Licorice is a sweet root vegetable that is commonly used as a flavoring agent in food and beverages. It has a distinctive, slightly bitter taste and is often used to add depth and complexity to various dishes. The licorice plant is native to the Mediterranean region but is now widely cultivated in other parts of the world, including China and Russia. Licorice extracts are also commonly used in traditional medicine for their soothing properties and have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.