I can't seem to find any real reason for why Sweet Basil starts to taste bitter or have a licorice flavor when they are supposed to be Sweet Basil ( not Thai or another variety ).

I bought a Sweet Basil plant this year and when I first bought it, it tastes like how I expected to. A few weeks down the road it tastes like licorice. What am I doing wrong?

I read this can occur after the plant bolts but I've been trying to keep the buds nipped back on my current plant and it still ended up tasting like licorice. The seeds of the basil I planted last year are now just coming up as volunteers in my yard and haven't yet begun to even try to flower ( no where near bolting ) and it too tastes like licorice to me.

However I can buy sweet basil variety at the grocery store and it tastes fine ( meaning I don't think it's my taste buds ) .