Liquorice Society of Bamberg

In the 15th century, sweetwood (licorice roots) was cultivated in Bamberg in Franconia and was an important economic sector for the town. Vegetable gardening has been practised in the centre of the cathedral city since the Middle Ages. Even back then, Bamberg's gardeners exported their produce - onion sets, seeds, but above all liquorice - far beyond the city's borders. In addition to honey, sweetwood enriched the flavour of sweet dishes. It was grown on a large scale all around Bamberg, see Zweidler's 1602 city map. Aspiring master gardeners had to be able to dig up a liquorice root undamaged in order to pass the master craftsman's examination.
In the 20th century, other sweeteners, confectionery and cheaper imported sweetwood from Italy became increasingly available, so liquorice cultivation in Bamberg fell into a slumber.

With their typical houses and long, narrow gardens for growing vegetables, marjoram and sweetwood, the gardeners have shaped the townscape. Bamberg has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993.
With the founding of the Bamberg Liquorice Society in 2010, the town is once again remembering its roots and history and growing liquorice again on a small scale. The Mussärol nursery offers a guided tour of its own herb and sweetwood garden.