Although Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory was deemed a fun place by the lucky few who were allowed inside, improper chocolate-river plumbing and poor worker treatment led to several occupational safety hazards and its eventual shuttering in 1973. Today’s Groupon provides a golden ticket to a much safer candy wonderland. For $7, you get $15 worth of sugary sweets at Licorice International, located in the Historic Haymarket District in Lincoln.

Slinging tasty tidbits from its Lincoln headquarters since 2005, Licorice International ships treats all over the world in addition to stocking its 4,450-square-foot space to the rafters with luxuriant licorice candy creations. Offering nearly 160 licorice varieties from 12 countries, Licorice International also carries several gluten-free, nut-free, dairy-free, kosher, and sugar-free options. Customers can lasso taste buds with dozens of licorices that range from sweet to salty to bright blue, and originate from such countries as Finland, Switzerland, New Zealand, and Italy. Munch on a half pound of beehive honey licorice ($4.50), five sticks of licorice root ($3.75), or a half pound of chocolate-covered Kookaburra black licorice ($5.50) from Australia. You can even get your licorice fix in tea form ($20 for 120 bags). Licorice International also partakes in a Treats for the Troops program, in which your purchase of eight ($35) or twelve ($50) pounds of licorice is sent overseas to a chaplain or soldier of your choice.

Along with proving useful in treating bronchitis, easing digestion, and suppressing coughs, licorice candy was the preferred drug (yes, it's a drug in sufficient doses) of world conquerors, with Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar on record extolling the licorice shrub's virtues. Napoleon reputedly found licorice soothing during battle and ate so much of it that his teeth turned black—which eventually led to defeat at Waterloo when he left the command post to brush his teeth. Fortunately, modern licorice no longer taints tooth tablets, so you’ll be able to gnaw on tasty twizzles all day as you plot your strategic rise to power from mailroom clerk to emperor of the mailroom.

This Groupon is good for six months, so you'll be able to bring it with you on National Licorice Day (April 12), the second-best national holiday after Burton Gilliam Day. On that day, Licorice International will be offering free samples of licorice coffee, licorice spice tea, and host of other goodies. Don't be surprised if they all taste kind of like licorice, though.

This Groupon is only valid for in-store use.

Reviews

ABC Channel 8 and Martha Stewart both recommend Licorice International, and Food Network Magazine says:

• …licorice lovers can spend hours sampling oddball flavors like root beer and peach. A virtual UN of licorice, the store carries more than 160 types from 14 countries, including super-salty ones from Denmark and minty licorice from Italy. – Jennifer Senator, Food Network Magazine

Two Insider Pages users give Licorice International a perfect five stars:

• The staff is very knowledgeable about the licorice and attentive to the customers. They have the largest and most comprehensive selection of licorice I've ever seen. A must stop for any licorice or candy lover. – Nicole M.