Licorice Root Tea Safety: Blood Pressure, Glycyrrhizin & Who Should Avoid It

Short answer: If you have high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, or take medicines that can interact with licorice, do not assume licorice root tea is a harmless everyday drink. Licorice root naturally contains glycyrrhizin. The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) notes that glycyrrhizin can cause serious adverse effects and that even small amounts from licorice products have been linked to severe effects in people with hypertension or heart or kidney conditions.

This is why a useful licorice tea guide should start with safety, not with a universal number of cups per day.

What is licorice root tea?

Licorice root tea is an infusion made from the root of plants in the Glycyrrhiza genus. The Rike's current loose-root product is labeled Glycyrrhiza glabra. Kew's Plants of the World Online accepts Glycyrrhiza glabra L. as a recognized species in the Fabaceae family and notes that its underground parts contain glycyrrhizin, the compound responsible for much of licorice's characteristic sweetness.

That sweetness is one reason licorice root is attractive in herbal blends. It is also the reason safety deserves more attention than the usual assumption that a naturally sweet herbal tea can be consumed freely.

Why does glycyrrhizin matter for blood pressure?

NCCIH identifies glycyrrhizin, also called glycyrrhizic acid, as the component of licorice associated with potentially serious adverse effects. Risk is higher with large amounts or long-term use, but NCCIH also specifically warns that people with hypertension and people with heart or kidney conditions may experience serious effects even at relatively small amounts.

NCCIH's hypertension guidance separately lists licorice root among supplements and herbs that may raise blood pressure. If you already monitor blood pressure, licorice is therefore not a sensible herb to experiment with casually as a daily wellness routine.

Is there a safe maximum amount of licorice root tea?

There is no responsible one-size-fits-all cup limit that this article can give to someone with high blood pressure. Loose-root tea does not tell you exactly how much glycyrrhizin ends up in each finished cup, and concentration can vary with the root material, the amount used, water volume, steep time, and repeated use.

For people with hypertension, heart disease, kidney disease, or other risk factors, the practical takeaway is more important than a made-up precision number: ask a qualified clinician or pharmacist before regular use rather than trying to stay below an internet-derived daily limit.

Who should be especially cautious?

Extra caution is appropriate if you have high blood pressure, a heart condition, a kidney condition, or use prescription medicines. NCCIH also reports interactions between licorice and corticosteroids. Pregnancy is another reason to discuss oral licorice products with a healthcare professional rather than self-prescribing them.

If you develop concerning symptoms after consuming licorice, especially an irregular heartbeat, marked weakness, swelling, or a significant blood-pressure change, stop using it and seek medical guidance.

DGL is not the same thing as ordinary licorice root tea

You may see products called deglycyrrhizinated licorice, or DGL. Those products have had most glycyrrhizin removed and should not be treated as equivalent to plain dried licorice root. NCCIH discusses DGL separately from glycyrrhizin-containing licorice products.

The current The Rike listing is plain dried Glycyrrhiza glabra root and does not describe itself as a DGL product. Do not use safety information for DGL as if it automatically applies to an ordinary licorice root infusion.

What this means if you are considering The Rike licorice root tea

If you are shopping for plain dried licorice root because you enjoy its naturally sweet, anise-like herbal flavor, you can view The Rike's current Glycyrrhiza glabra licorice root tea. The product page is a first-party source for the product's form, species label, flavor description, and brewing directions. It is not evidence that the tea is appropriate for a medical condition.

If blood pressure, heart health, kidney health, pregnancy, or medication interactions apply to you, safety comes before flavor experimentation.

Sources & evidence scope

• NCCIH: Licorice Root — Usefulness and Safety — supports the glycyrrhizin safety warnings, higher-risk groups, DGL distinction, and reported corticosteroid interaction.
• NCCIH: Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) — supports the warning that licorice root may raise blood pressure and should not replace prescribed treatment.
• Kew Plants of the World Online: Glycyrrhiza glabra — supports botanical identity and general plant information.
• European Medicines Agency: Liquiritiae radix — provides the current European herbal monograph record for licorice root species.

Evidence note: These sources support safety and botanical context. They do not establish that ordinary licorice root tea treats high blood pressure or any other disease.