Licorice?
I'm not exactly sure. I haven't seen them in stores and I haven't (knowingly) eaten any. They look similar to Gummi Bears, and I don't know if Gummi Bears are 'technically' called "licorice", not being a confectionary expert.
No small children in my vicinity....they would probably be the ones to ask, as kids are usually the candy experts :-)
Grape, they're not really black. They are dark purple.
That's one of the reasons we found this story so hilarious.