During the 17th century it was recorded as being grown in areas with alluvial soil overlying magnesian limestone such as in Surrey, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire.

This trade mark had been employed on Pontefract cakes since 1612, when the initials 'GS' were used, and are thought to be those of Sir George Savile, major local landowner; and a second die-stamp from 1720.

The embossed stamp was originally a stylised image of Pontefract Castle with a raven on the top bar, which is thought to have been in use for almost 400 years.

The woman consumed about 200 grams (7.1 oz) daily, leading to dangerously low potassium levels and subsequent muscle failure.

Earlier in 2004, the European Commission had recommended limiting consumption of the active ingredient, glycyrrhizic acid, to 100 mg or less per day.

[11] In Elizabeth Gaskell's 1866 novel Wives and Daughters, Mr Gibson, the local doctor and one of the main characters, has the following exchange with the father of one of his apprentices: "Must my boy make the pills himself then?"

And he'll have the run of the pomfret cakes, and the conserve of hips, and on Sundays he shall have a taste of tamarinds to reward him for his weekly labour at pill making.