The main component in black licorice is glycyrrhizin. This sweet compound is found in licorice root. Glycyrrhizin causes potassium levels to temporarily drop if you consume it in high amounts.

Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is an herb, native to southern Europe and parts of Asia, with a long history of traditional medical use. Widespread use over thousands of years in ancient cultures ...

Its characteristic flavour comes from the chemical compound glycyrrhizin, which is much sweeter than table sugar. As tasty as it may be (many people can't stand it though), overconsumption of ...