Licorice is a plant that has many uses. It can be used as medicine, for flavoring food, and even to make dyes. Some people believe that this herb comes from the blackthorn tree or the buckthorn tree. The true answer is still unknown, though. Many licorice products are derived from Glycyrrhiza Glabra, which is commonly known as “licorice root.” But is it gluten-free?
Licorice is not considered gluten free. Many pre-packaged licorice brands like Twizzlers and Red Vines contain gluten, as the binders used contain wheat flour. The best gluten free and healthier alternatives to traditional licorice include brands such as Yum Earth Organic Gluten-Free, Smart Sweets Red Twists, See’s Candies Red Licorice Medallions, and Zot Organic Licorice.
Read on to learn more about the licorice you should avoid, as well as some of the alternatives that are healthier and gluten-free. Let’s get started!
Contents
Is Licorice Gluten-Free?
If you have celiac disease, then you should avoid pre-packaged licorice. Brands like Twizzlers and Red Vines use binders that may contain gluten. But if you are concerned about this product containing gluten, you should check the ingredients before eating it. Keep in mind that there are different types of licorice-flavored candy out there. The ones that are safe for a gluten-free diet are barley or wheat-free.
Also, keep an eye out for foods that contain licorice; while pure licorice is gluten-free, there still may be binders.
Are Twizzlers Gluten-Free?
The TWIZZLERS products are not gluten-free since they include wheat as an ingredient.
Are Red Vines Gluten-Free?
Unfortunately, Red Vines are not gluten-free since they include wheat flour.
Is Good & Plenty licorice candy gluten-free?
No. Good & Plenty licorice candy made by Hershey, not gluten-free.
Licorice Nutritional Information
Twizzlers Strawberry Flavored Twists
Twizzlers are one of the more popular brands of licorice candy. They contain enriched wheat flour, so you should avoid them if you have celiacs.
Ingredients:
- Corn Syrup
- Enriched Wheat Flour
- Sugar
- Cornstarch
- Palm Oil
- Salt
- Artificial Flavor
- Citric Acid
- Artificial Color [Red 40]
- Mineral Oil
- Lecithin (Soy)
Nutrition Facts (per 34g):
- 120 Calories
- 5 g Total Fat
- 0 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 0 mg Cholesterol
- 70 mg Sodium
- 27 g Total Carbohydrates
- 0 g Dietary Fiber
- 14 g Sugars
- 1 g Protein
Twizzlers Cherry Flavored Twists
These are the cherry version of the popular snack. They also contain enriched wheat flour and should be avoided as they are not gluten-free.
Ingredients:
- Corn Syrup
- Enriched Wheat Flour
- Sugar
- Cornstarch
- Palm Oil
- Salt
- Natural Flavor
- Citric Acid
- Artificial Color [Red 40]
- Mineral Oil
- Lecithin (Soy)
Nutrition Facts (per 45 g):
- 120 Calories
- 5 g Total Fat
- 0 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 0 mg Cholesterol
- 105 mg Sodium
- 27 g Total Carbohydrates
- 0 g Dietary Fiber
- 18 g Sugars
- 1 g Protein
Twizzlers Licorice Flavored Twists
This variety of Twizzlers is the original licorice flavor that most refer to as black licorice. This variety is also not gluten-free.
Ingredients:
- Corn Syrup
- Enriched Wheat Flour
- Sugar
- Cornstarch
- Licorice Extract
- Palm Oil
- Salt
- Natural Flavor
- Artificial Flavor
- Glycerin
- Potassium Sorbate
- Preservative
- Artificial Color (Red 40, Blue 1)
- Caramel Color
- Mineral Oil
- Lecithin (Soy)
Nutrition Facts (per 45 g):
- 150 Calories
- 1 g Total Fat
- 0 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 0 mg Cholesterol
- 200 mg Sodium
- 35 g Total Carbohydrates
- 0 g Dietary Fiber
- 18 g Sugars
- 1 g Protein
Twizzlers Assorted Fruit Twists
Ingredients:
- Corn Syrup
- Enriched Wheat Flour
- Sugar
- Palm Oil
- Glyceryl Monostearate
- Salt
- Cornstarch
- Glycerin
- Natural Flavor
- Citric Acid
- Artificial Color (Red 40, Blue 1, Yellow 6, Yellow 5)
- Potassium Sorbate (Preservative)
- Mineral Oil
- Carnauba Wax
- Sulfur Dioxide
Nutrition Facts (per 35 g):
- 120 Calories
- 1 g Total Fat
- 0 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 0 mg Cholesterol
- 75 mg Sodium
- 28 g Total Carbohydrates
- 0 g Dietary Fiber
- 15 g Sugars
- 1 g Protein
Red Vines
Red Vines are another popular brand of licorice candy. Unfortunately, they also use wheat as a binder so they are not gluten-free.
