SIR - Paul Patmore Jackson asks (T&A, March 14) why we also called liquorice spanish'.

I believe this was because the liquorice root usually sold in small bunches of pieces each about four inches long, which we enjoyed chewing, came from Spain.

One piece would last quite a long time whilst still giving that special liquorice taste.

Pontefract cakes (also called Pomfret cakes) together with things such as 'laces' and mock pipes were made with ingredients such as flour and liquorice for that special flavour.

  • Peter A Rushforth, Sutton Drive, Cullingworth

    SIR - Re Spanish poser' by Paul Patmore Jackson (T&A, March 14), the lack of home-grown liquorice meant that it had to be imported, firstly from Spain (which is the origin of the local nickname for liquorice, Spanish'), and later from Italy and Turkey.

See Liquorice in Pontefract' at wakefield.gov.uk.

  • Chris Cocking, West Lane, Baildon

    SIR - In answering the question why liquorice was called Spanish (T&A, March 14) I quote from a book written by a local man named, Arnold Patchett, called "Some Unique Yorkshire Towns".

The chapter on Pontefract states that liquorice was brought from the continent by the Crusaders to Pontefract as it was an important monastic centre.

At that time, liquorice was used for medicinal purposes. Liquorice took root easily in the district as the soil was sandy and deep and one George Dunhill, a chemist, first manufactured it as a sweetmeat way back in 1720.

It is said he grew the plant in the castle garths which he rented for the purpose.

Eventually, such was the demand that some 16 firms had made use of it but the home-grown root was nowhere near sufficient to meet the demand, so it was imported from Spain and North Africa. This is why it got the name "Spanish".

British owned firms also had plantations in Russia, Iraq and Turkey.

It is interesting to note that 90 per cent of the world production of liquorice is now used for flavouring tobacco in America - it also ensures the tobacco burns evenly.

  • John Armstrong, Layton Avenue, Rawdon

    SIR - In days gone by two kinds of liquorice could be purchased at your sweet shop.

One was the natural yellow woody root that could be chewed for ages and the other a black manufactured product comprised of juice form a Mediterranean herb found in Spain.

This acquired the name of Spanish for obvious reasons but mainly so the shop keeper knew which one to give you.

I can assure Paul Patmore Jackson it was not another moggie' of inferior quality (T&A, March 14).

Even as far back as 1932 the New Standard Encyclopaedia informed its readers that liquorice not only came from Calabria (Southernmost province of Italy) and Spain but also Pontefract in West Yorkshire (Pomfret cakes).

  • D Rhodes, Croscombe Walk, Bradford

    SIR - Liquorice plants are natives of South-east Europe and South-west Asia, as far as Persia.

Although grown in the UK, most of it was and still is imported from Spain; hence it was referred to as Spanish.

It's also imported from Italy with other lesser sources being Russia, Germany and France.

  • Geoff Huttonm Oakdale Drive, Bradford