liquorice root

[helpme!]

I can remember I used to chew on liquorice root when i was younger, but what is it actually used for in cooking?

[oxeyedaisy]

liqourice is used for many things ..sweet making ..and is also a grand herb for the herbalists it has a sweet fibrous root and is used for respiratory and digestive complaints..it is also used as a tea..cough syrup..and lots of womens herbal formulas as it contains estrogen like compounds..if you suck on a root of it your taste buds will quickly encounter the plants most active compound glycyrrhizin a saponin that is 50 times sweeter than sugar..its a wonderfull thing for women at the menopause as it regulates hormones..it does come with a caution overuse can lead to water retention and high blood pressure ..if you are diabetic do not use at all.i used to chew loads of liqourice sticks when i was young.. 

[damajowi]

i can only remember a greenish stick-cant get it now?