Liquorice tea can ease digestive discomfort, soothe a sore throat, and support your immune system—but it raises blood pressure in some people and shouldn't be used long-term without knowing your baseline health.

Liquorice root contains compounds called glycyrrhizins that reduce inflammation in your digestive tract and throat. The tea tastes naturally sweet without added sugar, which is why it sits well alongside other functional foods. The catch: regular use can cause your body to retain sodium and lose potassium, which raises blood pressure and can interfere with certain medications. Most herbalists recommend using it for short periods—two to four weeks—rather than daily for months.

The strength of the effect depends on how much you drink and how sensitive your body is. Someone with normal blood pressure who drinks one cup a few times a week will likely notice nothing. Someone on a diuretic or with existing hypertension who drinks it daily could see measurable changes within weeks. This is why starting small and knowing your own numbers matters more than the tea's reputation.

Key Takeaways

  • Liquorice tea reduces inflammation in your throat and digestive system, making it useful for sore throats, acid reflux, and stomach upset.
  • The same compounds that soothe your gut can raise blood pressure and lower potassium over time, so limit use to two to four weeks at a stretch.
  • If you take blood pressure medication, diuretics, or corticosteroids, check with your doctor before drinking liquorice tea regularly.
  • Deglycyrrhizinated liquorice (DGL) removes most of the blood-pressure-raising compound, making it safer for longer use, though it tastes less sweet.

How liquorice tea works in your body

Liquorice root contains glycyrrhizin, the compound responsible for both the tea's benefits and its risks. Glycyrrhizin binds to receptors in your digestive tract that reduce inflammation and increase mucus production—this is why the tea coats and soothes a raw throat or inflamed stomach lining. It also has mild antimicrobial properties, which is why it has been used historically for colds and respiratory infections.

The same compound also affects your kidneys and adrenal glands. It causes your body to hold onto sodium and excrete potassium, which can raise blood pressure and cause water retention. This effect is dose-dependent: a single cup occasionally will not move your numbers, but daily drinking over weeks can produce measurable changes. People with existing high blood pressure, heart disease, or kidney problems are at higher risk of problems.

The effect is not when ready. Most people who develop issues from regular liquorice tea notice them after two to four weeks of daily use. This is why short-term use—a few cups a week for a sore throat or digestive flare—is generally considered safe, while ongoing daily consumption requires caution.

When liquorice tea is most useful

Sore throat and cough: Liquorice tea's mucus-coating effect makes it one of the more soothing options for a raw throat. Steep the root for five to ten minutes and drink it warm. You can combine it with ginger or honey for added comfort. Use it for a few days during an acute illness rather than as a preventive daily drink.

Acid reflux and stomach upset: The anti-inflammatory action can reduce the burning sensation of reflux and calm an irritated stomach lining. Drink it after meals or when symptoms flare. Again, this works best as a short-term tool during a flare-up, not as a daily replacement for addressing the underlying cause.

Immune support during cold season: Liquorice's mild antimicrobial and immune-modulating properties make it a reasonable addition to your routine when you are around sick people or feel something coming on. A few cups a week is a reasonable preventive dose. Daily use for months is not necessary and carries unnecessary risk.

Adrenal fatigue (with caution): Some herbalists recommend liquorice for people recovering from prolonged stress because it supports cortisol production. If you are interested in this use, work with a practitioner who can monitor your blood pressure, because this is the use most likely to cause problems in susceptible people.

Who should avoid or limit liquorice tea

Do not drink liquorice tea regularly if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, or diabetes. The sodium retention and potassium loss can worsen all of these conditions. If you have any of these conditions and want to try liquorice tea for a specific symptom, ask your doctor first and limit yourself to one or two cups during the acute problem only.

If you take any of these medications, check with your doctor or pharmacist before using liquorice tea regularly: blood pressure medications (especially ACE inhibitors or diuretics), corticosteroids, digoxin, or oral contraceptives. Liquorice can reduce the effectiveness of some of these drugs or increase the risk of side effects.

Pregnant and nursing people should avoid liquorice tea. Some research suggests it may affect hormone levels during pregnancy, and it passes into breast milk. The risk is small with occasional use, but not worth taking during these sensitive periods.

If you have never had high blood pressure but use liquorice tea daily for more than a few weeks, check your blood pressure at a pharmacy or clinic. You are looking for a baseline and then a follow-up reading after two to four weeks of regular use. If your systolic pressure (the top number) rises by more than five to ten points, stop the tea and recheck in a week or two.

