Licorice is a chewy, distinctively flavored candy, usually black or dark red, with a sweet taste that some people absolutely love and others can't stand. The flavor comes from the root of the licorice plant, which grows in parts of Europe and Asia. Real licorice has a complex, slightly bitter sweetness that's completely different from chocolate or fruit flavors.

The candy comes in various forms: long twisty ropes called licorice whips, little round pieces, or those iconic red twists (though red licorice usually doesn't contain actual licorice flavoring). Some licorice is soft and chewy, while some varieties are firmer and take longer to eat.

Licorice root has been used for thousands of years in candy, traditional medicine, and as a sweetener. Ancient Egyptians drank licorice root tea, and it was found in King Tut's tomb. Today, licorice flavoring appears in some teas, medicines, and even certain root beers.

When someone describes a taste as having notes of licorice, they mean it has that distinctive, hard-to-describe flavor that makes licorice so polarizing. You either get it or you don't.