Licorice
Herbal infusion
4.2/5 · FindMeTea score
About this tea
Licorice root tea (regaliz) is a naturally sweet, caffeine-free herbal infusion made from the dried root of Glycyrrhiza glabra, a flowering legume native to the Mediterranean and parts of Asia. Its flavor is smooth and anise-adjacent — sweeter than star anise, with a warm, almost candy-like roundness that needs no added sugar. For centuries it has been chewed as a sweet and steeped as an after-meal drink, long before it reached the tea aisle. Because the sweetness comes from glycyrrhizin, a compound many times sweeter than table sugar, a little root goes a long way, making licorice tea a popular base for blending with milder herbs like fennel, chamomile, or mint. One important caveat, from the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: glycyrrhizin can cause serious adverse effects when consumed in large amounts or over the long term, and even small amounts have been linked to problems in people with hypertension, heart or kidney conditions or a high salt intake, so licorice is an occasional cup rather than a daily habit, and one to skip during pregnancy.
How to brew: 100°C, 8 min, 3 g per cup.
Caffeine
None
How to brew
Flavor notes
sweet, anise, smooth
Often associated with
Digestive comfort, Sense of well-being
Best time to enjoy
Evening, After a meal, Any time
Tags
Where to find it in United States
Where to find it in United StatesNear Columbus
- North Market SpicesOther Herbal infusion
Columbus · North Market, downtown
Spearmint, Crushed Leaves
from US$ 3.85· 1 oz
In storeOnline59 Spruce Street, Columbus, OH 43215See the shop → - Posh Teatime Co.Other Herbal infusion
Columbus · Franklinton, West Broad Street
Farmer's Market Fruit Blend
from US$ 16.95· 4 oz
In storeOnline1273 W Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43222See the shop → - Sencha Tea BarThis tea
Minneapolis · Uptown (also Madison, WI)
Licorice Root
from US$ 3.99· 2 oz
In storeOnline2601 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408See the shop → - Old City CoffeeOther Herbal infusion
Philadelphia · Old City · Reading Terminal Market
Hibiscus
US$ 11· 4 oz
In storeOnline221 Church St, Philadelphia, PA 19106See the shop → - The Random Tea RoomOther Herbal infusion
Philadelphia · Northern Liberties
Chamomile
US$ 18· 6 oz
In storeOnline713 N 4th St, Philadelphia, PA 19123See the shop →
Origin & Production
Glycyrrhiza glabra grows wild and under cultivation across a wide arc stretching from southern Europe through the Middle East and into Central Asia, with related species also farmed in northeastern China. The plant favors deep, well-drained soils along riverbanks and sunny lowland plains, sending down a long taproot that can extend more than a meter underground — this root, not the leaves or flowers, is the part harvested for tea. Spain has long been one of Europe's most recognized sources of licorice root, particularly the region around Alicante, where the plant naturalizes along riverbeds. Unlike camellia-based teas, licorice is a true root herb, so its character depends heavily on soil mineral content, root age at harvest, and how it is dried rather than on elevation or seasonal flush.
Production process
Root maturation
Licorice plants are left in the ground for two to four years before harvest, allowing the taproot to thicken and accumulate glycyrrhizin, the compound responsible for its intense natural sweetness.
Hand or mechanical lifting
Roots are dug or plowed up from the soil, then washed thoroughly to remove dirt and small rootlets, leaving the thick, fibrous main root intact.
Cutting and slicing
Washed roots are cut into manageable lengths and sliced or shredded into pieces suited for drying — thinner cuts dry faster and brew more readily.
Sun or kiln drying
Sliced root is dried in the open sun or in low-temperature kilns over several days until moisture content drops low enough for stable, long-term storage.
Grading and packing
Dried root is sorted by piece size and color — pale, golden-tan slices with a strong sweet aroma are graded highest — then packed for sale as cut root, shavings, or sticks.
- Free
- Sundays
- 2 min
Drink better tea, one Sunday at a time.
A fact for the table·A shop worth the trip·A better cup·Ritual & kit of the week·Tea fun facts
History & Tradition
Licorice root is one of the oldest documented medicinal plants in the world, with a recorded history spanning ancient Egypt, classical Greece, traditional Chinese medicine, and Ayurveda, long before it became a familiar herbal tea in Western pantries.
Early use in Chinese medicine
Gan cao (sweet root), a related Glycyrrhiza species, appears among the earliest catalogued herbs in Chinese medical traditions, where it was valued as a harmonizing ingredient added to many herbal formulas.
Found in Tutankhamun's tomb
Quantities of licorice root were discovered among the burial provisions of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun, suggesting the root was prepared as a sweet drink believed to nourish the afterlife journey.
Greek scythian root
Theophrastus, the Greek 'father of botany', described licorice as 'Scythian root', noting it was chewed against thirst — one of the earliest written mentions of the root in Europe.
European cultivation expands
Licorice cultivation took hold across England, Spain, and Italy, with Pontefract in Yorkshire becoming famous for growing the root and, eventually, for the licorice sweets made from it.
Glycyrrhizin identified
Chemists isolated glycyrrhizin as the compound behind licorice's distinctive sweetness, opening the door to its later use as a natural sweetener and flavoring agent in food, tobacco, and pharmaceutical industries.
