American liquorice — Twizzlers & Red Vines at Pop's America

Twizzlers — the number 1 American licorice

Twizzlers is the best-selling licorice brand in the United States. These twisted strawberry-flavoured sweets are an absolute classic of American confectionery — soft, fruity, slightly chewy. The range is wide — Strawberry in classic or King Size format, Cherry for cherry lovers, Pull 'n' Peel to enjoy strand by strand, Bites in mini format, Rainbow with six fruity flavours in one pack... And for true black liquorice lovers — Twizzlers Licorice offers an authentic anise flavour, halfway between American candy and European liquorice.

Red Vines — Twizzlers' Californian rival

Red Vines is the other great American licorice brand, made in California since the 1950s. Softer and more tender than Twizzlers, with a subtler red fruit flavour — Red Vines has its unconditional fans who swear by it alone. The famous "Twizzlers or Red Vines" debate is one of America's great cultural wars. Red Vines also offers a Black Licorice version with anise and Sugar Free versions — a rarity in American confectionery.

American vs European liquorice — what's the difference?

In Europe, liquorice refers to a black sweet with an anise or liquorice root flavour. In the United States, "licorice" refers to a twisted, soft and fruity sweet, generally strawberry or cherry flavoured, with no anise taste whatsoever. It's a completely different confectionery in texture, colour and flavour. Only the "Black Licorice" versions — Twizzlers Licorice and Red Vines Black Licorice — contain a true black liquorice anise flavour.

American licorice at the cinema

In the United States, Twizzlers and Red Vines are the official snacks of cinema chains. You'll find them in every American multiplex, alongside popcorn and XXL sodas. The tradition of enjoying American licorice while watching a film is so deeply embedded in US culture that it's regularly referenced in movies and TV shows. Red Vines fans even use the hollow twists as a straw to drink their soda — the famous "Licorice Straw" trick!

American-style licorice in large format

Pop's America also offers American-style licorice cables in a generous format — large filled cables with intense fruity flavours. Cola, strawberry, cherry, mojito, tropical, pineapple... Sharing-size sweets in XXL format for licorice lovers looking to try something different from classic formats.

FAQ — Everything about American licorice

Does American licorice taste like black liquorice?
No — Twizzlers Strawberry, Cherry and Rainbow and Red Vines Original have no anise or black liquorice flavour whatsoever. They are soft, fruity sweets. Only the "Licorice" versions — Twizzlers Licorice and Red Vines Black Licorice — have a true black liquorice anise flavour.

What is the difference between Twizzlers and Red Vines?
Twizzlers is chewier and sweeter, with a very pronounced strawberry flavour. Red Vines is softer and more tender, with a subtler red fruit taste. Both are twisted American licorice sweets but the texture and flavour intensity are different. It's the great debate of American confectionery.

Where can I buy Twizzlers and Red Vines in Europe?
Twizzlers and Red Vines are not distributed in mainstream European supermarkets. You can order them directly from Pop's America, imported from the United States.