 Italian Liquorice Wheels
Who invented the liquorice wheel? Was it a confectioner in Pontefract, or did those clever Romans have something to do with it? The Italians have cultivated liquorice since the earliest times — it grows like a weed in southern Italy — and the wheel is one of their finest contributions to the confectioner’s art.
Our Italian Liquorice Wheels are made by Gelco, one of Italy’s most respected liquorice makers, using Calabrian liquorice extract. Calabrian liquorice is widely recognised in the confectionery world as the finest available — deep, rich, and unmistakably authentic. What you love about liquorice wheels might be the unique shape and structure, but with ours, you’re also getting exceptional quality in every unrolled strand.
Hand Rolled — A Very Old Tradition
Italian liquorice wheels were traditionally made by hand. Workers used a spindle to roll the still-warm liquorice strand into a coil — a skill passed between generations of confectionery workers. In the UK, women workers in the Pontefract factories of West Yorkshire did the same. The wheel is one of those forms that has barely changed because it doesn’t need to.
Saint Valentine’s has a long history of selling the finest Italian liquorice, and these wheels are a natural part of that story. You’ve made a great choice — and we hope you’ll leave us a star rating on the review tab next door.
Product Specifications
- Origin: Italy
- Manufacturer: Gelco (Perfetti Van Melle)
- Weight: 150g
- Quantity: Approximately 12 wheels
- Liquorice extract: 5%
- Packaging: 100% biodegradable bag
Dietary & Lifestyle
- Suitable for vegetarians
- Not suitable for vegans (contains beeswax)
- Contains gluten
Ingredients
Molasses, WHEAT flour, glucose syrup, starch, liquorice extract (5%), stabilisers (sorbitol, glycerol), modified starch, coconut oil, salt, natural flavouring, glazing agent (beeswax, white and yellow).
May contain traces of MUSTARD and SOYA. Allergen information is shown in BOLD/UPPERCASE. Check packaging for current information.
julie hutchison (verified owner) –
These taste so much better than ‘leading brand’ liquorice here in the UK! If you’re a liquorice lover (or know one) then you’re in for a real treat. They last for ages and are gorgeous quality. I’m very happy with the liquorice I bought, these are the ones I’m sticking to in the future for sure, and they’d make a lovely gift. Very, very happy.