licorice

This term refers to both the botanical plant and the resulting candy. When referring to the candy, it is typically treated as a mass noun, describing the substance rather than individual pieces. To specify a single unit, speakers use partitive constructions such as a piece of licorice or a strand of licorice.

In North American English, the spelling is consistently licorice, whereas British English typically uses liquorice. The word carries a strong sensory association with a distinct, pungent sweetness that is polarizing, often described as medicinal or anise-like.