Licorice (licorice)

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is a perennial plant in the legume family. In Russia, it is also called licorice and licorice. In German, licorice has the names Spanisches Süβ holz, Hustenwurzel, Fuchsbaum, in English - sweet root, black sugar, in French - bois doux, reglisse.

Licorice has a thick branching root that grows 3-4 m deep into the ground. The root system is extensive, it can have up to several tens of processes occurring at different depths.

Licorice has straight stems that practically do not branch. They usually reach a height of 1-2 m. The plant has leaves up to 0.2 m long, they have leaves, the number of which varies from six to twenty. The leaves are oval shaped, tapering towards the tip. They also have glands, due to which the leaves are rather sticky to the touch.

The flowers have a fairly small diameter (on average, 1 cm) and are collected in clusters. They appear towards the end of summer and can be purple or white.

Licorice fruits ripen in late summer - early autumn and are beans with several seeds.

It is believed that licorice originated from the countries of the Mediterranean Sea.Wild licorice is found in Europe (in French and Italian territories, mainly), northern regions of Africa, western and central Asian countries.

In Russia, licorice is common in the southern regions, in the west of Siberia, as well as in the Caucasus. However, it is grown in many areas where the climate is temperate, as licorice does not tolerate cold winters. You can meet her on soils rich in sand, and on solonetzes, also on the banks of steppe rivers, in a semi-desert zone, near the seashore, in the fields. Sometimes it can grow even on soils rich in black soil and clay. Thickets form along paths and roads from licorice.

The spice is obtained from the licorice root. It is ground into powder, which is then added to dishes, mainly sweets. To obtain the base for making sweets, a sweet extract from various parts of the plant is thickened to form a dark liquorice.

You can choose either a ready-made spice or a separate licorice root. When choosing a spice, you need to pay attention to the tightness of the package so that it excludes the appearance of impurities and substances in the spice.

When choosing a root, you need to pay attention to the color: a good rhizome will be brown-brown on the outside, and yellow in the cut. The grated root has a sugary taste and a very delicate sweet aroma.

The roots and shoots of licorice contain glycyrrhizin, which is 50 times sweeter than conventional cane sugar and has an anise flavor. Dried licorice root can be stored for up to ten years.

Licorice has the following characteristics:

• serves as a honey plant and a plant from which bee bread is extracted;
• has the property of fixing sand due to the root system;
• used as a medicinal plant;
• is widely used in cooking;
• It is also used as an industrial plant.

There are 375 calories in 100 grams of licorice root.

The nutritional value of the product is as follows:

• proteins - 0 g;
• fats - 0.05 g;
• carbohydrates - 93.55 g;
• fiber - 0.2 g;
• sugar - 70 g.

For more information about licorice, you can learn from an excerpt from the program "Live healthy!"

Among the components contained in licorice, there are:

• sodium - 50 mg;
• potassium - 37 mg;
• vitamins: B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), E (tocopherol);
• phosphorus;
• calcium;
• iron;
• magnesium;
• selenium;
• silicon;
• zinc;
• β-carotene;
• glycyrrhizin;
• glabridin;
• flavonoids (quercetin, apigenin, etc.);
• thymol;
• phenol;
• ferulic acid, etc.

The health benefits of licorice are as follows:

• used to treat many diseases;
• prevents the appearance of rotting and mold in food;
• inhibits fermentation processes;
• used in the manufacture of cough syrups.

Licorice also has side effects:

• the occurrence of fatigue;
• disruption of the menstrual cycle;
• violation of the kidneys;
• complications of diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• hormonal disruptions;
• miscarriage;
• decrease in potency;
• excretion of potassium from the body;
• sometimes irritation of the gastric mucosa.

It is recommended not to consume licorice or use it with great caution in the following cases:

• with high blood pressure;
• with kidney disease;
• with low blood glucose;
• during pregnancy and lactation;
• in the presence of allergic reactions to the product;
• when interacting with other diuretics.

The oily extract of licorice is obtained from the rhizomes. It has a yellow color with a golden sheen, as well as a flavor and smell characteristic of licorice. As a rule, it is used for medicinal purposes as an expectorant with anti-inflammatory effect. At the same time, licorice oil is excellent for treating wounds and ulcers, as well as diseases of the digestive tract.

Licorice juice is obtained from the roots of the plant. It is most effective in the fight against diseases of the stomach. It is recommended to dilute it in a small amount of water, but not to use it in its pure form.

Licorice is a fairly well-known spice that has found wide culinary use:

• when preparing soaked apples and berries;
• to preserve the freshness of the product;
• as part of other spices and spices;
• in China it is added to meat and fruit;
• in the production of sweets;
• in the preparation of sweets and pastries;
• in the preparation of kvass and sparkling water;
• in the production of beer;
• for better whipping of egg whites;
• as a sugar substitute;
• when preparing hot and cold drinks;
• as an additive to tea;
• when cooking fish or sauerkraut;
• for making chocolate.

Due to its excellent foaming properties, licorice root is actively used in brewing (known as licorice root) and in the preparation of kvass. Add licorice to poultry dishes to add an interesting flavor.

