5 Health Benefits of Licorice Root Tea & 3 Tips

Diana Barkley (Senior Editor)

Licorice root has been used for thousands of years for its medicinal properties. In this article we’ll look at just what makes licorice root tea so special — including what makes it taste sweet and why some use it as a natural sweetener. 

Licorice root tea was valued by the Ancient Egyptians and even found in the tomb of King Tutankhamun.

To this day, licorice tea is loved by many for its health benefits and delicious, naturally sweet taste. It’s a distinct tea that’s helpful for a variety of ailments.

There are delicious lattes, digestive tea combinations, and more so you can reap all of the benefits this tasty tea has to offer. We’ve compiled some recipe hacks to help you make the most of your licorice root tea.

What Licorice Root Tea Is: Interesting Facts

What Licorice Root Tea Is: Interesting Facts

Licorice root has been used historically in traditional Chinese medicine and Indian ayurveda.

It also has cultural significance in the Middle East and some European countries. There, it’s not only used medicinally, but in sweet confections and candies, too.

The sweet taste of licorice root tea is due to a compound it contains called glycyrrhizin. Interestingly, this compound is around 30-50 times sweeter than regular table sugar.

People who are looking to eliminate sugar from their diet or cut down its intake often favor licorice root tea for this reason.

Licorice root isn’t always added to tea blends for its health benefits alone, but also to balance out other, more bitter flavors. Its natural sweetness can enhance other tastes or counter-balance unpleasant herbal flavors.

In traditional Chinese medicine, licorice root is considered to have a moderating, balancing influence on other herbs. It’s frequently used to harmonize the effects of different ingredients in herbal formulas.

Where other herbal remedies are concerned, modern medicine frequently has its doubts. Not so with licorice tea. Ongoing modern research has shown promising results regarding the tea’s anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties.

Origin and Where Licorice Root Tea Comes From

Origin and Where Licorice Root Tea Comes From

Licorice root tea has long been used in traditional medicines, particularly in China and India.

It also traces back to ancient Egypt and Assyria. There, it’s been hailed for its beneficial effects on kidney diseases, lung conditions, your body’s blood circulation, and more.

What Licorice Root Tea Is Made Of

What Licorice Root Tea Is Made Of

Licorice root tea is made from the roots of the Glycyrrhiza Glabra plant.

Interestingly, this is a member of the legume family, which also includes things like beans, chickpeas, soybeans, lentils, and more.

Licorice roots appear to be cut and dehydrated before being packaged up to make the teas you can buy. You can make the tea from fresh licorice root, if you can get some.

Alternatively, you can grow licorice at home. It’s actually quite a common native perennial in parts of more temperate North America.

What Licorice Root Tea Tastes Like

What Licorice Root Tea Tastes Like

Freshly brewed licorice tea without any additional ingredients tastes pretty much how you’d expect — a lot like licorice.

It’s sweet, somewhat cooling, and slightly medicinal with a pleasant aniseed flavor. It doesn’t tend to have the overpowering taste licorice candies sometimes have.

It’s a likable tea that’s easy to drink and offers a lingering sweet flavor.

Does Licorice Root Contain Caffeine?

Does Licorice Root Contain Caffeine?

Licorice root tea is naturally caffeine-free, so you may enjoy it any time of day.

If you’re looking to cut down on your caffeine intake as well as your sugar consumption, this is a near ideal tea as it tastes sweet and will curb cravings without the energizing, sometimes jitters-inducing effects of caffeine.

Nutritional Facts and Calories of Licorice Root Tea

Nutritional Facts and Calories of Licorice Root Tea

Licorice root tea contains nearly no calories, fat, or dietary fiber. It’s low in sodium and considered a healthy, cholesterol free option.

Surprisingly, licorice root contains hardly any minerals or vitamins except minor amounts of potassium, magnesium, calcium, and sodium.

It is, however, rich in flavonoids and the sweet tasting compound we mentioned above known as glycyrrhizin or glycyrrhizic acid.

