Here's a new one on me. From the local press, excerpted:

Dorie Greenspan, the New York-based cookbook author, is finding licorice on menus more often. "I find it a fascinating flavor," she said. Greenspan has heard some in the food industry wondering aloud if licorice is the "sixth" taste after sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami, a Japanese term describing a savory or meaty quality.

More on umami at Wikipedia.