Black Licorice: Trick or Treat?

U.S. Food & Drug Administration ^ | October 30, 2017 | U.S. Food & Drug Administration

[Ancesthntr]

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.

[Ancesthntr]

Romana Black is better - on the rocks. Sambuca with added licorice.

[DoodleBob]

When I was in college, I switched to ouzo on semester because people kept bogarting my scotch and beer. A few guys thought they could handle my 'girly' drink. They never touched it after they had an ouzo hangover.

[lee martell]

Ouzo, by definition will always be potent, but it’s strength can vary. In the late 70’s I was in the Navy, and I went to Athens. I have no way to prove it, but the Ouzo I was served in Athens seemed a much stronger version of Ouzo compared to what is sold here.
It’s like comparing Everclear to Sunny Delight.

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I can attest. A small serving had me going off like a cannon. My brotger was unaffected. Go figure.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Those are good too.

[freedomlover]

There are some hilarious YouTube videos where people eat 5 lbs intentionally and then chronicle it online.
Basically opens up the sluices at both ends for 8 hours.

[Albion Wilde]

I can attest to this. There was a sale on licorice and I overdid it, and ended up with scary high blood pressure.

[AZLiberty]

My 87-year-old dad might appreciate those gummy bears. He’s lucky to have a BM once a week without some assistance.

[Albion Wilde]

Other than Good and Plenty, my favorite is licorice allsorts -- mmm!!! Especially the layered ones with both licorice AND coconut!!!

[servo1969]

glycyrrhizin

I think that name looks like it was made from leftover Scrabble tiles.

[DoodleBob]

In Athens, in an area called the Plaka, there is a store called Brettos that makes its own ouzo. The store is legendary for its ouzo's smoothness yet potency. This could have been where you went, or it could have been something a local cooked up himself.

One of these days, I hope to get to Athens and try the local brands of ouzo. Until then, I'll make due with imports of the better stuff like Babryannis or Ouzo Mini; Metaxa and Sans Rival are swill, the Greek equivalent of Miller and Budweiser, but in a pinch they'll do.

And thank you for your service.

[lee martell]

Maybe Brettos is where I went. I don’t remember how I got there or how I got back to my ship and up the gangplank.
Your thanks is appreciated. Hopefully, my very modest contributions helped the nation function a little better.

[gnarledmaw]

Im wondering if someone can help me with an old memory related to licorice. Im going to say it was about 73 when my favorite real licorice and the other brands of licorice all disappeared from the shelves. I remember being told that "the government" banned real licorice because it was determined to have too much tar and was dangerous to children. No, it wasnt my parents just making it up because all of those European real licorice products disappeared from the stores. I remember adults talking about how this illustrared how ridiculous government had become. I never did see thpse products reappear.

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.

[MarkL]

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

[MarkL]

Here are some reviews of the Haribo Sugar Free Gummi Bears:

https://www.amazon.com/Haribo-SUGAR-Classic-Gummi-Bears/product-reviews/B006J1FBLM

Have fun!

Mark

[DoodleBob]

Ouzo? No effin way!!!!

C'mon...What could possibly go wrong?

[Trillian]

My parents always brought their licorice from Italy, so I don’t remember them buying them in America. They came in these little metal tins, but I don’t remember any particular brand names. Have you tried doing web searches to see if they sell them online? I know Amazon sells candy from all over the world.

[cynwoody]

I’ve always found that brand of candy to be putrid.

[cynwoody]

I like black licorice, I just don’t eat that much of it. I have heard there can be issues eating large quantities

Large quantities of anything can be problematic. E.g., molasses.