Old candy

I was reading Where the Red Fern Grows aloud.  I got to this section:

and one of the kids said, "What is horehound?"

I said, "I assume from the context that it's some kind of old fashioned candy.  Never heard of it." I looked it up and discovered it's a plant.  I thought it would make a yucky licorice-tasting candy.  But in the interest of education, I bought some.  (Surprisingly easy to find and cheap).

It was actually good, and we all liked it!