Coastin Carl
π¬ National LICORICE Day ORIGIN & HISTORY
National LICORICE Day was first celebrated in 2004 and is celebrated every year on the 12th Day in April. Originally it was created by the National Confectioners Association and legions of black licorice lovers to celebrate black licorice in all of its forms. But nowadays this holiday heralds the rich history, health benefits, and commonality of licorice around the world.
People from all over the world eat and enjoy licorice. Most people like it for a confectionery treat, they use it in food and beverages, and some people and cultures use it and have used it for thousands of years for its medicinal health properties. On this day go ahead and enjoy some licorice-flavored tea or stevia-sweetened licorice. Australian licorice eaten in moderation is a healthier treat in comparison to other sugary candy, provided you’re not on a keto or low carb diet.
Licorice is a flowering plant that is part of the legume family. It grows in southern Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa. Some people chew licorice root or take it as a supplement but it isnβt advisable and can be dangerous if you’re not cautious with it. There are red flag side effects to watch for with consuming licorice especially excess and for extended amounts of time. Licorice can also be used to treat various health conditions. It has a pleasant flavor similar to anise and fennel which also have medicinal properties. Licorice can help the body fight the stress hormone cortisol and be good for your adrenals.
Licorice BENEFITS
It’s certainly used in sweets, beverages, and other recipes however the flavor is strong, and either you like it or you simply donβt. Licorice has been used to help common colds; itβs in the popular Traditional Medicine Throat Coat tea. People use it for treating cough, upper respiratory conditions, and strep. For thousands of years Buddist monks have used it, Greek Philosophers, war heroes, modern-day medical practitioners, and the list goes on.
Many people also use it to treat asthma since it has anti-inflammatory properties, which help with the allergic response. Even the sugary kinds of licorice have been linked to helping people with fighting cavities. Thou it would be better for your teeth to actually chew licorice root plus licorice is actually naturally sweet anyway. Licorice has antioxidants that are good for fighting free radicals. People use it for digestive issues such as peptic ulcers, gastritis, also reflux. Be leary even if you donβt have a health issue of overconsuming or using licorice for an extended time it could be dangerous to your health and not advisable.
π HOW to Celebrate & Observe National LICORICE Day?
Not sure how to LOVE the day? We’ve got a few interesting ideas to consider that may help get you started.
Here are some activities that you can do on National LICORICE Day!
π Get on a PLANE
Enjoy a Taste n Tour at Licorice International.
π Get to the SUPERMARKET
Sip some delicious licorice tea, licorice-flavored cookies, or licorice sweet cream from Cold Stone Creamery … but beware they use extremely dark green dye and you’ll think you’re a little green alien the next day!
π Get in the KITCHEN
Construct a meal using licorice, like on Iron Chef America or Chopped. Better yet make my Licorice Biscotti using Natureβs Way Licorice capsules.
I haven’t tried this with a gluten-free cake mix but I’m fairly certain you could. Also feel free to play around with extracts, cake flavors, and mix-ins. Cooking time can be adjusted to your desire for biscotti crispness.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 box of cake mix (flavor of choice)
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup of all-purpose flour
- I substituted a Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free, all-purpose, low glycemic, high fiber flour and ground oats by blending it in my ninja with a half and half ratio.
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp xanthan gum or 2 tsp corn starch
- 1/2 stick of butter, margarine, spread, or oil melted
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 cup desiccated unsweetened coconut
- 1 teaspoon of anise seeds
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- 1/4 cup erythritol, stevia, or monk fruit blend
- 4 capsules of licorice extract (I used Natures Way Licorice extract)
π Adding the flour boosted the fiber and gave it a little protein. This is a hack I do when there is added sugar or higher glycemic foods in dessert recipes.
π Also I added better sugar substitutes, I also use coconut sugar, date sugar, or turbinado in a half and half ratio in dessert recipes.Β Stevia by itself as a stand-alone sweeter is a bit overpowering. Mixing it seems to offset the taste.
π On National LICORICE Day enjoy these biscotti I’m certain even if licorice isn’t your favorite flavor you will like these. The taste of licorice is subtle. Plus they can help soothe the tummy and digestive upset instead of popping antacids which are not really the best thing for your tummy actually.
DIRECTIONS:
Mix in both flours, eggs, melted butter or margarine or oil, baking agents xanthan gum or cornstarch, baking powder and baking soda, and extract of choice. Preferably anise seed oil and licorice powder from capsules. Stir for 30 seconds to fold it all together then stir for an additional two minutes. Next fold in mix-ins of choice. Preferably shredded coconut and almond slices.
Make two to three loaves lay on parchment or Silpat on a cookie tray. Cover them with plastic. Place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
Set the oven to 350 degrees F. Cook for 30 minutes. Drop oven to 325 degrees F.
Take them out and set on a cooling rack for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes slice the loaves into strips gently flip the strips over.
Cook it for another 10 to 15 minutes. They should be lightly toasted and cooked to your desired crispness. I don’t like my biscotti too hard. Even if I enjoy a cup of tea or coffee I like to have them on the side. However, More crisp biscotti will allow you to dunk them.
π Get out in the GARDEN
Grow some licorice so you can get some very good health benefits.
