Licorice candies are those that are flavored with the extract of the roots of the licorice plant (Glycyrrhiza glabra). According to Wikipedia, the essential ingredients of licorice confectionery are licorice extract, sugar, and a binder. The base is typically starch/flour, gum arabic, gelatin or a combination thereof. Additional ingredients are extra flavoring, beeswax for a shiny surface, ammonium chloride and molasses. While licorice candies are typically black around most of the world, licorice in the United States most commonly is found in the red variety. Red licorice candies are typically flavored strawberry, cherry, raspberry, or cinnamon.
As mentioned above, some typical licorice varieties are made with non-vegan ingredients (gelatin and beeswax). In this article investigate common licorice products to answer the question, “Is licorice vegan?” We will also investigate common licorice brands such as Twizzlers and Red Vines.
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Controversial Vegan Ingredients
Before we start our vegan analysis, we would like to make note of the controversial ingredients that are assumed to be vegan in this analysis. Even though we consider them to be vegan, we will still highlight these ingredients if they appear in any posted ingredient lists. These controversial ingredients include:
Sugar
In almost all candy products, one of the first few ingredients is Sugar. Sugar is a controversial product in the vegan community because refined cane sugar is processed with bone char to achieve the pure white color. The sugar itself does not contain any bone char particles, but is not vegan due to the processing methods used. Since the type of sugar is typically not stated, it is assumed to be vegan in this analysis. If you choose to avoid non-vegan sugars than all of the products in this analysis should be avoided. A full rundown on if sugar is vegan can be found in our article titled “Is Your Sugar Vegan? Lets Find Out!“
Palm Oil and Palm Fat
Palm oil is a controversial vegan ingredient not because it is animal-derived, but because the cultivation of palm oil has devastating environmental impacts and harms many animals. You can learn more about palm oil in our article titled “Is Palm Oil Vegan?“
Natural and Artificial Flavorings
Natural flavors can come from both animal or plant sources, but the natural flavors in candies are typically from plant sources. Those natural flavors from animal-origin will be highlighted if known.
Colors
Some food colors are controversial in the vegan community. This is because food colors are often tested on animals. In this article we assume all food colors are vegan, unless the color itself is from an animal or insect origin (e.g. Carmine).
Twizzlers
Twizzlers Ingredients
Corn Syrup; Enriched Wheat Flour (Flour, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, And Folic Acid); Sugar; Cornstarch; Contains 2% Or Less Of: Palm Oil; Salt; Artificial Flavor; Mono- And Diglycerides; Citric Acid; Potassium Sorbate (Preservative); Artificial Color (Red 40); Mineral Oil; Soy Lecithin; Glycerin. [Source]
Are Twizzlers Vegan?
All of the ingredients listed are vegan-friendly. They do contain a few of the controversial vegan ingredients, but those are assumed to be vegan in this analysis. Additionally, the Twizzlers website has the following FAQ:
Are there any vegan Twizzlers products available?
There are several vegan Twizzlers products, which include: Twizzlers Strawberry Candy, Twizzlers Pull-N-Peel Cherry Candy, Twizzlers Bites Cherry Candy, Twizzlers Cherry Candy, Twizzlers Nibs Cherry Candy, Twizzlers Licorice Candy, and Twizzlers Chocolate Candy. These products are free from ingredients and processing aids derived from animal origin. Because, on occasion, the list of ingredients can change, we strongly encourage you to check the ingredient label on the package each time before you make a purchase.
Therefore, many Twizzlers products are vegan. According to Twizzlers, their vegan products include the following. We have independently verified that the ingredients in these products are vegan-friendly.
- Twizzlers Strawberry Candy
- Twizzlers Pull-N-Peel Cherry Candy
- Twizzlers Bites Cherry Candy
- Twizzlers Twists Cherry Candy
- Twizzlers Nibs Cherry Candy
- Twizzlers Licorice Candy
- Twizzlers Chocolate Candy
The Hersey’s brand confirmed these Twizzlers products to be vegan in an email exchange with them. Based on the ingredients on the website, it also appears that Twizzlers Black Licorice products are also vegan-friendly though this is not confirmed by the Twizzlers brand. Twizzlers are available for purchase at all major grocery stores or online through Amazon.
