Black Licorice Caramels: the best anise caramel recipe - Kitchen Cents (2024)

FAQs

Is anise the same as black licorice? ›

The funny thing is, they're very different. Licorice and anise have a similar taste and fragrance, but they have their own identities beyond that. Licorice is a root (from the licorice plant), and anise is a fruit (from the anise herb plant). Anise is not related to licorice at all.

Anise and Star Anise

In the United States, most of the licorice made domestically is flavored with anise rather than licorice extract. A note for the non-botanists, anise and star anise are two different plants, and while their licorice flavor is similar, anise is much stronger than its eastern counterpart.

At a Glance. Fennel is a vegetable that is either loved or hated. The lovers out there will appreciate its crunchy, celery-like texture and its unique licorice-y, anise-y flavor.

Chop half of the Red Vines Black Licorice (about 10 pieces) into 1-inch chunks and put them in a saucepan with ½ cup of water. Turn heat to low. As the candy melts, stir frequently to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan.

Some theorize that glycyrrhiza glabra (an evil villain name if I ever saw one), the compound that gives fennel, black licorice, and anise their characteristically horrifying taste, is chemically similar to that of artificial sweeteners.

Traditional black licorice flavor comes from a chemical called glycyrrhizin, which is 50 times sweeter than cane sugar. "It's quite potent-smelling," Newton-Cheh said. And it can do much more than add flavor. Eaten in large amounts, black licorice can lower the body's potassium levels – significantly.

Yes, particularly if you're over 40 and have a history of heart disease or high blood pressure, or both. Eating more than 57g (2 ounces) of black liquorice a day for at least 2 weeks could lead to potentially serious health problems, such as an increase in blood pressure and an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia).

Two recent meta-analyses of 18 and 26 studies investigating the correlation between licorice intake and blood pressure revealed statistically significant increases both in systolic (5.45 mmHg) and in diastolic blood pressure (3.19/1.74 mmHg).

People who regularly take large amounts of licorice, more than 20 g/day, may raise blood levels of the hormone aldosterone, which can cause serious side effects, including headache, high blood pressure, and heart problems.

The most commonly known licorice-tasting drinks are Ouzo, Sambuca, Pastis, Pernod and Absinthe. Others include Arak, Anisette/Anis, Raki, Aguardiente and Xtabentun.

What flavor goes well with black licorice? ›

While, come dessert time, liquorice is bold enough to take centre stage against a neutral backdrop like ice cream and panna cotta. Conversely, liquorice can also pair up well with other big flavours like mint, ginger, rhubarb and raspberries.

Editor: Brie, fennel is a bulbous vegetable with a tall, wispy, fronded top that looks rather like dill. The fronds can be used in salads, but the main attraction of fennel is the bulb itself. It's very firm and crunchy, and it tastes a bit like licorice and anise.

It contains glycyrrhizic acid, which can cause swelling and high blood pressure and deplete potassium and other electrolytes that may cause a cardiac arrhythmia or arrest. Glycyrrhizic acid can be found in other foods, such as jelly beans and beverages for flavor. What is a safe amount to consume?

Supplement potassium, as indicated. Consider potassium-sparing diuretics, as needed. Treat rhabdomyolysis, if present, with hydration. Monitor for and treat electrolyte-induced dysrhythmias.

Black licorice is a treat that some people like and others don't. The flavor comes from many chemicals, like anethole. Anethole is in anise, fennel, and star anise. Anethole tastes sweet and smells good.

In fact, what's called black licorice in North America is known as sweet licorice in Scandinavia, the Netherlands, and northern Germany to distinguish it from salty licorice. What is licorice made of? To be truly traditional, licorice must contain glycyrrhizin, the compound that makes licorice root taste sweet.

What Does Star Anise Look and Taste Like? Star anise is a distinctive looking spice that resembles a small rust-colored star. It usually has between 6 to 8 points, each point containing a small seed that is the flavor epicenter. The spice gives a sweet, licorice-y flavor to dishes similar to clove and aniseed.

Anise has a similar taste to licorice, though it is more mild and slightly sweet. Actually licorice is usually made with licorice root and other things like gelatin. Though if you're a king you're own licorice you can use anise, licorice and fennel together to get an interesting flavor.