licorice

" Licorice, or alternately liquorice, is derived from the sweet root of various species of Glycyrrhiza. Today licorice is used in the treatment of sore throats, coughs and bronchial catarrh, gastric and duodenal ulcers, allergic reactions, rheumatism, arthritis and tuberculosis. It is one of the most important Chinese medicinal herbs, occurring in two-thirds of Chinese therapeutic formulas. Licorice root is marketed in two main forms: peeled or unpeeled dried roots, or chipped and shredded root. The roots are dried either by slow air drying or in low temperature ovens. There is considerable international trade in licorice. World production averages 30,000 – 40, 000 tons per annum. Both the UK and USA import 16,000-17,000 t annually in various forms, and Japan imports about 6,000 t of roots and 1,400 t of extract."