Liquorice Guide
Liquorice Root Sticks
Natural, unprocessed liquorice root — how to chew it, what to expect from the flavour, and how it differs from the sweets it's used to make.
What liquorice root actually is
Liquorice root is the dried root of the Glycyrrhiza glabra plant — the raw material behind every liquorice sweet on this site. Nothing is added to it. The sticks are simply cut, dried lengths of woody root, pale yellow inside and fibrous, sold exactly as they've been chewed for centuries.
Its sweetness comes from glycyrrhizin, a compound naturally present in the root that is many times sweeter than sugar but tastes quite different — rounder, slightly earthy, with a long finish. Boil the root down and you get the extract that becomes soft-eating liquorice; grind it and you get the powder bakers use.
How to chew a liquorice root stick
- Pick a stick and give the end a good chew to fray the fibres — it will soften into a brush-like tip.
- Suck and chew that end rather than trying to bite through the wood. The flavour is released slowly.
- When the end stops tasting of much, snip or bite it off and start on fresh root underneath.
- Don't swallow the fibres — the root is chewed, not eaten. One stick lasts a surprisingly long time.
Keep the sticks somewhere dry. They don't need refrigerating and will keep for months in a sealed bag or jar.
What it tastes like
Much gentler than people expect. Sweets concentrate liquorice into something bold; the raw root is mellow, woody and sweet, closer to fennel or anise than to a bag of Allsorts. If you find black liquorice sweets too strong, the root often lands better. If you love strong liquorice, treat it as a slow, chewable version rather than a hit.
How much is sensible
Liquorice root is a food, not a supplement, and we don't make health claims about it. Like liquorice in every form, it's best enjoyed in moderation rather than in large quantities day after day. If you're pregnant, taking medication or managing blood pressure, check with your GP or pharmacist before making it a habit — standard advice for anything containing glycyrrhizin.
Where to buy liquorice root in the UK
We stock natural dried liquorice root sticks for chewing, plus liquorice root powder and liquorice syrup in our Cookery range for baking and drinks.
Orders are hand-packed in Worcestershire, UK delivery is free over £25, and Buy 5, Get 6 applies across the whole shop.
Start with a bundle of sticks — they last far longer than a bag of sweets.
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