LIQUORICE LIQUEUR: RECIPE AND TRADITION

by Matteo Marcon July 24, 2022

Licorice is a plant widely used in herbal art and known to the general public for its culinary use, especially with regards to liqueurs.

Description:

The botanical name is Glycyrrizha glabra which means " sweet smooth root ". Its ethnobotanical use dates back to very ancient times and we have evidence of it in the writings of Hippocrates , Theophrastus, Galen, Mattioli, Saint Hildegard just to name a few of the very important authors who used it in their practice. Another interesting element regarding licorice is the transversality of its use, spread from East to West. In fact, there are documents that testify to its use also in China and in Ayurvedic medicine .

Property:

The properties attributed by tradition to licorice are many, including the most The known ones are: digestive disorders, gastritis, bronchitis, viral infections, allergies, asthma. Modern research has been able to describe an important use of licorice in peptic ulcers due to its healing and anti-inflammatory properties.

However, be careful if you suffer from hypertension or renal failure: it is better to use licorice sporadically due to its glycyrrhizin content, a triterpene saponin which can induce potassium loss and consequent increase in blood pressure. Licorice should be avoided in people taking hypotensive drugs, corticosteroids and diuretics.

However, with this article we also want to give you a simple and precious recipe for preparing an excellent liquorice liqueur with a pleasant and intense taste at home. Let's get to the stove!

Ingredients :

100 g of liquorice juice (our Amarelli, a historic Calabrian company)
400/500 g of cane sugar
1.5 l of natural mineral water
0.5 l of 95% good taste alcohol

Preparation :

Heat the water in a pan, bringing it to the boil.
Pour in the licorice and melt it over low heat with the help of a whisk. Once the liquorice has dissolved well, add the sugar until completely dissolved.
Turn off the heat and wait for the liquid to return to room temperature. Then add the alcohol, mix and bottle!

This liqueur can be consumed from the same day of preparation, however we recommend letting it rest for at least a month to enhance its flavour. Serve cold.

Health!

DISCLAIMER : the information contained in this blog is informative in nature and does not replace the advice of a doctor. If in any doubt, consult your doctor.