Licorice International is the largest specialty retailer of imported licorice in the country, and it’s been headquartered in Lincoln since 2002. The Haymarket shop at 803 Q Street carries nearly 160 types of licorice from 14 countries: Dutch wine gums, salty Finnish drops, Australian twists, Kookaburra from Australia, Pontefract cakes from England. The staff hand out free samples like it’s their job, and one taste of the good stuff — the real European black licorice — tends to convert skeptics.
Local color: the company founded National Licorice Day (April 12, listed in Chase’s Calendar of Events). It’s a Food Network Magazine top-50 candy store. And it sits in the same building as From Nebraska Gift Shop, so you can knock out both in one trip.
Best sellers run the gamut from Haribo black wheels to Gimbal’s sugar-free chews. Whether you’re a black-licorice loyalist or a red-twist skeptic, leave room in the bag.