What to Mix with Licorice Root Tea for Enhanced Flavor and Benefits

January 9, 2026 •

4 min read

Historically, licorice root has been used in both traditional medicine and confectionery across many cultures, celebrated for its distinct sweet flavor. When preparing a brew, the question of what to mix with licorice root tea arises for many who wish to balance its potent taste or amplify its health-promoting properties. This guide explores the best pairings for a delicious and beneficial cup.

Quick Summary

This guide provides a comprehensive list of delicious and beneficial ingredients to pair with licorice root tea, exploring options for sweetness, warmth, and specific health goals. It details the best herbal and spice pairings to complement its natural sweetness.

Key Points

Flavor Enhancement: Mix licorice root tea with ingredients like mint, fennel, or ginger to balance its potent sweetness and create a more complex flavor profile.
Immune Support: Add fresh ginger and echinacea root to licorice tea to create a powerful immune-boosting tonic, especially useful during cold and flu season.
Digestive Aid: Combine licorice root with mint leaves or fennel seeds to aid digestion and soothe the stomach after meals.
Natural Sweeteners: While licorice root is sweet, you can enhance it or mellow its bitterness with natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup for a richer taste.
Soothing Effects: For a classic sore throat remedy, combine warm licorice root tea with a spoonful of honey for maximum soothing properties.
Versatility: Licorice root serves as a versatile base for many different herbal blends, from calming Aveda-style teas with peppermint to spicy, warming chai mixes with cinnamon and star anise.

Why Mix with Licorice Root Tea?

Licorice root possesses a uniquely sweet flavor, often described as similar to anise. While enjoyable on its own, its intensity can be overwhelming for some palates. Mixing it with other ingredients can create a more balanced and complex flavor profile. Beyond flavor, specific additions can also augment licorice root's benefits, such as soothing sore throats, aiding digestion, or supporting respiratory health. The key is to find ingredients that complement its earthy sweetness without overpowering it.

Flavorful Additions for Your Tea

Mint Leaves: Fresh or dried mint adds a bright, cooling contrast to licorice's sweetness. This combination is excellent for digestion and can be very refreshing. Just a few leaves or a pinch of dried mint is all you need.
Fennel Seeds: For those who enjoy the anise-like notes, fennel seeds are a natural pairing. They can intensify the licorice flavor while adding their own aromatic warmth. It's also a classic remedy for digestive discomfort.
Cinnamon Sticks: A cinnamon stick adds a spicy, sweet warmth that complements licorice root beautifully. This mix is particularly comforting and is a staple in many chai-style preparations. It's a perfect choice for a cozy evening drink.
Ginger Root: Freshly grated ginger introduces a zesty, fiery kick that cuts through the sweetness of the licorice. This potent combination is known for its immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory properties, making it a favorite during cold and flu season.
Lemon: A squeeze of fresh lemon juice adds a citrusy, acidic brightness that provides a refreshing balance to the deep, earthy sweetness of licorice root. A slice of lemon can also be added for a fragrant garnish.

Sweetening and Smoothing the Brew

Licorice root is naturally sweet, so adding more sweeteners might seem redundant. However, some people prefer to enhance the sweetness or mellow the bitterness that can sometimes accompany the root. Here are some natural options:

Honey: Raw honey is a classic and healthy choice for sweetening licorice root tea. It adds its own floral notes and has excellent soothing properties for the throat. The combination of licorice and honey is a traditional remedy for coughs and sore throats.
Maple Syrup: For a different kind of sweetness, maple syrup provides a rich, caramel-like flavor. This pairing works well in a more robust brew with cinnamon or ginger.
Stevia: If you are watching your sugar intake, stevia is a calorie-free, natural alternative. Use it sparingly, as its sweetness is very concentrated.

Comparison of Licorice Root Tea Pairings


Addition	Flavor Profile	Health Benefits	Best For	Preparation Notes
Mint	Cool, fresh, and sweet	Digestion, cooling effect	Refreshing summer tea	Add fresh or dried leaves after steeping.
Fennel Seeds	Aromatic, anise-like, sweet	Digestion, breath freshener	Enhancing licorice flavor	Steep with licorice root.
Cinnamon	Warm, spicy, and sweet	Circulation, warming effect	Cozy evening tea	Add a stick or powder during ste brewing.
Ginger	Zesty, spicy, warming	Immune support, anti-inflammatory	Cold and flu season	Grate fresh root and simmer with licorice.
Honey	Floral, rich, and sweet	Soothing, throat relief	Sweetening, medicinal use	Add after the tea has cooled slightly.
Echinacea	Earthy, herbaceous, woody	Immune system support	Wellness tonic	Steep with licorice root for a potent blend.

Brewing a Comprehensive Wellness Tonic

To create a powerful wellness blend, consider combining licorice with other potent herbs. A popular tonic includes licorice, echinacea, and ginger. This combination provides immune support, soothes respiratory discomfort, and offers a pleasant spicy-sweet taste. Another approach is creating a chai-like blend using licorice root, cinnamon, ginger, and star anise. Aveda's Comfort Tea is a well-known proprietary blend that famously combines licorice root with peppermint and basil for a calming, restorative effect. These multi-ingredient combinations demonstrate how versatile licorice root can be when used as a base.

Conclusion

Licorice root tea offers a sweet, earthy base that is incredibly versatile. Whether you're aiming to simply improve its flavor profile or boost its therapeutic properties, there is a wide array of ingredients to consider. From the refreshing coolness of mint to the fiery warmth of ginger, the right combination can transform a simple cup of tea into a complex and comforting beverage. For those seeking targeted wellness, combining licorice with herbs like echinacea can create a powerful, soothing tonic. Experimenting with different pairings is the best way to discover your favorite blend, unlocking a new world of taste and benefits.

External Resource

For more detailed information on herbal teas and their health applications, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health is an excellent resource: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH).

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, licorice root can be mixed with other teas. It pairs particularly well with earthy teas like black tea to create a chai-like blend or with green tea for an interesting sweet-and-nutty flavor. Always consider the flavor balance to avoid overpowering the base tea.

For most people, it is safe to mix licorice root with other herbs. Common and safe pairings include mint, ginger, and echinacea. However, individuals with certain health conditions or those taking specific medications should consult a healthcare professional before consuming herbal blends.

To make licorice root tea more soothing for a sore throat, add a tablespoon of honey after brewing. Adding a squeeze of lemon and some freshly grated ginger can also increase its effectiveness and provide additional comfort.

To brew a mix, combine the licorice root with other hard spices or roots, such as ginger or cinnamon sticks, and simmer them in water for about 10-15 minutes. For more delicate ingredients like mint leaves, add them towards the end of the steeping process to preserve their flavor.

To balance the strong taste of licorice root, try pairing it with contrasting or complementary flavors. Mint provides a cooling effect, lemon offers a zesty brightness, and ginger adds a spicy kick that can cut through the sweetness. Using a smaller amount of licorice root can also help.

For a unique twist, consider a licorice-anise-cinnamon chai, or a soothing blend with chamomile and lavender. For a digestive aid, licorice pairs well with cardamom and cloves. Experimenting with small quantities is the best way to discover new favorites.

Yes, adding milk or a milk alternative can create a creamy and comforting beverage. The addition of milk can mellow the intense sweetness of the licorice root and create a flavor profile similar to a chai latte, especially when combined with warming spices like cinnamon and ginger.