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Corn Syrup
- Enriched Wheat Flour
- Water
- Cane Syrup
- Modified Food Starch (Corn)
- Palm Oil
- Citric Acid
- Natural & Artificial Flavor
- Malic Acid
- Soy Mono- & Diglycerides
- Sodium Citrate
- Potassium Sorbate
- Salt
- Fd&C Red No. 40
Nutrition Facts (per 29 g):
- 80 Calories
- 0 g Total Fat
- 0 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 0 mg Cholesterol
- 30 mg Sodium
- 21 g Total Carbohydrates
- 0 g Dietary Fiber
- 9 g Sugars
- 1 g Protein
Good & Plenty
Good and Plenty has been around since 1893 and is currently made by Hersey. These candies are not gluten-free.
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Corn Syrup
- Enriched Wheat Flour
- Licorice Extract
- Gum Acacia
- Cornstarch
- Salt
- Natural Flavor And Artificial Flavor
- Rice Starch
- Artificial Color [K-Carmine; Red 40 Lake]
- Caramel Color
- Confectioner’s Glaze
- Carnauba Wax
Nutrition Facts (per 30 g):
- 110 Calories
- 0 g Total Fat
- 0 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 0 mg Cholesterol
- 75 mg Sodium
- 27 g Total Carbohydrates
- 0 g Dietary Fiber
- 19 g Sugars
- 1 g Protein
Healthier Licorice Alternatives
YumEarth Organic Licorice Black
YumEarth makes gluten-free licorice that is made from all organic ingredients. It is also non-GMO and dairy-free.
Ingredients:
- Organic Rice Flour
- Organic Brown Rice Syrup
- Organic Cane Sugar
- Organic Cane Sugar Molasses
- Organic Corn Starch
- Organic Licorice Extract
- Organic Palm Fruit Oil
- Salt
- Natural Flavor
- Organic Carnauba Wax
- Organic Sunflower Oil
Nutrition Facts (per 30 g):
- 100 Calories
- 1 g Total Fat
- 0 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 0 mg Cholesterol
- 160 mg Sodium
- 21 g Total Carbohydrates
- 1 g Dietary Fiber
- 11 g Sugars
- 1 g Protein
Smart Sweets Red Twists
Smart Sweet is a great alternative. It only has 2g of sugar, is gluten-free, plant-based, and free from sugar alcohols.
Ingredients:
- Non-Gmo Soluble Corn Fiber
- Allulose
- Brown Rice Flour
- Isomalto-Oligosaccharides (Vegetable Source)
- Tapioca Starch
- Water
- Natural Flavor
- Coconut Oil
- Sunflower Lecithin
- Fruit & Vegetable Juice (For Color)
- Malic Acid
- Sodium Citrate
- Citric Acid
- Tartaric Acid
- Stevia Leaf Extract
Nutrition Facts (per 50 g):
- 110 Calories
- 1 g Total Fat
- 0 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 0 mg Cholesterol
- 55 mg Sodium
- 40 g Total Carbohydrates
- 12 g Dietary Fiber
- 2 g Sugars
- 1 g Protein
See’s Candies Red Licorice Medallions
See’s Candies are loved all over the world. Fortunately, they made red licorice medallions that are gluten-free.
Ingredients:
- Corn Syrup
- Sugar
- Corn And Potato Starch Modified
- Caramel Color
- Salt
- Coconut Oil
- Anise Oil
- Carnauba Wax
- Confectioner’s Glaze
Nutrition Facts (per 1.4 oz):
- 130 Calories
- 0 g Total Fat
- 0 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 0 mg Cholesterol
- 115 mg Sodium
- 34 g Total Carbohydrates
- 0 g Dietary Fiber
- 18 g Sugars
- 0 g Protein
Zot Organic Licorice
Zot Organic Licorice is the purest attentive you can find. It is made from 100% organic licorice root and nothing else. They don’t use any additives, sugar, preservatives, or any ingredients that contain gluten.
Ingredients:
- 100% organic licorice root extract
Nutrition Facts (per .75 g):
- 0 Calories
- 0 g Total Fat
- 0 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 0 mg Cholesterol
- 0 mg Sodium
- 0 g Total Carbohydrates
- 0 g Dietary Fiber
- 0 g Sugars
- 0 g Protein
Final Thoughts
Licorice is one of the candies that can be nostalgic for a lot of people. It can be tough if you have an allergy to gluten to find a brand that does use ingredients containing gluten. These also contain a lot of sugar and artificial ingredients.
Luckily, there are several alternatives that are gluten-free. Like Zot’s, some of them only contain licorice root and nothing else, making them ideal for those with a soft spot for licorice.
Related Questions
Are Any Twizzlers Products Vegan?
There are several vegan Twizzlers products such as Strawberry Candy, Cherry Candy, Bites Cherry Candy, Cherry Candy, NIBS Cherry Candy, Licorice Candy, and Chocolate Candy. We recommend that you always check the ingredient label on the package in the event the list of ingredients changes.
Is Licorice Keto?
Pure licorice root is keto-friendly. Steer clear of most bagged licorice as it will contain sugar and carbs that are not permitted when on the ketogenic diet.
Is Licorice Bad For You?
Licorice in its pure form isn’t bad for you as it contains no sugar, carbs, or fat. The candy you see on store shelves is full of calories, sugar, and carbs and should be avoided if you are leading a health-conscious diet. Eating more than 57g (2 ounces) of black licorice per day for at least two weeks might result in dangerous health issues such as an elevation in blood pressure and an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia).