UK - The Licorice Fields at Pontefract (& a brief history of licorice in the kingdom)

[wfgodot]

The perfect Sunday newspaper article: nothing essential but still an interesting read.

Liquorice fields to return to the UK after a 100-year absence (Sunday Mail)

Liquorice is to be produced commercially in Britain again for the first time in more than 100 years. Planting is to start this week in Pontefract, the West Yorkshire town that was once the liquorice centre of the UK.

Farmer Robert Copley, 42, hopes to bring back the kind of liquorice sticks once commonly found in sweetshops.

He believes he will be able to cut hundreds of six-inch chewing sticks from each plant, sell them for £1 each and establish a profitable new sideline at his 120-acre Ravensknowle Farm.
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Liquorice was once so important to the town, the sprawling fields inspired Sir John Betjeman to write a love poem, The Licorice Fields at Pontefract.
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much more, with pictures, at the link above

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I love me some Bassett Licorice Allsorts

 

[FrayedKnot]

I love me some Bassett Licorice Allsorts

Lol! I do, too! I always get a tin of them for my dad and then help him eat them!!!

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Lol! I do, too! I always get a tin of them for my dad and then help him eat them!!!

My dad always bought them, and now when I get them, I think about him.