The Story of Licorice Root

At By Pryter, we believe nature provides some of the most remarkable flavors in the world — and few botanicals prove the point as gracefully as licorice root. Long before anyone thought to make confectionery from it, the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra was simply enjoyed as it was: cut, chewed, shared. Its name comes from the Greek for “sweet root”, and that is exactly what it is — a plant whose sweetness grows quietly underground, waiting to be discovered.

The plant itself is modest. Above the soil it is an unassuming member of the pea family, at home across warm, sunlit landscapes. The treasure is below: long, fibrous roots with a pale golden interior and a taste unlike anything else in nature — naturally sweet, gently herbal, and unmistakably its own.

Centuries of appreciation

Licorice root has been appreciated for centuries, and its story crosses more cultures than almost any other botanical. It appears in the records of ancient trade routes, in the traditions of herbalists and apothecaries, and eventually in the confectionery kitchens where its extract — slowly simmered, pressed, and reduced — became the basis of a beloved family of sweets. Wherever it traveled, people noticed the same two things: a distinctive taste, and a heritage worth keeping.

That heritage matters to us. When a flavor has been carried carefully from generation to generation, it deserves to be handled with the same care today. We see ourselves not as inventors of licorice but as its newest custodians — one more chapter in a very long story.

And it is a story with room in it. Part of what makes the root so remarkable is how many tables it has belonged to — different cultures, different centuries, the same quiet appreciation. Few ingredients can claim a welcome that wide, or a history that patient.

From root to confection

Turning the root into confectionery is patient work. The roots are harvested, cleaned, and simmered until their character passes into the liquor; the liquor is reduced slowly until it becomes a rich, glossy extract; and the extract is folded into simple, honest ingredients with gentle heat and time. Nothing about the process rewards hurry — which suits us well, because nothing about our philosophy does either. Pure ingredients. Honest craftsmanship. Timeless enjoyment.

A botanical for today

So why reintroduce licorice now? Because we believe this remarkable botanical deserves a modern audience. Our vision at By Pryter is to bring licorice root back through a contemporary collection — one rooted in sustainable agricultural principles and farm-to-table traditions, made with natural ingredients and a deep respect for where they come from. The Classic Licorice honors the root in its most timeless expression; the Botanical Licorice pairs it with selected herbs inspired by traditional wellness ingredients.

The root has waited centuries. We think its next chapter — thoughtfully crafted, responsibly sourced, and naturally sweet — may be its finest yet.