What it means
شیرین بیان (shirin bayân) is liquorice root, the dried root of Glycyrrhiza glabra prized for its intense natural sweetness. The name combines شیرین (shirin), the Persian word for sweet, with an element whose origin is debated: شیرین بیان is widely understood as the Persian rendering of the classical “sweet root” tradition (Greek glykyrrhiza, Arabic ʿerq al-sus), describing the root’s famously sweet, lingering flavour rather than literally meaning “sweet speech.” In practice شیرین بیان is sold at herbal medicine shops (عطاری, attâri) and pharmacies rather than at regular grocery stalls. The word ریشه (rishe, root) is sometimes added, giving ریشه شیرین بیان (rishe-ye shirin bayân), to make clear that the root rather than the plant is meant.
How to use it
- شیرین بیان برای گلو دردم خوبه. (Shirin bayân barâ-ye galu dard-am khube.) “Liquorice root is good for my sore throat.”
- از عطاری شیرین بیان گرفتم. (Az attâri shirin bayân gereftam.) “I got liquorice root from the herbal shop.”
- دمنوش شیرین بیان میخوری؟ (Damnoush-e shirin bayân mikhori?) “Do you want liquorice root tea?”
- شیرین بیان خیلی شیرینه، زیاد نخور. (Shirin bayân kheyli shirine, ziâd nakhor.) “Liquorice root is very sweet, don’t eat too much.”
Cultural note
شیرین بیان has a long history in Iranian traditional medicine, where it is classed as a warm, moist herb used to soothe coughs, gastric irritation, and inflammation of the throat. Classical Persian physicians such as Ibn Sina (ابن سینا) described it in the Canon of Medicine. Today it is one of the most common remedies sold at عطاری (attâri) herbal shops across Iran, either as a dried root to chew or steep, or as a powder mixed into hot water. Its extract also flavours some traditional Iranian sweets and confections, though pure liquorice candy is less common in Iran than in Europe.