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 youβre 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 youβre 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.
Itβs 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.
Not sure how to LOVE the day? Weβve 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!
Enjoy a Taste n Tour at Licorice International.
Sip some delicious licorice tea, licorice-flavored cookies, or licorice sweet cream from Cold Stone Creamery β¦ but beware they use extremely dark green dye and youβll think youβre a little green alien the next day!
Construct a meal using licorice, like on Iron Chef America or Chopped. Better yet make my Licorice Biscotti using Natureβs Way Licorice capsules.
I havenβt tried this with a gluten-free cake mix but Iβm 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.
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 Iβm certain even if licorice isnβt 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.
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 donβt 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.
Grow some licorice so you can get some very good health benefits.
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.
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
βYou learn a whole lot more about a person if they have bad breaks and all those kind of things.β
American politician best known as the first American-Samoan-Hindu member of Congress. Born 1981.
TULSI GABBARD Quote
βYou can say this is messy, but this is democracy in action.β
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
βI donβt miss late-night television, and Iβm a little embarrassed that, for 33 years, it was the laser focus of my life.β
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 |
Are you one of those people that love it like BTW? Some think itβs absolutely horrid β 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 β whatever you call it in your part of the world; itβs used in so much more these days like soft drinks and herbal teas.
Until recently I never knew licorice has a pleasant sweet taste. No wonder itβs 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.
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? Itβs actually quite nice. If you really do abhor the stuff, try the red kind. Itβs 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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