Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra). . Liquorice is a herbaceous perennial, losing its leaves in winter. It is grown for its roots which can grow to a depth of 6 feet and are harvested in the autumn every 4 to 6 years. When dried the roots are cut up into short sticks like these. Roman soldiers used to chew these when marching to relieve thirst., Liquorice requires deep well drained soil and is suited to the deep loamy soil of Pontefract It was brought here by monks from Spain (hence the local name for liquorice: 'Spanish'). It has probably been grown in Friarwood Valley since the time of St Richard's Friary (1256-1538). The Black Dominican Friars used the juice extracted from the root as a medicine, for chest and stomach complaints. Maps from the 1600s to the last century show liquorice plantations here., Liquorice grows wild in southern Europe and has been a remedy for illness since 370 BC. Hippocrates called it sweet root and used it to treat asthma. The juice has been used to treat skin ulcers, eczema, sore throats, chest and stomach problems. In modern times it has been used to treat stomach ulcers. Too much liquorice can raise blood pressure and cause fluid retention., Pontefract's association with liquorice is well known in Japan and in 1985 a pharmaceutical firm visited here and gave us a bench and cherry tree to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the dropping of the atom bombs., Sir George Saville in 1614 was the first to stamp out small discs of liquorice for use as a Medicine. In 1760 George Dunhill added sugar to make Pontefract cakes. There were 17 factories in Pontefract stamping 25,000 sweets by hand a day. There are still two factories in Pontefract making liquorice sweets today, Haribo which was Dunhill and Valeo which was Wilkinsons. The production of the cakes is now mechanised and the liquorice is grown mainly in Turkey, Italy and Spain where it only takes two years to mature due to the warmer climate. Liquorice was last grown commercially in Pontefract in the 1970's.