Licorice is a perennial member of the legume family valued for its
spicy aroma and flavor, as well as for its soothing effects on the
mucosal lining of the gastrointestinal tract. In China, the root of the
plant is used in cooking and to counter food poisoning. In the west, the
herb is used as a filler and to mask the unpleasant taste of other
medicines.
This species of licorice is native to southern and eastern Europe where
the herb has been used to address respiratory and digestive issues for
thousands of years. By the 13th century, so much licorice was being
imported into England from other parts of Europe that King Edward the
First imposed a tax on incoming shipments to fund needed repairs to
London Bridge.
