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Best Licorice Root Teas: 4 Sweet, Caffeine-Free Brews Reviewed

Why We Trust These Reviews

TeaTrade's editorial team has been evaluating teas and tisanes since 2009. We purchase every product at retail, brew to the manufacturer's recommended parameters, and assess flavour, aroma, mouthfeel, and value. None of the suppliers featured here have paid for inclusion, and we receive no commission on clicks or sales. Our verdicts reflect only our tasting notes and the broader context of the UK market in 2026.

Licorice root tea remains one of the few herbal infusions that delivers genuine sweetness without a gram of added sugar—a neat trick that's kept it on apothecaries' shelves for millennia. In 2026 the UK market divides neatly into two camps: organic teabags from household names and loose-leaf cuts aimed at the herbalist crowd. We've reviewed four popular options available on Amazon.co.uk to see which best balance convenience, flavour intensity, and value.

The key to a good licorice root tea is a clean, naturally sweet profile with earthy undertones and just a whisper of anise—no cloying candy notes, no dusty aftertaste. Clipper's organic sachets have long dominated the teabag space, while Alpi Nature represents the loose-root approach favoured by traditionalists. Both formats work; it comes down to whether you prize grab-and-go ease or the ritual of steeping whole root. Because glycyrrhizin is a bioactive compound, we also note dosing transparency where present.

Below you'll find our rankings, from the all-rounder that does it all to the specialist bulk buy. Every product was brewed to the supplier's instructions and tasted black (no milk, no honey) to judge the root on its merits. Let's pour.

How we assess these products

Our picks are research-led. We compare like-for-like on quality, value, ease of use and suitability for the job, drawing on manufacturer specifications and patterns across large numbers of verified customer reviews rather than cherry-picked quotes. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, but this never affects how we rank or what we recommend. Read our full editorial standards.

Best Overall
Clipper Organic Liquorice Tea 120-bag bulk pack with six boxes of unbleached teabags

1. Clipper Organic Liquorice Tea Bags | 120 Infusion Liquorice Root Teabag Sachets (6 x Boxes of 20) | Bulk Buy for Home & Catering | Caffeine-Free Herbal Tea Bags | Natural, Unbleached & Biodegradable

★★★★★ (The All-Round Champion)

Clipper's 120-sachet bulk pack is the sweet spot for households and small offices: organic certification, unbleached biodegradable bags, and a reliably clean, naturally sweet brew that sidesteps any hint of the synthetic sweetness that plagues cheaper blends. Each box contains six 20-bag cartons, so you can squirrel one away in the desk drawer without cluttering the cupboard. The infusion is full-bodied, gently aniseed, and satisfyingly earthy—perfect for those mid-afternoon sugar cravings the brand rightly highlights. Because it's caffeine-free and Soil Association approved, it ticks every box for health-conscious drinkers who still want convenience.

Pros:
  • Soil Association organic, no pesticides or GM ingredients
  • Plastic-free, unbleached, biodegradable teabags
  • Bulk 120-bag pack offers excellent per-cup value
  • Clean, naturally sweet flavour with no synthetic aftertaste
Cons:
  • Teabag format limits brew strength vs loose root
  • No glycyrrhizin content stated on packaging
Check Price on Amazon
Best Loose-Leaf
Alpi Nature Licorice Root Tea 500 g loose-leaf bag of dried, cut liquorice root

2. Alpi Nature Licorice Root Tea 500g 1.1 lb, Dried and Cut Liquorice Root, Licorice Loose Tea

★★★★☆ (The Herbalist's Choice)

Alpi Nature's 500 g bag delivers dried, cut licorice root in loose form—the format traditionalists prefer when they want full control over steep time and concentration. The root pieces are clean, aromatic, and brew into a robust, earthy liquor with pronounced anise notes and a lingering natural sweetness. Brewing instructions are straightforward (1–2 tsp per 250 ml, five to seven minutes), and a strainer or infuser is essential. At half a kilogram this pack will last a dedicated sipper months, making it excellent value if you're already committed to licorice root's unique profile. Quality across the value chain is evident, though the lack of organic certification may give some pause.

Pros:
  • 500 g loose root offers months of daily brewing
  • Full control over strength and steep time
  • Rich, aromatic flavour with natural sweetness and anise
  • Commitment to quality sourcing and packaging standards
Cons:
  • Requires strainer or infuser—not grab-and-go
  • No organic certification mentioned
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Best Value
Clipper Organic Liquorice Tea 20-bag carton with unbleached teabags

3. Clipper Organic Liquorice Tea 20 Bags

★★★★☆ (The Starter Pack)

Clipper's 20-bag box is the single-serve introduction to organic licorice tea—ideal if you're curious but not yet ready to commit to 120 sachets. The infusion is identical to its big sibling: naturally sweet, full-flavoured, and caffeine-free. It's the same unbleached, biodegradable bag, the same Soil Association pedigree. The only trade-off is price per cup, which inevitably rises when you buy smaller quantities. Still, for trialling a new tisane or gifting to a sceptical friend, this format makes perfect sense. Just don't expect the economies of scale you get with the bulk pack.

Pros:
  • Organic, naturally sweet, distinctive flavour
  • Same quality and biodegradable bags as the bulk pack
  • Perfect trial size for new drinkers
  • Widely stocked and easy to find
Cons:
  • Higher per-bag cost than the 120-sachet pack
  • Limited appeal for habitual licorice drinkers
Check Price on Amazon
Best Mid-Size Loose
Alpi Nature Licorice Root Tea 250 g loose-leaf bag of dried, cut liquorice root

4. Alpi Nature Licorice Root Tea 250g 8.8 oz, Dried and Cut Liquorice Root, Licorice Loose Tea

★★★★☆ (The Middle Ground)

Alpi Nature's 250 g pack splits the difference between teabag convenience and bulk commitment, offering loose-cut licorice root in a more manageable quantity. The root itself is identical to the 500 g variant—clean, aromatic, and naturally sweet with earthy anise notes—and the brewing ritual remains the same. This size suits occasional sippers or those sharing cupboard space with a menagerie of other herbal infusions. It's a sensible entry point to loose-leaf licorice, though per-gram value inevitably lags the half-kilo bag. If you're testing the waters before scaling up, this is your friend.

Pros:
  • Manageable 250 g size for occasional drinkers
  • Same quality cut root as the 500 g pack
  • Naturally sweet, aromatic, and earthy flavour
  • Allows full control over brew strength
Cons:
  • Less economical per gram than the 500 g option
  • Still requires infuser or strainer
Check Price on Amazon

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Health disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Tea is not a treatment or cure for any medical condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about health concerns, especially if you are pregnant, taking medication, or managing a condition.