Today, April 12th, is National Licorice Day. Most people like Twizzlers or Red Vines, but when I talk of licorice, I speak of stuff made from roots of the Licorice plant…Black licorice. This type of licorice was much more popular with ‘the Greatest Generation’ and the ‘Baby Boomers” than with anyone today. Black licorice was in cough medicines and lozenges, gums, tooth paste, and mouth fresheners for smokers. Seems more people now are on the ‘hate’ side of the fence with black licorice. When my mom would take us to the ice cream store at Belvidere Mall in Waukegan, I would get black licorice ice cream-to the moans of my brother and sister. I would ask my mom to buy a bag of black-only jelly beans, every Easter. She was Swedish through and through, and had no problem with my likes (she even snacked on my jelly beans!) I have several examples of black Licorice in my library.
The first pamphlet I have is “What is Licorice” by the National licorice Company. It has no date but I believe to be circa 1940, perhaps even earlier. This does a good job of explaining how the plant is harvested for the roots, long skinny ones, and has been around for thousands of years. Turkey, Russia, and Russia produce much of the imports to America. There are many pictures showing the collection, and preparedness for travel around the world.
There is a quote from Dr. George S. Keith in the pamphlet (and in his book ‘Fads of an Old Physician’ which I now have to search out and order!) “For relieving the symptoms caused by acrid matters in the stomach I know nothing equal to it. It certainly relieves, often in a remarkable way, the innumerable pains and discomforts, mental and bodily, which arise from irritation of the gastric nerves, as local pain of the stomach or bowels, headache, sleeplessness, lowness of spirits, or irritability and general misery.”
Inside this pamphlet was an article (four page) that was reprinted from original Confectioners Journal, July 1928. It goes through the history and steps of how the extract is taken from the roots. It is an interesting bonus when I bought the pamphlet.
I also have “Peas, Beans, and Licorice” by Olive L. Earle, 1971. This is an uncommon children’s book that talks about all types of legumes. Turns out that licorice is a legume. Also found that there is a wild licorice plant that grows in the United States. I now want to see if I can find this and grow it in my garden. There is a problem that they may spread. Seems that they are considered noxious in Nevada.
Adding to my licorice library are several candy tins that I have collected. The Y&S Licorice Wafers were made by the same company that printed the Pamphlet “What is Licorice?” I will finish my musings on licorice with the words of an old song about licorice…
“Once upon a time there was an engineer,
Choo-Choo Charlie was his name we hear.
He had an engine and it sure was fun,
He used Good & Plenty candy, to make his train run.
Charlie says, ‘Love my Good & Plenty!’
Charlie says, ‘Really rings the bell!’
Charlie says, ‘Love my Good & Plenty!’
Don’t know any other candy, that I love so well!’”
Yum! Thanks for indulging me on this sweet story of licorice.
Librarytomes 