Licorice

HEX: #1A1110 | Modern Palette

On White
18.56:1
PASS
On Black
1.13:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#1A1110
RGB
26, 17, 16
HSL
6°, 38% ,10%
CMYK
0, 34.62, 38.46, 89.8

About Licorice

Licorice (#1A1110) is a color with RGB(26, 17, 16) and HSL(6°, 38.46%, 10.2%). In design, it fits Warm styles and is suitable for Text, Background, Print. Its complementary color is #10191A, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #101A11 and #11101A. The name comes from γλυκύρριζα (glykyrrhiza) (Ancient Greek).

  • HEX: #1A1110
  • RGB: 26, 17, 16
  • HSL: 6°, 38.46%, 10.2%
  • Style: Warm
  • Use case: Text, Background, Print
  • Complementary color: #10191A
  • Triadic colors: #101A11, #11101A
  • The name comes from γλυκύρριζα (glykyrrhiza) (Ancient Greek).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.

Color Harmonies

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

Shades & Tints

A seamless scale of #1A1110 from deepest shade to lightest tint.

Color Characteristics

Mood
Style
Warm
Use case
Text Background Print

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #141410
Protanopia #121210
Tritanopia #1A1111
Achromatopsia #131313

Frequently Asked Questions

Licorice (#1A1110) is a color with RGB(26, 17, 16) and HSL(6°, 38.46%, 10.2%).

#1A1110 pairs strongly with #10191A as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#1A1110 is suitable for Text, Background, Print and works well with Warm styles.

The name Licorice is linked to γλυκύρριζα (glykyrrhiza) from Ancient Greek, meaning sweet root.

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word γλυκύρριζα (glykyrrhiza)
Meaning sweet root
Language Ancient Greek
First Recorded Use Antiquity

History

The word 'licorice' itself has a fascinating etymology. It comes from the Old French 'licorece', which in turn came from the Latin 'liquiritia'. This Latin term was a corruption of the Greek 'glykyrrhiza', meaning 'sweet root' (from 'glykys' meaning 'sweet' and 'rhiza' meaning 'root'). Licorice has been valued for millennia. Ancient Egyptians used it in beverages and as a medicinal herb. The Ebers Papyrus (c. 1550 BC) mentions licorice. In traditional Chinese medicine, it's known as 'gancao' and has been used for thousands of years as a harmonizing herb in many formulas. Theophrastus, a student of Aristotle, described licorice in his botanical writings in the 4th century BC. Its use spread throughout Europe, particularly for its medicinal properties, being used to treat coughs, sore throats, and stomach ailments. By the Middle Ages, it was cultivated in monasteries. The modern confectionery use, particularly in the form of chewy candies, became popular much later, especially from the 17th century onwards, with Pontefract in England being a notable center for licorice production.

First Recorded Use

The use of licorice root for medicinal and culinary purposes dates back to ancient civilizations. Evidence suggests its use in ancient Egypt, Assyria, China, and Greece.

Cultural Associations

Licorice holds different cultural significance. In some cultures, particularly in Northern Europe (e.g., Netherlands, Finland, Sweden), salty licorice is a popular and distinct confectionery. In others, like the United States, the sweet, anise-flavored black licorice is more common, though often polarizing. It's also a traditional flavor in some Middle Eastern and Mediterranean drinks and sweets. Its distinctive flavor is often associated with old-fashioned candies or herbal remedies.

Similar Named Colors

Smoky Black #100C08 ΔE 4.41
Onyx #0F0F0F ΔE 5.48
Eerie Black #1B1B1B ΔE 5.88
Others #-0 ΔE 6.42

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #1A1110;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #1A1110;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #1A1110;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #1A1110,
        #102224
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #1A1110,
        #102224
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$licorice: #1A1110;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$licorice-r: 26;
$licorice-g: 17;
$licorice-b: 16;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $licorice;
    color: rgba($licorice-r, $licorice-g, $licorice-b, 0.8);
}