Wild Liquorice, Chinese licorice

Glycyrrhiza echinata

Physical Characteristics

Glycyrrhiza echinata is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in flower from June to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. It can fix Nitrogen. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

S. Europe.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root Edible Uses: Sweetener Tea Root - raw or cooked. Very fibrous, it is often boiled to extract the sugars and is a source of Russian and German liquorice[183]. It is used as a confection, a sweetener and medicinally[2, 105, 177]. A delicious sweet flavour[K]. The dried root is often used for chewing, it is especially useful for teething children and as a tooth cleaner[K]. The root contains glycyrrhizin, a substance that is 50 times sweeter than sugar. A tea made from the roots is an excellent thirst quencher.

Medicinal Uses

Alterative Expectorant Tonic The root is alterative, expectorant and tonic. It is usually mixed with other herbs, partly at least to improve their taste[178].

Known Hazards

None known