Just tried liquorice for the first time

sassbandit got me a packet near the end of my stay in Australia, with a warning me that I'd either love it or hate it. I can safely say that I don't love it!

It tastes a bit weird, and the are two flavor stages: the first is a mild almost pleasant taste, followed immediately by an overpowering minty anise blast.

The worst part is that it's the anise flavor which lingers, and it overrides the taste of everything that comes after it. I tried to eat an apple to clean the taste out of my mouth; the apple just tasted like liquorice instead. EEK.

(Thank you though! At least now I can say I know what liquorice tastes like *g*)