While licorice root contains trace amounts of potassium it’s actually well-known for reducing potassium levels in your body.

As such, if low potassium is something you suffer from you probably should steer clear as excess consumption can cause problems. More on this below.

Health Benefits of Licorice Root Tea: What It Is Good For

Health Benefits of Licorice Root Tea: What It Is Good For

Licorice root tea has long been hailed for its multitude of health benefits.

It doesn’t just taste lovely and sweet but can also be good for you, provided you enjoy it in moderation. Here are some of the top ways adding licorice root tea to your diet may benefit your health and wellbeing.

Aids in Digestion

Aids in Digestion

Licorice root is well-known for helping your digestive system. It may even help with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Many digestive formulations include licorice root, chamomile, and tea.

Alternatively, you could make our digestive tea blend as described further on in this article.

Helps with Inflammation

Helps with Inflammation

As mentioned previously, this clever, sweet-tasting tea has been shown to have promising anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant effects.

That means it may be helpful for fighting a variety of infections as well as inflammation inside your body and out.

May be Helpful in Fighting Colds and Sore Throats

May be Helpful in Fighting Colds and Sore Throats

Licorice root has long been used to fight the common cold. It’s great at helping soothe sore throats, as it works as a coating agent in your mouth and throat.

It’s also a known expectorant, which means it can help you bring up nasty phlegm more readily and easily.

Helpful for Your Dental Hygiene

Helpful for Your Dental Hygiene

The glycyrrhizin compound in licorice root may help reduce bad bacteria that grows in your mouth. This bacteria is associated with gum disease and tooth decay.

Licorice has historically been used to clean teeth and even numb sore gums and soothe toothaches.

May Boost Your Immune System

May Boost Your Immune System

Licorice root tea has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. For this reason it may boost your body’s immune system.

This in turn could keep you from getting ill and make colds and infections last for shorter periods of time.

Potential Risks

Potential Risks

Most things that are very good for you in some ways can also be damaging in others. This is the case for licorice root and any licorice root-based teas, tisanes, and treats.

Below are some of the ways licorice root may adversely affect you. You’ll be glad to know that all of them are directly related to overconsumption, but they’re good to know all the same.

But how much licorice tea is too much? The medical advice seems to suggest around 10-30 mg of liquorice per day, which is around half a cup.

With that said, the lowest dose resulting in an observed adverse reaction was 10x that amount, so a regular cup of licorice tea enjoyed on occasion shouldn’t cause you any problems.

As with anything else, moderation is key.

Licorice Root Reduces Levels of Potassium in Your Body

Licorice Root Reduces Levels of Potassium in Your Body

Licorice root is known to radically decrease potassium levels in your body when taken excessively.

If you’re on loop diuretics you’re advised to steer clear of licorice, as together these may make your potassium levels drop too much.

People who suffer from heart or kidney conditions or high blood pressure are also advised to avoid licorice.

Potassium deficiency (also known as hypokalaemia) may present as muscle cramps, arrhythmia (an abnormal heart rhythm), and/or muscle weakness and can be dangerous.

Too Much Glycyrrhizin Can Cause Fatigue, Headaches, and More

Too Much Glycyrrhizin Can Cause Fatigue, Headaches, and More

Eating or drinking vast amounts of licorice root-based products may cause a condition known as pseudoaldosteronism.

This could make you excessively sensitive to a hormone in your adrenal cortex, and eventually lead to fatigue, headaches, increased blood pressure, and heart problems or heart attacks.

Too Much Licorice May Cause Fatigue and Loss of Libido

Too Much Licorice May Cause Fatigue and Loss of Libido

Licorice root, enjoyed in excessive amounts, may make you tired and decrease your libido. It could also cause increased fluids in your body and an irregular menstrual cycle.

As you can see, you’ll certainly want to enjoy your licorice tea in moderation to avoid any adverse effects.

Is Licorice Root Tea in Pregnancy Good For You?

