The roots of the leguminous plant Glycyrrhiza glabra yield a sweet sap that is one of the sweetest naturally occurring substances. It is 30 to 50 times sweeter than sucrose. The extracted sap in a liquid or solid form is what is commonly known as licorice, a name that comes from Old French licoresse which is, in turn, from the Greek glukurrhiza, meaning "sweet root."

Licorice extract is produced by boiling licorice root and subsequently evaporating most of the water. Licorice extract is traded as a paste, block or spray-dried powder.

The tobacco industry is the main user of licorice extract. Licorice root is used as a sweetener in candies and beverages and the pharmaceutical industry also uses licorice from Glycyrrhiza uralensis.