Licorice in Food Industry
Licorice in Chewing-gum and Pastilles
Licorice is a plant that grows wild and has medicinal and food uses. This plant is mostly used as a natural sweetener and flavoring in various food and beverages such as chocolate and candy, sweets and cakes, pastilles, ice-cream, jellies, condiments, chewing gum, sauces, herbal tea, syrup, soft drinks, beer and alcoholic drinks.
The sweetness of this plant is much higher than sugar. Licorice extract is commonly used in candies and beverages. Licorice tea is one of the oldest herbal teas around the world.
In this passage we pay attention to the use of licorice in food industry.
Licorice in Chewing-gum and Pastilles
Chewing gum is commonly used to cleanse and freshen our mouth and stimulate our appetite.
Chewing gum helps to improve memory function and it also increases concentration and reduces acid reflux. In the past, some tree resin was used as chewing gum. Nowadays it is available in different flavors. Artificial sweeteners and flavorings are usually added to chewing gum. Licorice can be used as a natural sweetener and flavoring that is much healthier than artificial ones. Licorice has a natural taste and gives freshness to the mouth and prevents tooth decay.
Licorice is also used in pastilles. These pastilles do not contain sugar, so they have fewer calories and are almost suitable for people on a diet. These pastilles have a sweet and distinctive taste. Moreover, they soothe sore throat and freshen our mouth.
Using Licorice in Beverages
For making licorice tea, we can use licorice powder or ground licorice root. Licorice is also available in tea bags. Licorice dried leaves can be used for tea. This herbal tea is very useful for our body and health. It can relieve sore throat and cough, digestive problems, headache and stress. It can control stomach acid and reflux; it treats fatty liver and strengthens the immune system; it helps to lose weight. Licorice tea can be combined with other herbal teas such as chamomile or mint to add variety to the taste and to increase its effectiveness.
Licorice in syrup and beverages is used as a natural flavoring and sweetener.
Licorice is also used in alcoholic beverages especially strong ones. It gives them strong and special taste.
Licorice in Chocolate, Cakes and Sweets
A huge amount of sugar and food additives are used in confectionery products. Licorice is also used as a natural flavoring and sweetener in this industry.
Because cakes, sweets, chocolates and candies contain sugar, they have a harmful effect on health and obesity.
On the other hand, licorice has a positive effect on weight loss. So, you can enjoy the confectionery products containing licorice and you don’t have to worry about obesity.
According to Sepidan Osareh Jonoob Co. studies, the use of licorice in chocolate, sweets and candies in the Nordic countries has a long history and countless fans. These chocolates and candies are available in different forms. This plant gives a special herbal taste to the products.
This natural sweetener has many advantages in comparison with artificial ones. They also protect your oral and dental health. In addition, licorice has some other benefits for your body such as weight loss, treatment of stomach disorders and fatty liver, strengthening the immune system and etc.
In Europe and China, licorice root in dried and natural form has been very popular as a sweetener since ancient times. Over time, licorice candy makers have produced various flavors including strawberries, cherries, raspberries and other flavors. Licorice in cooking and confectionery has been used since the Middle Ages. Licorice has a long history of treating bronchitis, cough, cold and sore throat, digestive problems and many more.
Since the Middle Ages licorice in food industry was consumed to add flavor and color to food. In China, licorice as a seasoning is added to flavor some food like soup. Based on the surveys done by Sepidan Osareh Jonoob Co., licorice is also used as a flavoring for a variety of sauces, including soy sauce and pickles. Licorice root is used to flavor dry food such as sugar, coffee, salt and some other ones. This plant is found in the combination of spices, especially for meat dishes, and goes well with the taste of food. It is used to flavor duck, lamb, pork, etc. Sometimes licorice is mixed with a little salt and added to meat as a condiment. For example, in Sweden, this method is very common for venison. Licorice can be combined with other flavors such as mint, ginger, etc. Licorice as a condiment is used whether in powder or root form.
Licorice in Ice Cream
Ice cream is one of the most popular desserts and there are few people who do not like it. It has a very long history. Ice cream comes in a variety of flavors and colors. Licorice in ice cream can be used as a syrup to make its taste distinctive. It should be noted that licorice sweetness is almost 50 times more than sugar. It is also a natural sugar and flavoring which is much heathier than artificial ones. Licorice ice cream is a special flavor of this dessert that has its own fans.
Provided and Edited by: Meysam Shokripour (Sepidan Osareh Jonoob Company)
References : iranlicorice.com
