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HiOn a radio programme recently, it mentioned that Alexander's troops put liquorice in their water to make it go further. Why was that? Is it a preservative, or was this purely for taste?Linda

Never heard that one before. If it's in any of the sources I don't recall it.Is this another item for the 'myths' page?Marcus

Actually, I jumped to the wrong conclusion - the guy said they used liquorice to make the water go further. I assumed that they put it powdered in the water, but I read (not on an academic site, though) that they chewed liquorice as a thirst quencher.

Which would make more sense. I do remember reading that people do this - but I've never read, in my memory, that Alexander's men did it, particularly.The fact is that they might well have done, but I'd love to see a reference in the sources to them doing so ...Marcus

An interesting theory. Liquorice settles the stomach, I believe. And of course ouzo (made today) has anise in it, that liquorice flavour which is good for settling the digestion. It's also a very tasty flavour and might help increase saliva in the mouth when water wasn't available to drink.

Ouzo can also do a lot more to the stomach, taken in quatity. Bad memories.Theophrastus apparantly mentioned it as being good for asthma, taken in wine, and for thirst. It grew in Persia, and so I suppose the troops dug up the roots as they went along. I can't find anything by Theophrastus online, so can't check the original sources.. He was Aristotle's successor, wasn't he?CheersL

Well, if they chewed the liquorice as a thirst quencher, then it probably would make the water go further as less people would be drinking it! Apparently it was mentioned in Hippocrates and Pliny as well as Theophrastus and was recommended for soothing throats and slaking thirsts, but I don't have any online references. Sorry.They used to sell liquorice roots in the candy store in Yorkshire back when I was young. Disgusting things! My cousins and I bought them because they lasted such a long time and made our meagre spending money go further. Can't remember if they stopped us from being thirsty, though. :-)Best regards,Linda Ann