Liquorice Society of Bamberg

Salmiak (ammonium chloride) is a rock salt. It is industrially produced for the food industry, a white sour-salty tasting fine granulate. A maximum of 7.99 percent salt is permitted in the recipe, this must be labelled as "Extra strong adult liquorice - not children's liquorice".In the 15th century, sweetwood (Licorice[[ root]]s) 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 LiquoriceLiquorice is a natural plant product of the liquorice root. Its black colour comes from the vegetable carbon dissolved in the cooking process. Pure liquorice tastes sweet-tart, bitter. The consistency is hard as candy. - far beyond the city's borders. In addition to honey, sweetwood enriched the FlavourThe addition of flavourings enhances the smell and|or taste of a foodstuff; they are subject to labelling under the Foodstuffs Ordinance. A natural flavouring may only be described as such if it consists of 95 percent natural substance. 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.