In China, licorice is especially popular, even being added to soups and broths, as well as being used as part of other spice mixes.

When preparing soaked apples and berries, licorice helps prevent mold and prevents food from fermenting.

And even more so, everyone knows the famous chewy licorice sweets. Sweets is a branch of cooking where licorice has found its wide application.

You can make delicious sherbet from licorice at home.

• You will need 0.3 kg of apple puree, 50 ml of lemon juice, whipped cream, two proteins and a couple of tablespoons of licorice powder.
• Apple puree is mixed with lemon juice.
• Whisk the egg whites and fold gently into the puree.
• Sherbet is placed in the freezer for several hours.
• Before serving the dish, licorice powder is introduced into the puree. Whipped cream will serve as decoration.

You can also make a refreshing alcoholic cocktail with licorice.

• You need a quarter glass of ice, half a glass of freshly squeezed tangerine juice, 50 ml of black vodka and one licorice stick.
• Ice is poured into a glass.
• Add tangerine juice to it.
• Carefully pour in black vodka.
• It turns out a cocktail consisting of two contrasting layers - orange and dark.
• A licorice stick interferes with a cocktail, and it is also used as a tube.

The medical use of licorice is quite extensive. It is used:

• for the treatment of ulcers and wounds;
• to stabilize the liver;
• for the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• for the treatment of rheumatism and arthritis;
• to relieve unpleasant symptoms that appear before the onset of the menstrual cycle and during menopause;
• in the treatment of certain types of cancer;
• to normalize the level of cortisol and relieve the syndrome of constant fatigue;
• to increase immunity;
• for the treatment of tuberculosis;
• to provide a bactericidal effect in inflammation;
• for the treatment of cough and diseases of the upper respiratory tract;
• as a laxative;
• for the treatment of hormonal disorders leading to infertility;
• for the prevention of excess weight;
• for the treatment of dandruff;
• for the prevention of caries and diseases of the oral cavity;
• for the treatment of diseases of the heart and blood vessels;
• in the treatment of diabetes.

Due to its beneficial antimicrobial properties, licorice helps fight body odor and act as a deodorant.

Based on licorice root, syrups are used to treat coughs, as well as powders and extracts used to treat these diseases.

Licorice tea is used to treat colds. To do this, take 25 g of the roots and upper part of the plant, several leaves of mint, centaury and lemon balm. It is recommended to brew the infusion and drink 200 ml after meals.

For the treatment of diseases of the joints and gastrointestinal tract, an aqueous tincture is made. For her, you need to take 20 g of licorice roots, which are fried in a pan, and then pour 400 ml of boiling water and insist. After 8 hours, the tincture is ready. Depending on the degree of the disease, several tens of drops per day are taken.

Licorice infusion is the easiest to prepare. It is necessary to brew 10 g of crushed licorice root in a glass of boiling water. Infuse the drink for an hour, then strain. It is enough to take a tablespoon three times a day before meals.

To cure a cough, mix 15 g of crushed licorice roots, the same number of marshmallow and elecampane roots. The mixture is poured with two glasses of cool clean water and infused for 7-8 hours. Take half a cup twice a day before meals.

The cosmetic use of licorice is due to its wound healing effect. It is used to treat skin rashes, allergies. Also, licorice extract is one of the components of cosmetic products for the care of problem skin. It allows you to soothe it and has a rejuvenating effect, and also cleanses the pores and helps to whiten the skin and rid it of unwanted spots.

For weight loss, licorice root is used in violation of the digestive tract. Due to the laxative effect, licorice removes toxins from the body, contributing to weight loss.

Household uses of licorice are as follows:

• is a medicinal plant;
• present in many dishes;
• used as a foaming agent (including in industry);
• used in alcoholic production;
• used as a color fixer and natural dye;
• finds its application in the tobacco industry.

Licorice can be grown in almost any soil, but it is preferable that where there is sufficient sand content along with moderate moisture. Licorice can be propagated by seeds and roots.

For planting, you need to choose a sunny area with a high content of lime.When enriching the soil with fertilizers, it is better to use nitrogen fertilizers to a minimum, since licorice already has enough nitrogen compounds.

Licorice is planted in early May. It is necessary to sow to a depth of 1 cm. With good warming up of the air and the earth, the first shoots will appear after 2 weeks. Licorice will germinate slowly at first and will require removing all weeds and keeping the soil moist all the time. By September, it will grow to 0.2 m. In the first two years, licorice does not bloom. With greater intensity begins to grow in the third year of life. In early July, buds appear that bloom for a month.

You can collect licorice after 5 years when planting with seeds and 3 years after planting with rhizomes.

For planting licorice when using rhizomes, it is best to use plants whose life span is more than 5 years, they will give the best shoots.

• Licorice is added to fire extinguisher foam.
• With the help of licorice, ink, ink, shoe polish are made, and the colors of the paints are fixed on the fabric.
• The Japanese use licorice to make nicotine-free cigarettes, and in other countries it is often added to tobacco blends.
• The first mention of licorice as a medicinal plant appeared in China several millennia BC. For a long time, the plant was considered a storehouse of healing properties and was used exclusively in medicine.