Tomorrow my niece and her two children will be visiting us. So I thought to go and buy some candy for the kids, but I didn’t want to get the standard super sweet sugar rich stuff. So I made a little trip to Enschede to see if I could find something nice for them.
And I found something from my own youth… “zoethout”. It has been ages ago that I have seen this for the last time, which doesn’t mean it was not available. I just didn’t see it.
Maybe I should explain what “zoethout” actually is. “Zoethout” are small pieces of the root from the Lycyrrhiza Glabra plant. The plant contains a sweetener that some 30 to 50 times as strong as sugar, but is not harmful for the teeth. You really have to chew really on it to get the sweet fluid extracted from the root, which seems to be good for your teeth.
When I was a young girl I was crazy about “zoethout”. We had it often at home, so I could often be found chewing on a piece of it. I can remember that my father also used it a lot when he stopped smoking (and he was successful at that).
Talking about smoking, liquorice was in the past used for flavouring cigarettes, moist snuff, chewing tobacco, and pipe tobacco.
It is also used in many kinds of candy. And over here in The Netherlands in our famous (loved and hated) “drop”.
Well, I am curious what the kids of my niece will think of this “zoethout”. I have to be honest, I tried it this morning and it seems that my taste has changed since I was a young girl: It is not terrible, but tasteful is something else. And in case the kids don’t like it either, I have some very nice chocolate for them *smile*
Oh nice, when I was young there also always “zoethout” around and just as you I loved it.
Can you keep a piece for me? I would like to try if I still like it or not.
I think everyone of our generation knows “zoethout” and like you, I loved it. Makes me also wondering if I still like it 🙂
Miranda, if possible, could you safe also a piece for me. I really would like it try it as well. I like “drop” as you know, so maybe I will like this as well
I have tasted this by now (thank you for saving some Miranda),
I must say that I kinda like it. It reminds me of my beloved wiebertjes!
I also grew up with this stuff. The Dutch shop in Sydney still had it the last time I was there. I bought some but it seemed awfully hard and dry. Can anyone remember if we used to soak it first? It occurred to me after I had thrown it out.
Christel