Liquorice was used in many areas of the ancient world, including the Brahmans of India, the Hindus, Greeks, Romans, Babylonians and Chinese. Licorice is an herb that is native to the Mediterranean, southern and central Russia, and Asia Minor to Iran. It has a characteristic sweet taste due to a sweetener, glycyrrhizin. This substance is 50 times sweeter than sugar. Licorice root powder, also known as sweet root powder, is used mostly as a sweetener in candies and beverages. .
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