Liquorice is one of those flavours that divides people completely.
You either seek it out or you actively avoid it, and the people who love it tend to love it seriously. Britain has a long tradition of liquorice sweets, and the range available today covers everything from the soft and chewy to the hard and intensely flavoured. This is the full picture.
The Liquorice Sweets Range Explained
Liquorice torpedoes
Liquorice torpedoes are one of the most popular liquorice sweets in the British pick n mix tradition. Soft, chewy cylinders with a concentrated liquorice flavour that’s strong without being harsh. The texture is what makes them work: soft enough to chew through quickly but with enough density to release the flavour slowly. They’re a reliable pick for anyone who knows what they’re after and a good starting point for anyone trying liquorice in quantity for the first time.
Liquorice cream rock
Liquorice cream rock is a different format entirely. Hard-boiled rock with a cream filling and liquorice flavour running through it. The contrast between the hard exterior and the softer centre is part of the appeal, and the cream element softens the liquorice flavour slightly compared to a pure liquorice sweet. It’s a good option for people who like liquorice but find the pure versions a bit much.
Liquorice allsorts
Maynards Liquorice Allsorts are the most famous liquorice sweet in Britain and have been in production since the late 1800s. The mix includes different shapes and formats: some pure liquorice, some coconut-covered, some with fondant layers. The variety means you can pick out your preferred pieces, which is part of why they’ve stayed popular. For the full history of allsorts, the liquorice allsorts guide covers it in detail.
Blackcurrant liquorice
Blackcurrant liquorice brings a fruity sharpness to the liquorice base that changes the character of the sweet significantly. The blackcurrant cuts through the earthiness and adds a tartness that makes the overall flavour more complex. It’s one of the better liquorice variations available and a good option for people who like the base flavour but want something with a bit more going on. A sugar-free version is also available for anyone managing their sugar intake.
Where Liquorice Comes From
The plant
Liquorice flavour comes from the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra, a plant native to southern Europe and parts of Asia. The root contains glycyrrhizin, a compound that’s about 50 times sweeter than sugar and responsible for the distinctive flavour. The UK has a specific connection to liquorice through Pontefract in West Yorkshire, which was one of the main centres of liquorice production in Britain for several centuries.
Pontefract cakes
Pontefract cakes are one of the oldest British liquorice sweets still in production: small, round, flat discs of pure liquorice that have been made in and around Pontefract since at least the 17th century. They’re named after the town and are still a reference point for the British liquorice tradition. Haribo produces a version as part of their UK range.
Liquorice for People Who Aren’t Sure
Starting points for the unconverted
If you’ve avoided liquorice because you tried it once and didn’t like it, the variety in the current range makes it worth revisiting. Liquorice allsorts are one of the gentler entry points because not every piece is pure liquorice. Blackcurrant liquorice is another good starting point because the fruit flavour moderates the intensity. Liquorice cream rock is worth trying if you want a softer version of the flavour.
For committed fans
Liquorice torpedoes are the pick for anyone who wants the full flavour without compromise. They’re consistent, well made and available in bulk quantities. If you go through liquorice at any pace, buying a larger quantity is the sensible approach given how well it keeps.
Buying Liquorice Sweets in Bulk
From £1 with free delivery
All liquorice products start at £1. Free UK delivery applies to orders over £20. Liquorice keeps well in sealed bags, which makes it practical to buy in quantity. For a broader traditional British sweet selection alongside liquorice, the boiled sweets and pick n mix classics ranges are worth browsing alongside this one.
Liquorice has been a part of British confectionery for centuries and the range available today is as broad as it’s ever been. Whether you want the classic torpedo, the allsorts mix or something with a blackcurrant edge, there’s a version worth trying.
Shop Liquorice Sweets
The full liquorice range from £1 per bag.