Barratts Hard Liquorice Sticks – A classic British sweet made by Barratt’s. The original recipe has been kept secret since 1892.
In recent years, the popularity of liquorice has increased significantly. It is now sold in almost every country around the globe. Because of this rise in demand, production and quality standards have gone up. Some suggest that the liquorice made today tastes and feels much better than it did in the past. It follows that improvements to processing and access to better technology have the potential to increase efficiency, but ingredients in confectionery making are pretty much the same as a century ago.
Does nostalgia play a role in how we perceive taste?
Today, we will look at one of the best liquorice products currently available from the UK-based company Barratts. First, we are going to look at their hard liquorice sticks. Barratts Hard Liquorice Sticks are made using only the finest natural ingredients and quality liquorice extract. They contain absolutely no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives. Furthermore, these liquorice sticks are made using a tried and tested recipe, some say, a secret recipe. The resulting product is hard, chewy, and delicious.
Liquorice sweets
The first thing you will notice about these liquorice sticks is that they have a complex and strong flavour. Treacle is used, and that allows the sticks to have a milder taste. Liquorice extract gives them the liquorice whoop we’ve learned to expect from this century’s old recipe. However, it is the deeply textured chewiness that gives them their characteristic trademark quality. They are still known for having a strong flavour but not being too overpowering for your palate. Compared to other liquorice products on the market, like the salty ones from Finland and the Netherlands, these are pretty mild. If you like the taste of liquorice but do not want it to be too intense, then these are definitely the ones for you.
The second thing you will notice about Barratts Hard Liquorice Sticks is that they have that unique flat end stamped with the brand’s logo.
According to legend, when the factory was being built, the workers were given some time off work to celebrate the opening of the new building. Unfortunately, due to a lack of planning, the celebrations went on until late into the night. When the workers returned to work the following morning, they found that all of the liquorice had cooked for too long and needed reheating!
This left the workers with nothing more than a pile of sticky liquorice. To make matters worse, the next day, the same thing happened again. By the third day, the workers realised that they would only see the money again if they came up with something quick. So, they decided to roll the sticky liquorice back up and stamp the flat ends onto them. Thus, the Barratts Hard Liquorice Stick was born.
Sweet history
George Barratt founded Barratts & Co., which was once the biggest sugar confectionary company in the world. Today, Barratt’s is best known for its childhood favourites, such as dip dabs, jelly babies, and dolly mixtures. George Barratt stumbled into his confectionery business by chance. George left a pot of toffee on the stove for too long, which resulted in a sticky and hard mass. He didn’t want to waste it, so he tried selling it to local businesses and residents. But, as the tale goes, his sticky jaw toffee went down so well that many locals begged him to make another batch the next day. And so, the Barratt family business was launched!
Barratt moved his work out of the hustle and bustle of central London to Wood Green, north London, in around 1880. Given how close it is to the railway line, which came into service in 1859, and Alexandra Palace, a leading international cultural venue at the time, it seemed an ideal place for logistics reasons. Moreover, The Biscuit factory was close enough to London’s Victorian suburbs so that Mr Barratt could draw upon a large pool of local workers.
The roaring 50’s
By the 1950s, Barratt’s Sweet Manufacturers had expanded its sweet manufacturing facilities to almost 5 hectares (12.5 ac) and employed 1,000 people. After George Osborne Barratt died, his estate passed to his family, and the business was reincorporated just a few years later with all the business directorships held by members of the Barratt family.
One of the best things about Barratt’s Company was its strong sense of community. All the staff were considered individually and provided excellent working conditions and social support. By the 1950s, Barratt’s employees had highly competitive salaries, were part of a motivational incentive scheme, got two weeks’ annual pay, on-premises medical and canteen facilities, and a company pension. They also enjoyed free access to an off-premises social club. The company’s innovative, forward-thinking way of treating its employees set a standard that other large companies in North London followed.
After nearly 50 years, Barratt’s was eventually bought by Sheffield-born businessman George Bassett, who paid £4 million (equivalent to £30 million) for the company.
The Liquorice revival
I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to come to terms with the fact that liquorice fans love Barratts Hard Liquorice Sticks. I mean, it’s obvious. In the nearly 30 years I’ve been running my own liquorice brand, I’ve discovered that there’s a nostalgia for good-tasting, hard liquorice in the UK. But since I was bringing a brand-new Italian liquorice brand to the UK, I had to stand my ground and say that Italian liquorice was the best in the world.
So, when I heard about the re-launch of Barratts Hard Liquorice Sticks, I knew they would be a hit. And they are. They’re just like the old ones, but better. The taste is more intense, the texture firmer, and the liquorice flavour stronger.
Barratt’s Hard Liquorice Sticks: The perfect treat for those who enjoy the rich, dark flavour of liquorice.
Barratts hard liquorice sticks 6 pack
Barratts Hard Liquorice Six stick bag
Looking for a classic treat that has stood the test of time? Then look no further than Barratts hard liquorice sticks! These delicious sticks have been around for over 100 years and are made with only the highest-quality ingredients.
