybe a state thing?
All of these years later I sure would like to find some.
Black licorice? BLECCCCHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
I can’t stand even the slightest taste of it. Anise, no thanks! Guiness Stout seems to have a slight hint of it. I prefer other Stouts. Ouzo? No effin way!!!!
Mark
I’ve always found that brand of candy to be putrid.