A global herbal tea staple
Licorice root became a standard ingredient in commercial herbal tea blends worldwide, frequently paired with fennel, chamomile, or mint, and is now widely sold as a caffeine-free, naturally sweet infusion on its own.
What's in the cup
The after-dinner root, by custom
Across the Mediterranean and the Middle East, licorice root has been chewed and steeped after meals for generations, usually paired with fennel or anise. The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health notes that it is unclear whether licorice on its own has any effect on digestive symptoms, so this is a cup taken for its sweetness and its custom, not for anything it does.
Source: NCCIH, National Institutes of Health — Licorice Root
Caffeine-free, and best kept occasional
Licorice contains no caffeine at all, level 0 on our scale, but unlike most herbal infusions it is not an everyday cup. The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health warns that glycyrrhizin can cause serious adverse effects, including an irregular heartbeat, when consumed in large amounts or over the long term, and that even small amounts have been linked to problems in people with hypertension, heart or kidney conditions or a high salt intake. It also considers large amounts of licorice unsafe during pregnancy.
Source: NCCIH, National Institutes of Health — Licorice Root
Brew it like a root, not a leaf
Our catalog brews licorice at 100 °C for 8 minutes with 3 g of cut root per cup: boiling water and a long steep, because a root gives up its flavor far more slowly than a leaf. Whole sticks want even longer, simmered gently in a small pan, and the cup comes out amber and sweet with nothing added.
Naturally sweet without sugar
Glycyrrhizin's intense sweetness means licorice root tea tastes sweet on its own, which is why blenders use a little of it to soften more bitter or astringent herbs without adding sugar. The flavor is smooth and anise-adjacent, sweeter than star anise, with a warm, almost candy-like roundness.
Which licorice is in your cup
Most Western licorice tea is Glycyrrhiza glabra, the species grown around the Mediterranean; the gan cao of Chinese herbal formulas is usually a related species, Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Both share the same sweet compound, and the same caveat on quantity applies to either.
This isn't medical advice. If you have a specific condition, or you are pregnant or taking medication, check with a healthcare provider.
- Free
- Sundays
- 2 min
Drink better tea, one Sunday at a time.
A fact for the table·A shop worth the trip·A better cup·Ritual & kit of the week·Brew better
Grades & Varieties
Whole dried root sticks
Long, woody, unprocessed root sticks with a pale fibrous interior. These are often chewed directly or simmered whole for a slow, mellow extraction with the gentlest sweetness.
Best for
- ✓Slow-simmered decoctions
- ✓Chewing as a natural sweet
- ✓Long-steeped blends
Cut and sifted root
Root chopped into small pieces, the standard format for tea bags and loose-leaf blends. It infuses quickly and evenly, delivering a balanced sweetness without excessive bitterness.
Best for
- ✓Everyday hot infusions
- ✓Tea bag blends
- ✓Pairing with fennel or chamomile
Powdered root
Finely ground root that dissolves more readily, producing a stronger, faster, more concentrated sweetness. Common in apothecary-style blends and as a flavoring agent in other teas.
Best for
- ✓Quick infusions
- ✓Flavoring blends and lattes
- ✓Concentrated sweet notes
Licorice-fennel blend
A traditional pairing of licorice root with fennel seed, both anise-adjacent in flavor, creating a rounder, more aromatic after-dinner infusion than either herb alone.
Best for
- ✓After-dinner ritual
- ✓Milder, rounder anise flavor
- ✓Caffeine-free evening tea
Did you know?
Quantities of licorice root were found among the burial provisions in Tutankhamun's tomb, suggesting ancient Egyptians prepared it as a sweet drink to nourish the afterlife journey.
Foods with this tea
What to Eat with Licorice Root Tea
Licorice root's natural sweetness and anise-adjacent warmth pair beautifully with dark chocolate, citrus, and simple after-dinner treats.
Licorice-Glazed Roasted Carrots with Goat Cheese
Roasted carrots glazed in a reduced licorice root tea with orange and thyme, finished with creamy goat cheese — an easy side dish built around the tea's natural sweetness.
Licorice Root Panna Cotta with Blood Orange
A silky panna cotta infused with licorice root tea and topped with blood orange segments — the tea's gentle anise sweetness needs almost no added sugar.
- Free
- Sundays
- 2 min
Drink better tea, one Sunday at a time.
A fact for the table·A shop worth the trip·A better cup·Ritual & kit of the week·Tea recipes & drinks
Drinks with this tea
Licorice Root and Fennel Seed Infusion
Licorice root and lightly crushed fennel seeds steeped eight to ten minutes in hot water — deeply sweet on its own, anise-scented and caffeine-free, with no sugar added.
Iced Licorice Root and Orange Cooler
Cold-brewed licorice root with fresh orange and a sprig of mint — a refreshing, naturally sweet iced infusion that needs no added sugar.
Licorice Root and Star Anise Mocktail
A non-alcoholic, anise-forward mocktail built on a licorice root reduction, soda water, and lime — a sophisticated sipper with zero alcohol and zero added stimulants.