Is Licorice Root Tea in Pregnancy Good For You?

Licorice tea is not considered safe for use in pregnancy. Allegedly, it may affect your growing baby’s cognitive abilities. Licorice sweets are similarly advised against.

A 2019 study also found preterm delivery and increased blood pressure to be risks.

We presume this all comes down to the glycyrrhizin compound found in the root, which is known to reduce potassium in your body, thereby increasing blood pressure.

As a general rule, you may wish to limit your intake of certain herbal teas during your first trimester of pregnancy, when risks of adverse outcomes are at their highest.

In your second and third trimester, some teas which are generally considered quite safe include chamomile, green tea (in moderation due to its caffeine content), peppermint tea, and rooibos tea.

Just remember to enjoy any herbal teas in moderation alongside a balanced diet.

How to Make Licorice Root Tea: A Simple Recipe

How to Make Licorice Root Tea: A Simple Recipe

Licorice root tea is incredibly easy to make and only requires two ingredients: licorice root (either dried or fresh) and water.

To boil a pot for three servings you’ll need around 5 cups of water and 1 oz of licorice root tea.

Boil your water first, then add the licorice tea. Continue to boil for around 10 minutes, then pour into cups through a strainer. Serve immediately.

Top tip: some people like to sweeten their licorice root tea with extra honey. Taste it first to see whether you actually need this as it’s naturally very sweet.

For additional serving tips and recipe hacks, read on to the section below.

Tips for Drinking and Serving Licorice Root Tea

Tips for Drinking and Serving Licorice Root Tea

Licorice root tea is delicious on its own, with a satisfying sweetness that’s unlike any other herbal teas you may have enjoyed to date.

The hacks below will give you inspiration on how to make the most of your licorice tea, and how best to use it in other creative ways.

Number 3 is our favorite.

Make a Licorice Tea Latte

Make a Licorice Tea Latte

You can make a latte with just about any kind of tea, provided its ingredients don’t make the milk curdle (such as lemon tea).

As a first step for licorice tea, you’ll want to boil it as directed above, but reduce the amounts. A ratio of 2:1 of milk to water works well for tea-based lattes.

Next, you’ll want to heat your dairy or non-dairy milk in a saucepan until it just begins to simmer.

Next, if you want to foam it lightly, do so. Gently mix the licorice tea with the milk in your favorite cups, and serve straight away.

Licorice tea also goes well with a little added vanilla extract and/or a sprinkling of cinnamon for a warming, lightly-spiced brew.

Enjoy a Digestive Licorice Root Tea

Enjoy a Digestive Licorice Root Tea

We found this recipe to be one of the best for promoting a healthy digestive system. It’s tasty to boot, featuring lots of nicely balanced spice flavors.

To make it, you’ll need to mix some fennel seeds, anise, licorice root, and juniper berries. Steep as you would in our regular licorice root tea recipe above, and serve.

Top tip: if you like this blend, you can make up 3.5 oz of the mixture in a clean, dry, opaque container by mixing 1.3 oz of fennel seeds with 1.3 oz of anise, 0.6 oz of licorice root, and 0.4 oz of juniper berries.

All ingredients should be well-dried to avoid spoilage. Fennel seeds, anise, and juniper berries are all known for relieving digestive problems including gas.

Make Your Own Licorice and Orange Peel Syrup

Make Your Own Licorice and Orange Peel Syrup

Simple syrups are great, because you can easily make them at home and then use them in your coffee, tea, sparkling water, or over desserts.

To make this one, you’ll want to use a ratio of 1:1 sugar to water (or 2:1 if you like a thicker syrup).

Prepare your tea as you usually would, using the water you’ve measured out: add in some licorice tea (in a bag or tea ball) and some cleaned, dried organic (unsprayed) orange peel.

Gently simmer until it’s steeped to your desired flavoring, then add in the sugar and continue to simmer until all of the granules have dissolved.

Cool and place in clean, dry containers. Homemade simple syrup should keep for around a month in your fridge.

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