I have never really been a fan of licorice. I did like those spaghetti-like strands I used to buy at the tuck shop at the YMCA as a kid. But I’m neither a fan of the Twizzlers interpretation (bland, tasteless, like eating wax) nor the “health food” variety (“milled from rich Corinthian licorice trees in the Amazon rain forest — includes real bark taste!”).

This all changed when I bought a small round yellow tin of Cachou Lajaunie at a highway rest stop in France. These are tiny almost microscopic pieces of highly charged licorice: just one in the mouth is enough to send you swooning with delight for licorice.

In Copenhagen last week I found Läkerol-brand “Strong Licorice” to be an excellent substitute. These are larger than the Cachou Lajaunie — about the size of a penny — but have a similar intense licorice flavour.

I’ve already polished off the tin of Cachou Lajaunie and I’m a good way through the Läkerol. I’m going to have to work fast to find a new North American licorice brand to feed my newfound licorice addiction.