π RAISE Social Awareness
Use social media posts with the hashtags #NationalLicoriceDay, #LicoriceDay, #Twizzlers, #RedVines, #Lakrits, #Licorice, #FoodHolidays, #AprilHolidays, #Holiday, #FindADayToLOVE, #iHEARTdays to support the importance of celebrating, promoting, and sharing with the world why you β€οΈ National LICORICE Day.
LEARN more about the benefits of LICORICE
HOW TWIZZLERS ARE MADE
ONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST REMEDIES GROWN IN COLORADO
HOW GOURMET LAKRITS ARE MADE IN DENMARK
SEVEN Fun Facts you never knew about National LICORICE Day
- Licorice is derived from a greek botanical word meaning βsweet rootβ.
- Substitute anise oil or seeds in recipes to create a similar taste which also has health benefits too.
- The spelling of licorice is widely used in Canada and the United States, whereas people in the United Kingdom spell it liquorice.
- Licorice is popular in Italian and Greek apothecaries. Alexander the Great even gave it to his soldiers to stay healthy, hydrated, and to keep up their spirits during long war campaigns.
- Plinius the Elder incorporated licorice into Naturalis Historia, the largest body of work surviving the Roman Empire. In it, he recommended using it as a natural remedy for mouth ulcers, sore throats, and even asthma.
- Licorice allsorts are candy mixtures with “all sorts” of flavorings including coconut, different fruits, gelatin, and even aniseed jelly!
- President Ronald Reagan loved jelly beans, especially the Jelly Belly brand. His favorite flavor, of course, was licorice!
Famous PEOPLE also born on April 12th
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Vince Gill
American country music singer from Norman, Oklahoma USA best known for winning 22 Grammy Awards, 20 studio albums, and touring with the Eagles as a versatile guitar player. Born 1957.
VINCE GILL Quote
“You learn a whole lot more about a person if they have bad breaks and all those kind of things.”
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Tulsi Gabbard
American politician best known as the first American-Samoan-Hindu member of Congress. Born 1981.
TULSI GABBARD Quote
“You can say this is messy, but this is democracy in action.”
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David Letterman
American late-night TV presenter and not-so-funny comedian best known for hosting talk shows for over three decades with his brand of absurd humor like Late Night on NBC & The Late Show on CBS. Born 1947.
DAVID LETTERMAN Quote
“I donβt miss late-night television, and Iβm a little embarrassed that, for 33 years, it was the laser focus of my life.”
Future DATES for National LICORICE Day
| Year | Date | Day of the Week |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | April 12 | Wednesday |
| 2024 | April 12 | Friday |
| 2025 | April 12 | Saturday |
| 2026 | April 12 | Sunday |
| 2027 | April 12 | Monday |
π¬ Licorice FAQ
WHEN is National LICORICE Day?
- National LICORICE Day is an annual celebration held on April 12th each year.
Where did the IDEA of putting licorice into CANDY come from?
- Modern-day licorice found in sweets similar to Twizzlers Black Licorice Twists came from Holland dating back to the 17th century. Licorice is very popular in Holland. They use it to sweeten their drinking water since it contains glycyrrhizin which is 30 to 50 percent sweeter than sugar.
Who consumes the MOST amount of licorice?
- People from the Netherlands eat an average of four pounds of licorice per year. In fact, Holland consumes more licorice than any other people on Earth. Dutch licorice is both salty and sweet and you can find it anywhere in Scandinavia. They use ammonium chloride to make salmiak or βsalty licoriceβ. Salmiak gives it a rather astringent taste similar to tannins in wine.
- .
- While many enjoy the taste including BTW and Papi, I personally think it’s much too horrible to take a liking to. Itβs a common confection in Belgium, North Germany, United Kingdom, and the Nordic countries.
Why is licorice bad for you if taken INCORRECTLY?
- Usage of licorice, especially in excess or for an extended period of time, can affect levels of potassium in your body. Ingesting too much licorice in food or supplements can be dangerous. It can interfere with the rhythm of your heart, cause fluid retention, and lead to elevated blood pressure (hypertension).
Why we LπVE National LICORICE Day
Are you one of those people that love it like BTW? Some think it’s absolutely horrid – the nerve of the yucky black stuff. Ewwwh!!! Licorice is consistently popular each year and candy does bring us together. Black sugar, glycyrrhiza glabra, licorice root, sweetroot, sweet wood – whatever you call it in your part of the world; it’s used in so much more these days like soft drinks and herbal teas.
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The FLAVOR
Until recently I never knew licorice has a pleasant sweet taste. No wonder it’s used as a flavoring in the food industry. If you want to use licorice to flavor your own food, try using anise oil, fennel seed, or anise seed.
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The VARIETY
Choose from different flavors of licorice including strawberry, cream, allsorts, and even caramels. Lots of people like black Twizzlers and black jelly beans, but if you want the good stuff why not try Australian black licorice? It’s actually quite nice. If you really do abhor the stuff, try the red kind. It’s made with typically better ingredients than the commercial stuff although it can be a bit more expensive if you end up liking licorice. Europe has all sorts of variations on the confection. But definitely worth the splurge.
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