Licorice or Liquorice
Licorice or Liquorice is the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra from which a somewhat sweet flavor can be extracted. The Licorice plant is a legume that is native to southern Europe and parts of Asia, in addition most licorice is used as a flavoring agent for tobacco.
Much of the sweetness in licorice comes from glycyrrhizin, which has a sweet taste, 30–50 times the sweetness of sugar, moreover the sweetness is very different from sugar, being less instant, tart, and lasting longer.
Using licorice in tobacco
Much liquorice production goes toward flavouring, sweetening and conditioning tobacco products. Liquorice adds a mellow, sweet woody flavour and enhances the taste of tobacco. The burning liquorice also generates some toxins found in the smoke. Also the glycyrrhizin expands the airways, which allows users to inhale more smoke.
Licorice provides tobacco products with a natural sweetness and a distinctive flavor. It blends readily with the natural and imitation flavoring components employed in the tobacco industry. It represses harshness and is not detectable as liquorice by the consumer. Tobacco flavorings such as Licorice also make it easier to inhale the smoke by creating bronchodilators, which open up the lungs. Chewing tobacco requires substantially higher levels of Licorice extract as emphasis on the sweet flavor appears highly desirable.