Red Vines
Red Vines Ingredients
Corn Syrup, Wheat Flour, Molasses, Caramel Coloring, Licorice Extract, Citric Acid, Artificial Flavor, Anise Flavor, Red 40. [Source]
Are Red Vines Vegan?
All of the ingredients in Red Vines are straight forward and vegan-friendly. Additionally, the Red Vines website has the following FAQ regarding animal products:
Do Red Vines products contain any animal products?
No. Red Vines products do not contain any animal products.
As their products do not contain any animal products, Red Vines are vegan. This applies to all Red Vines products, but make sure to check the packaging before purchasing. Red Vines are available for purchase at all major grocery stores or online through Amazon.
Wiley Wallaby
Wiley Wallaby Licorice Ingredients
Sugar, Corn Syrup, Enriched Wheat Flour (Wheat, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin, Riboflavin & Folic Acid), Water, Cane Syrup, Modified Food Starch (Corn), Palm Oil, Citric Acid, Natural & Aritifical Flavor, Malic Acid, Soy, Mono & Diglycerides, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Salt, and Red 40 [Source]
Are Wiley Wallaby's Licorice Products Vegan?
Yes, Wiley Wallaby’s Licorice is vegan! Wiley Wallaby confirms this on their website when they state, “We make sure our licorice is Vegan, Kosher, and only used Sustainable Palm Oil.” So if you’re a vegan who tries to reduce their palm oil consumption due to ethical issues, Wiley Wallaby’s licorice is a great option! Wiley Wallaby’s Gourmet Black Licorice is even the “Amazon’s Choice” licorice product!
Panda Licorice
Panda Licorice Ingredients
Molasses, Wheat Flour, Licorice Extract, Natural Flavor (Aniseed Oil). [Source]
Is Panda's Licorice Vegan?
Panda’s Licorice is vegan! This is confirmed by the “Special Diets – No Animal Ingredients” filter on Panda’s website. All three of Panda’s licorice flavors (Soft Black, Strawberry, and Raspberry) are vegan-friendly. They also have the most simple and natural ingredients of any of the licorice products in this article. Panda licorice is available for purchase on Amazon.
Good and Plenty
Good and Plenty Ingredients
Sugar, Corn Syrup, Enriched Wheat Flour, Licorice Extract, Gum Acacia, Cornstarch, Salt, Natural Flavors, Artificial Flavors, Rice Starch, Artificial Color (Carmine Color, Red 40 Lake), Caramel Color, Confectioner’s Glaze, and Carnauba Wax. [Source]
Are Good and Plenty Vegan?
Unfortunately, Good and Plenty candies are NOT vegan. They contain two ingredients of insect origin: Carmine Color and Confectioner’s Glaze (Shellac). This is confirmed by Candy Blog.
English Licorice Allsorts
Licorice Allsorts Ingredients
Cane Molasses, Wheat Flour, Glucose Syrup (contains sulphites), Desiccated Coconut, Palm Oil, Beef Gelatine, Corn Starch, Glycerol, Natural Colors (plain caramel, beet root red, curcumin, paprika), Fat Reduced Cocoa Powder, Liquorice Extract, Natural Flavorings (aniseed, lemon, raspberry, vanilla, orange), Glazing Agent (beeswax), Fruit & Vegetable Juices for coloring. [Source]
Are Licorice Allsorts Vegan?
Unfortunately, Licorice Allsorts are NOT vegan. They contain two ingredients of animal origin: Beef Gelatine and Beeswax. This is confirmed by The Telegraph.
Summary
As we found out in this article, many types of licorice are vegan friendly. These include Twizzlers, Red Vines, Wiley Wallaby’s and Panda’s licorice. However, most popular licorice candies (i.e. not soft licorice) are not vegan-friendly.
You can read about other vegan snack options here.
