Licorice while being a delicious and different treat has many uses other than snacking. It is used in many cultures as a culinary additive and even some soft drinks and flavored waters. Though the only widespread use in America beyond candy has been estevia (a type of licorice root extract) which is a sugar substitute, it's 50times sweeter than sucrose and eliminates the nasty side effects found in chemically manipulated sweeteners. I'm told that it doesn't have the licorice flavor but has all of the sweetness as real sugar. Pharmaceutically, real licorice, taken on a regular basis has many clinical uses such as treating hormone imbalances, GI issues, and weight problems. But, as with anything taken in this manner, is not without side effects.
I don't know personally how well it treats the other two, but if your feeling backed up go have a two scoop Licorice Ice Cream treat. You'll feel better soon!
So here is my response from the local licorice buff
The 'really salty ones' that kenny refers to are called double-salted, and they are indeed horribly salty. One of the ladies at Amerion once brought some of those in, but I think I'm the only one who actually likes them. (And even then in major moderation. Doesn't take much of them to feel like you're eating a spoon full of table salt) The double salted are normally either the size of a nickle with the letters 'DZ' on them, or they look like very tiny, thin diamond shapes. (sometimes called 'wybert' and comes in a small blue & white metal tin) you probably wouldn't want either of those. you probably also won't like anything that actually has 'salmiak' as part of their name. I like those, but most of the American websites I've seen sell it tend to have a warning next to them that it's a bit of an aquired taste)I looked at the website for the nut factory just now, and they don't have very much listed. the first one on the list (black kukaburra lictorice) is Australian. I tried them a while ago, and didn't care for those much myself. (They have them at Yoke's too, in the bulk bins) flavor is OK, but the texture is kind of rubbery.The 2nd ones listed (black licorice wheels) do taste good. They're one of the few types of licorice they sell all over the place in Germany. Similar flavor to most Dutch licorice, but the downside is that they're too large to comfortable fit in your mouth at once. You have to unroll them a bit. (It's really a long rolled-up string. They have these are yoke's too. they should feel a bit soft and be bendable. If you can't bend them anymore they're stale and get difficult to bite through.I haven't heard of the 3rd one, (French diamond licorice), but those do say that they are flavored with anise -- that's what they use for most American licorice, as opposed to the more traditional european ones that are flavored with actual licorice root. Personally I don't care for the anise ones at all, although they probably taste more 'familiar' to people used to twizzlers and redvines.the licorise pastels are OK, although they are sugar coated and taste sweeter than plain licorise.The neopolitan licorice are mostly coconut, and tend to be pretty stale at most places that sell them. (they should feel soft, but are often hard as a rock. OK if you like coconut, not much licorice involved.)red licorice wheels: just pretends to be licorice. :-)If they do happen to have others in person: the bad ones that kenny refers to are called double-salted, and they are indeed horribly salty. I think they taste OKish, in moderation, But even then I can only eat a few before you start to overdose on plain tablesalt. Normally these are either the size of a nickle with the letters 'DZ' on them, or they look like very tiny, thin diamond shapes.Other good ones (if you see them) are the ones below. All of them are pretty typical Dutch licorice types, and many manufacturers make their own variations:'boerderijdrop' (sweet, farm-animals & equipment)
coins (sweet, but a bit harder texture):'kokindjes' (soft, sweet, little round drops often with the letter 'k' on them)'katjes' (sweet, small, cat shaped. Good flavor, but with a hard texture, can't easily bite them in half)A lot of the times I also just get some pound boxes of "assorted sweet licorice", "assorted mixed licorice" or "assorted salty licorice" which all contain different mixtures of varying types. I think that 'venco' is probably the largest manufacturer, and pretty much anything they make tastes good. (except possibly the double-salted, and anything that has 'salmiak' in their name)
