where does liquorice come from

Liquorice comes from the root of the liquorice plant, Glycyrrhiza glabra, which is a perennial herbaceous legume native to West Asia, North Africa, and Southern Europe. The plant grows in Mediterranean and subtropical regions such as Greece, Italy, Spain, and parts of Asia. The sweetness of liquorice root comes from a compound called glycyrrhizin, which is much sweeter than sugar. Historically, liquorice has been used both as a sweetener and for medicinal purposes for thousands of years, with records indicating it was consumed by ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. It spread through the Middle East into Europe, where it was cultivated and used in various forms, including the liquorice candies known today, originating notably from places like England and Italy.