Licorice cultivation in Allerum - Northern Europe's first

It is Martin Jörgensen, founder and CEO of the licorice factory, who came up with the idea of ​​a licorice cultivation outside Helsingborg.

- My vision is to create a place where you can come and learn everything about licorice, he says.

In addition to increasing knowledge about licorice, the idea is that people should come and test to chew on licorice roots and maybe buy a planted home with them.

- So you can plant at home in your own garden, then you can go out on Saturday night and take a little bit and enjoy, says Martin Jörgensen.

Licorice is grown mainly in Italy and the Middle East and it is plants from precisely Italy that are grown in Allerum.

Isn't the climate a problem?

- At first I was hesitant, but since 2014 I have had plants at home in my own garden that has survived the cold winters. So now after five years I thought - it works, says Martin Jörgensen.

He says that it is mainly the soil that determines whether the plants thrive or not.

- The earth is not very fertile right here, which fits perfectly. The cultivation will also function as a pasture for sheep, they like the leaves of licorice plants, he says.

Next week it is inauguration but it is still unclear exactly when it is time for harvest.

- We can see that, it can take several years or just a few weeks. It will be just like if you go and look at a vineyard, then you can come here and watch liquorice cultivation, he says.

The entire cultivation will cover eight hectares in total, but it is not sweets to be produced.

In the clip you can see when Martin plants the first root and what the licorice harvest is to be used for.