Licorice Root

I'm currently listening to: "Desert Rose" by Sting (with Cheb Miami)

It's an acquired taste, really. I certainly wouldn't suggest it to everyone. Just the adventureous few who wouldn't mind subjecting themselves to trying something new. As a matter of fact, I had my first experience with licorice root at the fearless age of ten. It was my family's trip to Williamsburg, VA and we were in the historical part of town. The man at the candy shop told me what they were and I bought one, thinking they would be like licorice whips. Not so! Instead, I spent the rest of the afternoon alternately chewing on what looked like a stick and critiquing its taste.

I didn't have any farther experiences with it until just last winter. I saw them at The Natural Way, a health food store near my college that I just enjoy walking through. They looked so forlorn at the top of the dry herbs rack that I just had to take one home with me.

It's just like a twig flavored with- something... sort of sweet... but it takes your tounge and teeth to unlock the taste. You can use it to stir honey into your tea. It's supposed to be good for sore throats, and has never done me wrong before. I highly suggest it. That is, if you think you could handle trying something new. At 1.21 a lb, you can't go too wrong, especially when the stick is just about the size of a pencil.