How to prepare and use liquorice tea

Loose root: Use one teaspoon of dried liquorice root per cup of water. Simmer (not boil) for five to ten minutes, then strain. The longer you steep, the stronger and sweeter the tea. Start with five minutes and adjust to taste. Loose root is cheaper and lets you control the strength, but it requires a strainer or infuser.

Tea bags: Commercial liquorice tea bags are convenient and portion-controlled. Steep for five to seven minutes. Quality varies by brand; look for bags that list liquorice root as the first ingredient rather than a blend where liquorice is secondary.

Blended teas: Many herbal blends include liquorice for sweetness and throat-soothing properties. Check the ingredient list to see how much liquorice is actually in the blend. If liquorice is listed third or later, the amount is probably small enough that the blood pressure risk is minimal, but you are also getting less of the benefit.

Dosing: For acute symptoms like a sore throat, one to three cups a day for three to five days is standard. For preventive use during cold season, one to two cups a week is reasonable. Do not drink more than one cup daily for more than two to four weeks without medical supervision. If you are using it for adrenal support or another ongoing reason, work with an herbalist or doctor who can monitor your response.

Deglycyrrhizinated liquorice (DGL) as a safer alternative

DGL is liquorice root with most of the glycyrrhizin removed through a processing step. It retains the anti-inflammatory and mucus-coating benefits but eliminates most of the blood-pressure-raising effect. This makes it safer for people with hypertension or those who want to use liquorice longer-term.

The trade-off is taste and convenience. DGL tastes less sweet and less like traditional liquorice tea—it is often sold as lozenges or tablets rather than as a loose tea you can steep. DGL lozenges are chewed or dissolved in the mouth, which also means the active compounds contact your throat and mouth directly, which some people prefer for sore throat relief.

If you have high blood pressure or take medications that interact with liquorice, DGL is the better choice. If you are using liquorice tea occasionally for acute symptoms and have normal blood pressure, regular liquorice root is fine and tastes better. If you want to use liquorice regularly for weeks or months, DGL is the safer option.

What to expect and realistic timelines

For a sore throat, you should notice improvement within one to three days of regular use. The tea coats and soothes when ready, but the anti-inflammatory effect builds over a few days. If your throat is not better after five days, the problem likely needs a different approach.

For digestive symptoms like acid reflux or stomach upset, improvement is usually noticeable within a few days to a week. Again, this works best as a short-term tool during a flare, not as a replacement for addressing the underlying cause (diet, stress, medication side effects, or a condition that needs medical attention).

For immune support or adrenal recovery, there is no clear "you should feel this by day X" timeline. These are slow, systemic effects. If you are using liquorice tea for these reasons, you are making a bet that the anti-inflammatory and adaptogenic properties will help over weeks or months. The evidence for these uses is weaker than for sore throat or digestive relief, so manage your expectations accordingly.

Blood pressure changes from regular liquorice use typically appear after two to four weeks of daily consumption. This is why monitoring yourself if you drink it regularly is important—you may not feel anything, but your numbers could be changing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drink liquorice tea every day?

Not safely for more than two to four weeks without monitoring your blood pressure. After that, the sodium-retaining effects accumulate and can raise your pressure or cause water retention. If you want to use it long-term, switch to DGL or work with a doctor who can check your blood pressure and electrolytes regularly.

Does liquorice tea have caffeine?

No. Liquorice root contains no caffeine, so it is safe to drink in the evening. Some commercial blends mix liquorice with black or green tea for flavor, so check the label if you are sensitive to caffeine.

Can I use liquorice tea for weight loss?

No. Liquorice tea does not burn fat or suppress appetite in any meaningful way. The water retention it can cause actually works against weight loss. If you are interested in liquorice for digestive health or throat soothing, those are the realistic benefits.

What does liquorice tea taste like?

Like black licorice candy—sweet, slightly spicy, and earthy. If you dislike black licorice flavor, you will dislike the tea. Blending it with ginger, mint, or honey can soften the flavor. DGL tastes less intensely of liquorice and is often sold as lozenges instead.

Is liquorice tea the same as anise or fennel tea?

No. Anise and fennel are different plants with similar sweet flavors but different compounds and effects. Liquorice root is its own plant with unique anti-inflammatory properties. They are not interchangeable, though all three are used in herbal tea blends.