Sweet Roots and Ancient Wisdom: Celebrating National Licorice Day

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This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast:

Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode.

April 12th, every year

Today, dear garden enthusiasts and confectionery connoisseurs, we celebrate National Licorice Day.

Let us delve into the rich history and surprising botanical heritage of this sweet and storied plant.

The very name of licorice whispers its secret sweetness.

Its botanical moniker means "sweet root," while in Dutch, it's known as "zoethout" (pronounced "Zoot-Howt"), translating to "sweet wood."

Indeed, the essence of licorice - a flavor 50 times sweeter than sugar - lies hidden within its elongated roots and rhizomes.

Can you imagine, dear readers, the delight of children in days past, chewing on raw licorice root?

They would suck out the ambrosial sugars before spitting out the remaining pulp - nature's own candy, wrapped in bark and soil.

But let us not be fooled by its sweetness - the licorice plant is no delicate flower. It stands proud as a perennial shrub, claiming kinship with the sturdy legume or pea family. Do take care not to confuse it with its distant cousin, the annual trailing dusky licorice plant, often found gracing our container gardens.

The true licorice plant holds secrets beyond mere sweetness. Its glycyrrhetinic acid bestows the remarkable ability to help the body retain salt and water.

Picture, if you will, armies of old, supplying their soldiers and steeds with licorice when water ran scarce. A plant that could stave off thirst - truly a botanical marvel!

But the wonders of licorice do not end there.

Throughout history, it has served as nature's own medicine cabinet.

The great Hippocrates himself recognized its power to soothe coughs. And let us not forget Napoleon, who turned to licorice to calm his turbulent stomach.

As we tend to our gardens this spring, perhaps we might consider adding this remarkable plant to our plots.

While it may not produce the showy blooms of a rose or the aromatic leaves of herbs, the licorice plant offers a connection to ancient wisdom and natural remedies.

So today, whether you're savoring a piece of licorice candy or sipping a soothing licorice tea, take a moment to appreciate this remarkable plant.

From its sweet roots to its medicinal properties, licorice truly embodies the wondrous complexity of the botanical world.

And who knows?

Perhaps the next time you're faced with a pesky cough or an upset stomach, you might find yourself reaching not for modern medicines, but for the ancient remedy growing quietly in your garden.

Licorice Root Sticks
Licorice Root Sticks

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