Licorice Root Tea: Benefits, Safety Risks & What Evidence Shows

Quick answer: Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is a naturally sweet botanical used in foods and herbal infusions. But its traditional reputation is not clinical proof that licorice tea treats reflux, fatigue, infections, or any other condition. The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says there is not enough high-quality evidence to clearly support licorice for any health condition. Licorice also contains glycyrrhizin, which can raise blood pressure, lower potassium, and in some circumstances cause serious heart problems. The form of licorice, amount consumed, medications, and personal health conditions matter.

Common questions from search

Is licorice root tea good for acid reflux?

The available evidence does not establish that a dried-root infusion treats acid reflux. NCCIH reports that effects of licorice-only products on digestive symptoms remain uncertain. Avoid substituting tea for treatment of persistent symptoms.

Does licorice root lower blood pressure?

No such claim is supported for ordinary licorice root tea. Glycyrrhizin-containing preparations may instead increase blood pressure. People with hypertension should discuss licorice exposure with a clinician.

Is licorice tea the same as DGL licorice?

No. DGL is a specially processed preparation; ordinary dried licorice root is not automatically deglycyrrhizinated.

Is licorice root caffeine-free?

The root itself does not naturally contain caffeine, but a tea blend can include caffeinated ingredients. Check the complete ingredient list of the product you are considering.

Can licorice root replace a medicine?

No. It should not be used to treat or prevent infections, ulcers, cardiovascular problems, or other diseases in place of established care.

What exactly is licorice root?

True licorice comes from the root of a plant in the legume family. Dried root pieces have a distinctive lingering sweetness with earthy, anise-like notes. Licorice-flavored candy does not always contain licorice root: some sweets use anise flavoring instead. Dried root used for tea, candy, concentrated extract, and deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) are different preparations and should not be treated as interchangeable.

DGL stands for deglycyrrhizinated licorice, a processed form from which much of the glycyrrhizin has been removed. Ordinary whole-root tea is not DGL. Unless a seller has documented testing, do not assume that a dried-root pouch has a standardized or reduced glycyrrhizin content.

What does the research actually say about licorice root benefits?

Digestive discomfort, reflux, and ulcers

Licorice often appears in articles about heartburn, indigestion, and stomach ulcers, but different studies use different products. NCCIH says it remains unclear whether licorice-only products improve digestive symptoms. Results from a combined herbal product or a specialized extract cannot establish that ordinary dried-root tea relieves reflux or heals ulcers. Persistent or worsening symptoms call for appropriate medical care rather than experiments with an herbal drink.

Stress, “adrenal fatigue,” and energy

There is no good basis to promise that drinking licorice root tea treats hormonal disorders, “adrenal fatigue,” chronic tiredness, or stress-related illness. Laboratory studies and traditional uses do not demonstrate clinical outcomes from a cup of tea. Ongoing fatigue can have many causes and deserves an evaluation if it persists.

Immune, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory claims

Some licorice compounds have been studied in laboratory settings. That is not the same as proving that tea prevents or treats a viral infection or an inflammatory disease in people. Licorice tea should never replace a prescribed medication, vaccination, or other recommended care. The evidence is preparation-specific, and it must not be transferred to a retail tea without supporting trials.

Why claims about topical licorice are not claims about tea

NCCIH summarizes preliminary research involving particular topical preparations, mouth rinses, and gargles for limited uses. They differ from a swallowed root infusion in concentration, route, duration, and exposure. An encouraging result in one preparation does not establish a benefit for another.

Safety comes before any wellness promise

Glycyrrhizin is the central safety issue. NCCIH warns that licorice can have serious effects, including irregular heart rhythms, particularly with prolonged or high exposure. The concern is especially relevant to people with high blood pressure, heart or kidney disease, or high salt intake. Licorice may interact with medications, including corticosteroids. Pregnancy is another important reason to seek clinical advice rather than use licorice routinely. People who are breastfeeding should also discuss use with a clinician because safety data are limited.

In a 2024 systematic review of eight randomized trials, preparations in which glycyrrhizic acid was the main constituent increased average systolic and diastolic blood pressure. This supports taking the risk seriously, but it does not tell us the effect of an individual The Rike tea pouch. The amount of glycyrrhizin in a given brew has not been established by a batch-specific assay supplied for these listings.

Can you drink licorice tea every day? We cannot provide a universal safe daily amount for these products. A teaspoon amount in a recipe, a friend's routine, or a traditional story is not a clinical safety threshold. Ask a qualified clinician or pharmacist before regular use, especially with medicines, pregnancy, high blood pressure, or heart and kidney conditions.

Licorice root tea vs. DGL vs. candy: a practical comparison

What does The Rike actually sell?

The Rike lists 100 g of cut dried Glycyrrhiza glabra root and a separate listing advertised as two 100 g packs of dried licorice root pieces. These are described as botanical ingredients for flavorful infusions, not treatments or DGL supplements. Packaging, product identity, and preparation instructions should be checked against the actual physical label. The current listings do not establish a batch-tested glycyrrhizin level or clinical efficacy.

The meaningful buying questions are concrete: Is it genuine Glycyrrhiza glabra? Are you purchasing cut or sliced dried root rather than a capsule or DGL extract? What does the actual package say about quantity and intended use? Do you have a health condition or prescription that makes glycyrrhizin exposure a concern? Those questions are more useful than ranking herbs by supposed miracle benefits.

Sources and evidence limits

This guide explains general botanical facts and independent research; it is not a clinical trial of the retail products linked above. No batch-specific glycyrrhizin result, clinical effectiveness test, or validated safe daily exposure was supplied for these packs. The safety discussion is therefore intentionally cautious.

• National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH): Licorice Root — Usefulness and Safety
• Wu et al. (2024): Systematic review of licorice constituents and blood pressure
• Penninkilampi et al. (2017): Systematic review of licorice ingestion, blood pressure, and potassium