The Liquorice Guide
Liquorice in the UK
Everything you ever wanted to know about Britain's most loved (and most divisive) sweet — from Pontefract's fields to Nordic salmiak.
What is liquorice?
Liquorice is made from the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra, a perennial legume native to southern Europe, the Middle East and parts of Asia. The root contains glycyrrhizin — a natural compound around 50 times sweeter than sugar — which is what gives liquorice its distinctive depth and that lingering, slightly bittersweet finish.
To make the soft eating liquorice most Brits know and love, the dried root is boiled to extract a thick black syrup, then blended with flour, molasses, sugar and natural flavourings before being shaped, cured and packed. The result: that unmistakable glossy black sweet that's been a British staple for over four hundred years.
A short history of British liquorice
Liquorice root first arrived in England in the 11th century, brought back by Crusaders returning from the Middle East. By the 16th century, Dominican monks in Pontefract, Yorkshire were cultivating it commercially — the town's deep, sandy soil proved ideal for growing the long-rooted plant.
By the Victorian era, Pontefract was the undisputed centre of British liquorice production. Local makers like Wilkinson's and Dunhill's turned the root into stamped discs — the now-iconic Pontefract Cake — and the town's name became synonymous with liquorice across the country.
The liquorice fields are long gone (the last commercial crop was harvested in 1968), but the craft hasn't died — it's evolved. Today, makers like Black Liquorice Company continue the tradition from our base in Evesham, Worcestershire, hand-packing British classics alongside the best Nordic and European liquorice we can source.
The main types of liquorice sweets
Classic soft eating liquorice
The British staple — soft, chewy, dark and richly sweet. Think Pontefract Cakes, liquorice torpedoes, twists and pipes. Shop classic liquorice →
Salty & Nordic liquorice
Made with ammonium chloride for a sharp, savoury edge. Wildly popular across Finland, Denmark, Iceland and the Netherlands. Shop salty liquorice →
Fruity & red liquorice
Liquorice combined with fruit flavours — raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrant and more. Softer, sweeter, and a great gateway for new converts. Shop fruity liquorice →
Liquorice & chocolate
Raw liquorice paired with rich dark chocolate — a Scandinavian invention that has rapidly become a British favourite. Shop liquorice chocolate →
Liquorice allsorts & weird & wonderful
The category that gave us Bertie Bassett. Layered sweets, coconut rolls, jellies and the more unusual liquorice creations from around the world. Shop weird & wonderful →
Nordic liquorice & salmiak
Walk into any supermarket in Helsinki, Reykjavik or Copenhagen and you'll find an entire aisle dedicated to salmiak — salted liquorice flavoured with ammonium chloride. To the uninitiated it's a shock; to enthusiasts it's the purest form of the sweet.
We import some of the very best Nordic liquorice into the UK — including Finnish classics, Icelandic specialities and Danish-style soft salt liquorice. Browse the Nordic range.
Pontefract Cakes
Small, round, stamped with a castle motif — Pontefract Cakes are perhaps the single most iconic British liquorice sweet. Originally pressed by hand using carved wooden stamps, they were made from the liquorice root grown in the fields around Pontefract castle. They remain one of our most-loved lines and feature in many of our heritage gift boxes.
How to buy great liquorice
- Check the liquorice content. Cheap supermarket liquorice often uses minimal liquorice extract. Look for products that lead with the real thing.
- Soft vs hard. Soft eating liquorice is the British standard. Hard liquorice (often Nordic) is denser and chewier with a more intense flavour.
- Sweet, salty or fruity? New to liquorice? Start with fruity or classic soft eating. Confirmed lover? Go straight for Nordic salmiak.
- Buy from a specialist. A focused liquorice shop will always carry better range, fresher stock and proper imports.
Ready to explore? Shop all liquorice or jump straight to our best sellers.
Liquorice gifts & hampers
Liquorice makes a beautifully thoughtful gift — particularly for the liquorice obsessive in your life who's notoriously hard to buy for. Our gift collection ranges from compact tasting hampers to full heritage boxes, each hand-packed at our Worcestershire workshop.
Read more from the blog
Deeper dives on individual liquorice topics — history, buying advice, gifting and cooking.
- History of Pontefract Cakes: From 16th-Century Yorkshire to Today
How Dominican monks, Pontefract's sandy soil and a small castle-stamped disc turned a Yorkshire town into the home of British liquorice.
- Sweet vs Salty Liquorice: What's the Difference?
Classic British soft liquorice vs Nordic-style salmiak — flavour, ingredients, texture and how to pick between them.
- What is Nordic Salted Liquorice?
Salmiak explained — the salted Nordic liquorice tradition and the imports we stock for UK customers curious to try it.
- Liquorice Gift Guide
Heritage boxes, gift jars and tasting hampers — how to choose a liquorice gift for every kind of liquorice lover.
- Cooking with Liquorice
How our Cookery liquorice range — powders, extracts and syrups — turns up in bakes, sauces and drinks.
Frequently asked questions
What is liquorice made from?
Liquorice is made from the root of the Glycyrrhiza glabra plant, native to southern Europe and Asia. The root is harvested, dried and boiled to extract a rich, sweet syrup that's then combined with flour, molasses and natural flavourings to create the soft eating liquorice we know today.
What's the difference between salty and sweet liquorice?
Sweet liquorice is the classic British style — soft, dark and made with sugar and molasses. Salty liquorice (known as salmiak in Scandinavia) contains ammonium chloride, giving it a sharp, savoury kick that's hugely popular across Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands and Iceland.
Is liquorice good for you?
Liquorice root has been used for centuries in traditional remedies for sore throats and digestion. Like all confectionery it's best enjoyed in moderation — particularly for those with high blood pressure, as glycyrrhizin (the natural sweet compound in liquorice root) can affect blood pressure in large quantities.
What are Pontefract Cakes?
Pontefract Cakes are small, round liquorice discs stamped with a castle motif, originally made in Pontefract, Yorkshire — once the centre of British liquorice growing. They're one of the most iconic British liquorice sweets and remain a firm favourite today.
Where can I buy quality liquorice in the UK?
Black Liquorice Company stocks over 40 varieties of British and Nordic liquorice — from classic soft eating liquorice and Pontefract Cakes to authentic Finnish salmiak and Cotswold-made specialities. We ship across the UK with free delivery on orders over £25.
Do you deliver liquorice across the UK?
Yes — we deliver everywhere in the United Kingdom from our base in Evesham, Worcestershire. Standard UK delivery is £3.95 and free on all orders over £25. Orders are usually dispatched within 48 hours of being placed.
What is salmiak liquorice?
Salmiak is salted liquorice flavoured with ammonium chloride. It's a Scandinavian and Nordic speciality with a bold, salty-savoury taste that liquorice lovers adore. Finland, Iceland, Denmark and the Netherlands all have their own beloved salmiak traditions.
Does liquorice make a good gift?
Absolutely — liquorice gift boxes, heritage hampers and tasting selections make beautifully thoughtful presents for any liquorice lover. We hand-pack every gift box at our Worcestershire premises with a curated mix of British classics and Nordic specialities.
Ready to taste it for yourself? Browse over 40 varieties of British and Nordic liquorice — Buy 5, Get 6 free. Free UK delivery on orders over £25.
Shop All Liquorice