Happy National Licorice Day! #Review

**Full Disclosure: I received a box full of Red Vines as compensation for this post.  I did not receive monetary compensation for this post.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

I am a pretty big licorice fan … but it has to be GOOD licorice!  My family saves their licorice-flavored candies for me, however, most of it doesn’t make my cut and it gets tossed.  Red Vines are on my GOOD list!

Because today is National Licorice Day, I’ve got LOTS of great information on Red Vines and some super cool licorice facts!!

Check it out:

 Red Vines

Deeply rooted in the traditions of the American West, the Red Vines brand is premium-quality licorice and continues its old-world licorice making practices starting with the same tried-and-true ingredients from its original recipe!

• Red Vines candy is the number one non-chocolate confection in the West. 
• Always fat-free, no preservatives and very low-sodium.
• Red Vines brand licorice is kosher and vegan.
• Available in Original Red, Black Licorice, Grape, Strawberry or Cherry flavors.

Natural Vines

Just in time for National Licorice Day, Natural Vines is now available in a three ounce grab-and-go size!  American Licorice Company’s nearly 100 years of candy-making expertise is showcased in a unique cooking process that produces the rich taste and distinctive chewy texture of Natural Vines.  They come in black licorice and strawberry flavors. 

• Natural Vines brand licorice is an all-natural, tasty indulgence that you can feel good about.
• It is premium gourmet licorice.
• Bite size tasty treats without guilt or mess.
• All-natural ingredients and made in a nut-free facility.
• Kosher, cholesterol-free, low-fat, low-sodium and vegan.

Licorice Facts:

• Red Vines are made with sweetened, flavored and baked wheat (it’s basically unleavened bread!).  They should be stored in an air-tight container after opening.  Red Vines can be heated for 5-7 seconds in the microwave, if desired.
• Licorice root was found in great quantities in King Tut’s tomb, along with his gold, jewelry and art treasures.
• Alexander the Great’s physician told the troops to carry and chew licorice root in order to quench their thirst when water was scarce and to give them stamina and endurance during their long marches.  He also said it was good for stomach and throat troubles, as well as liver and kidney disorders.
• For centuries, herbalists have use licorice root for arthritis, asthma, canker sores, colds & flu, cough, heartburn, menopause, pre-menstrual syndrome, prostate enlargement, yeast infections and so much more.
• More than 60 million pounds of Red Vines are made each year.  That is more than 400,000 miles of licorice — enough to wrap around the Earth more than 16 times!!
• In 2011, U.S. licorice sales topped $359 million, a 6.56 percent increase from the year before.  It is part of the non-chocolate candy market, which had total sales of $6.87 billion.
• Black licorice is 50 times sweeter than sugar, and derives its botanical name from the Greek words meaning “sweet root.”
• American Licorice Company has been producing in the San Francisco Bay Area for 33 years, and its Union City, Calif., factory values process before automation: The old press that delivers the dough to the first floor is still there, the second floor cook room has large kettles that fill the dough into the old large spiral ovens before being checked for quality and packaged. It also has production facilities in La Porte, Ind.

I had NO CLUE that licorice had such an interesting background.  I’d love to visit the American Licorice Company factory in Union City, CA!  It would be amazing, I am sure!

What I Thought: 

• Red Vines Original are my absolute favorite!  They have great flavor and I don’t want to stop eating them! 😉
• My kids enjoyed the Grape Red Vines.
• No one really wanted to eat the Black Vines.  I tasted them, and they are ok.  But I think black licorice is a love it or leave it thing.
• The candy in each package of Red Vines was soft and perfectly chewy.

If you haven’t tried Red Vines, I think it’s definitely a candy worth trying!

What was your favorite Licorice Fact?!

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