Panda All Natural Soft Licorice, 7 Oz.

These are genuinely the best and the only black licorice I will buy. Look at all the ingredients on all the other brands and there's just crap in there. These are simple and pure and have a great taste. Super reliable through the years the ingredients and the recipe haven't changed. If you love black licorice this should be your only purchase. Not to mention it's priced well. When you're eating it it's got the perfect amount of sticky, chewy softness! I won't buy any other brand. Black licorice is actually good for you so I sort of make a habit of eating two or three every couple of days. It's a good little treat that I keep in my tea cabinet. It's a nice little surprise every few days.

I'm writing this for my husband, who LOVES black licorice! We can't find it in stores here. He was delighted to find it on Amazon, with quick shipping. Nice and soft, very fresh tasting.

I ordered Panda black licorice from Amazon because this candy has always been one of my favorites, but, for some reason, has become impossible to find in candy stores, supermarkets and specialty food stores in the northeast United States. I discovered black licorice as a kid of about 8 years old while watching a movie about sailors and sailing ships of the 1800s. I saw the captain of one ship reach into his pocket and pull out a large black block of something and bite a piece off. I asked my dad what this was and he said it was licorice and that this was how it was made during the nineteenth century in America. Not long after, I accompanied my dad and mom during a grocery shopping trip. I asked my dad to take me to the corner candy store. He did and once in the store I asked for black licorice. The store owner handed me a small bag of licorice pieces called NIBBS. I started eating the licorice and was fascinated by the taste. From that time onward, I spent a little of my allowance money on NIBBS. Not long after this discovery, my family started vacationing in the southern Berkshire mountains of Massachusetts. In the town where we stayed, there was a large complex of stores where early Americana products were sold - really a place set up for tourists who were looking for something unique and representing things made during the 1700s and 1800s. There were rugs, cloths, wooden toys and furniture, wicker furniture, tools, weather vanes, food - AND CANDY!!! It was here, when I was 8 to 10 years old, that I discovered a second source of black licorice. I bought strings of black licorice, pieces of black licorice and twisted black licorice. The taste was as authentic as the NIBBS! The anise flavor, the chewy consistency and the smell were all there. This was not to slight the early Americana tastes of other candies such as the horhound candy sticks, the sarsparilla candy sticks and more. The old Americana stores eventually disappeared - replaced by a modern supermarket and strip mall. You couldn't get black licorice there. Black licorice disappeared as well. So, I was amazed to find that Amazon sold black licorice! I tried Panda licorice first and was pleasantly surprised that this candy manufacturer had kept the tradition of my favorite candy with plenty of anise and the correct recipe. Eating Panda licorice takes me back to the sweetest discovery I ever made during my early childhood. At first, I ordered one bag. Then I started ordering 2 at a time. Now, I don't have to look any further than Amazon for my favorite candy! I enjoy it after lunch, after dinner and while watching TV with my wife. She tried a piece, but she said it wasn't her "thing." Oh, well. Still, I recommend Panda brand and NIBBS. Try a small package and see what you think.

If you compare this to any other licorice brands, the biggest difference is that the other brands double up on anise oil which is so overpowering smell and taste that it leaves a really bad after taste in your mouth, whereas the Panda ones are more balanced with the licorice extract. I personally much prefer the more balanced taste that doesn't leave a bad after taste, which is why this product is so great! The only problem I had with this product that took out one star, was similar to what other people have said: some of the candies inside had broken apart and mushed a little bit. Good thing that didn't really affect the taste, but it was just slightly annoying to eat.

Best Licorice! Very few ingredients. So good, eat in moderation.

MY DAUGHTER AND I LOVE THESE. SO YUMMY!!! I USE THEM AS CHRISTMAS STOCKING STUFFERS, ETC. I DON'T THINK ANY OTHER BRAND RIVALS PANDA.

Not fresh. Very small bites. Does not have strong licorice taste. Would not buy again.

It is soft and delicious