Liquorice

Glycyrrhiza glabra

root

The root of a plant of the legume family from southern Europe and Asia, chewed as a stick or infused, with a sweet, aniseed taste like no other.

Origin

Mediterranean and western Asia

Season (United States)

all year round

Preparation

Keep it occasional: its glycyrrhizin raises blood pressure and lowers potassium, all the faster if taken every day.

Did you know?

Its name comes from the Greek glykyrrhiza, “sweet root”: its glycyrrhizin is 30 to 50 times sweeter than sugar.