# How do I get Licorice flavor for a home-made milkshake? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 27, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-licorice-flavor-for-a-home-made-milkshake/151356 "2003-01-27T23:33:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-licorice-flavor-for-a-home-made-milkshake/151356/1 "2003-01-27T23:33:49Z")
I’ve been craving Licorice Milkshakes for a while. I haven’t been having much luck getting licorice flavoring for making them, though. ☹ I went to the baking area in my local **big-ass** [sup]TM[/sup] grocery store, and the only thing I found “licorice like” is Anise Star (sp??) Extract. It tastes _close_, but not quite right. Can anyone think of something I can use for flavoring to make my milkshakes taste more like licorice? ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-licorice-flavor-for-a-home-made-milkshake/151356/2 "2003-01-27T23:36:51Z")
Sambuca! ---
**Author:** ![radar\_ralf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@radar\_ralf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/radar_ralf)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-licorice-flavor-for-a-home-made-milkshake/151356/3 "2003-01-27T23:41:30Z")
Cut up some licorice sticks and let them sit overnight in cup of water? Or vodka? I’m sure some chemist-type folks here can come up with the proper method of making your own licorice-based syrup (sometimes called a liquor). ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-licorice-flavor-for-a-home-made-milkshake/151356/4 "2003-01-28T00:00:12Z")
I’m with **Casey1505** , Sambuca would do it, or if you want something with a little more kick, Ouzo is like all the Good ‘N’ Plenties you have ever eaten, all at once. If you want a non-alcoholic flavor, just warm either one until all the alcohol evaporates. ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-licorice-flavor-for-a-home-made-milkshake/151356/5 "2003-01-28T00:02:04Z")
Try [DaVinci syrups](http://www.davincigourmet.com/page.php?keyword=licorice&page=741&s=0&DAVINCI=f9f2be7c62010163a8c77b3be260b923&x=52&y=6) - they have almost every flavor you could think of, including licorice. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-licorice-flavor-for-a-home-made-milkshake/151356/6 "2003-01-28T00:04:22Z")
Licorice-flavored milkshake??? Can I say “Ewwwwwwwwww!” :eek: ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-licorice-flavor-for-a-home-made-milkshake/151356/7 "2003-01-28T00:08:44Z")
I am very familiar with Sambuca, but its not quite what I’m looking for. Besides, I don’t want to get pissed drinking 2 milkshakes on a Sunday afternoon. Flavored Syrups, eh? I might check that! ---
**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-licorice-flavor-for-a-home-made-milkshake/151356/8 "2003-01-28T02:47:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*Licorice-flavored milkshake??? Can I say “Ewwwwwwwwww!” :eek: \*\* I’ll see your Ewwwwwww and raise you a “Uuuuuugggggghhhh” I would raise you gagging noises ut not sure how to type them out properly. Dear OP: That sir (or madam)is an unholy drink your craving. ---
**Author:** ![Murcielago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Murcielago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Murcielago)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-licorice-flavor-for-a-home-made-milkshake/151356/9 "2003-01-28T03:00:05Z")
I will add “RAAAAAALPH” to the previous comments. You people who like licorice are very disturbed. ---
**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-licorice-flavor-for-a-home-made-milkshake/151356/10 "2003-01-28T03:35:07Z")
[Sutton’s Bay](http://www.suttonsbaytrading.com/Flavorings_and_Oils/21025.html) also has good syrups for flavoring. I’ve tried this one and it does taste just like licorice (read nasty). I’ve also seen (but not tried) licorice ice cream, which would be good since you want ot make shakes. It was one of those gourmet brands, though so you’re probably better off just buying the syrup if you plan on making these a lot (Lord help you :)) ---
**Author:** ![AmbulanceChaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4af34b/32.png) [@AmbulanceChaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmbulanceChaser)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-licorice-flavor-for-a-home-made-milkshake/151356/11 "2003-01-28T03:47:48Z")
You could try Ouzo, maybe? It takes a lot like licorice straight, even more in candy form. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-licorice-flavor-for-a-home-made-milkshake/151356/12 "2003-01-28T03:56:23Z")
Have you tried anise (aniseed)? It tastes pretty licoricey to me. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-licorice-flavor-for-a-home-made-milkshake/151356/13 "2003-01-28T04:08:06Z")
What flavor ice cream would you use? Since there’s no “clean slate” flavor of ice cream wouldn’t any flavor interfere with the taste, including vanilla? ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-licorice-flavor-for-a-home-made-milkshake/151356/14 "2003-01-28T04:15:08Z")
I make my own Ice Cream. Based on sweetened condensed milk and heavy cream. Its not cheap, but you can’t beat it. > [@](#): > > Have you tried anise (aniseed)? It tastes pretty licoricey to me. I think that is the extract I mentioned in the OP. Thanks for the help, all.