What Is Licorice?

Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) has been used for thousands of years as a sweetener, flavor and traditional remedy for throat and digestive comfort. Its signature compound, glycyrrhizic acid, is roughly 50 times sweeter than sucrose, which makes the extract a natural sweetening and flavor-masking tool in foods and beverages. Pharmacologically, glycyrrhizic acid is also the compound behind licorice’s classic effects on cortisol metabolism and its traditional use for soothing irritated mucous membranes. Core Nutrix supplies water-soluble extract standardized from 10% to 26% glycyrrhizic acid.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Active content: Glycyrrhizic Acid 10%-26% (HPLC)
• CAS number: 1405-86-3 (Glycyrrhizic Acid)
• Appearance: Yellow-brown fine powder
• Solubility: Water-soluble
• Mesh: 80 mesh
• Sweetness: Roughly 50x sucrose (glycyrrhizin)
• Packaging: 25 kg drum (custom formats available)
• Shelf life: 24 months in sealed, cool, dry storage

Origin & Sourcing

Extracted from licorice roots harvested in traditional growing regions, with the taproots dried, milled and extracted with water before concentration and spray drying. The finished powder is standardized by HPLC for glycyrrhizic acid, with strengths from 10% to 26% and custom targets on request. Quality control covers heavy metals, pesticides and microbiology, and every batch ships with COA and MSDS. Deglycyrrhizinated (DGL) and ammonium glycyrrhizinate variants can be arranged for customers who need them.

Key Benefits

• Natural sweetener roughly 50x sweeter than sucrose
• Masks bitter and off-notes in functional formulas
• Traditional use in throat and digestive comfort formulas
• Water-soluble and beverage-friendly
• Custom strengths from 10% to 26% glycyrrhizic acid
• Long history of use in confectionery and herbal tea

Applications

Licorice-flavored confectionery and candies, herbal teas, throat lozenges and syrups, digestive-support capsules, functional beverages and cosmetics. The sweet note and foaming character also make it a useful flavor-masking and mouthfeel ingredient in complex botanical blends. Beyond flavor and respiratory products, licorice extract appears in digestive teas and herbal syrups, and DGL grades serve daily gastric-comfort capsules. Its foaming character also adds mouthfeel to root-beer and botanical beverage concepts.

Why 2026 Matters

Sugar-reduction targets and clean-label flavor demand are pushing brands toward natural sweetening and flavor-masking tools, and licorice covers both. Respiratory and digestive herbal categories keep growing, and licorice is one of the few botanicals with meaningful use across food, beverage, confectionery and supplements – giving one ingredient multiple SKU applications for OEM customers. Confectionery reformulation and the global herbal-tea boom give licorice steady demand beyond supplements. Its cost-in-use as a flavor-masking tool is far below synthetic alternatives when the botanical character is part of the product concept. And because DGL opens the daily-supplement market while glycyrrhizic acid grades serve flavor and respiratory lines, one botanical covers two distinct commercial spaces from one supply relationship.

Science Snapshot

Glycyrrhizic acid is metabolized in the gut to glycyrrhetinic acid, which inhibits 11-beta-HSD2, the enzyme that protects mineralocorticoid receptors from cortisol. That mechanism explains licorice’s classic effects and also its caution profile at sustained high intake. Traditional and modern use traditional use for throat and gastric comfort mucosa, and deglycyrrhizinated extracts are used for gastric comfort without the mineralocorticoid effects. The 11-beta-HSD2 mechanism also explains licorice’s traditional place in respiratory formulas: soothing irritated mucosa appears to involve the local action of glycyrrhetinic acid and the triterpene fraction. Modern extraction focuses on preserving glycyrrhizic acid through low-temperature concentration, because the acid is heat-sensitive. For food use, the sweetness synergy between glycyrrhizin and other sweeteners is well documented, which is why licorice appears in flavor systems where sugar is reduced.

Quality & Specifications

• Actives: Glycyrrhizic Acid 10%-26% (HPLC)
• Appearance: Yellow-brown fine powder
• Solubility: Water-soluble
• Mesh: 80 mesh
• Packaging: 25 kg drums (custom formats available)
• Shelf life: 24 months in sealed, cool, dry storage

Safety & Regulatory

Fine for food use at normal flavoring levels. Sustained high intake of glycyrrhizin can raise blood pressure, so high-dose daily supplementation should be reviewed by a healthcare professional; DGL grades are the standard choice for daily digestive use.

Formulation Notes

The powder dissolves well in hot or cold water for teas, syrups and beverages, and its 80 mesh particle size suits capsule and tablet manufacturing. Its strong sweetness covers bitter actives such as caffeine, botanicals and electrolytes. For daily-dose capsules, consider DGL; for flavor and sweetening, standard glycyrrhizic acid grades give the best cost-in-use. Pairs with menthol and honey flavor in throat products.

How It Compares

• Glycyrrhizic acid vs DGL: standard extract carries sweetness and the full botanical profile; DGL removes glycyrrhizin for daily gastric-comfort use without blood-pressure concerns.
• Licorice vs stevia: both are natural sweeteners, but licorice adds flavor, foam and herbal character, while stevia is a high-intensity zero-calorie sweetener.
• Licorice vs monk fruit: monk fruit provides clean high-intensity sweetness; licorice provides bulk flavor, masking and traditional herbal positioning.
• 10% vs 26% grades: lower strengths suit flavor work, while high strengths suit concentrated syrups and supplement dosing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What strengths do you supply?

Glycyrrhizic acid from 10% to 26% (HPLC), with custom strengths available on request.

Can you provide a COA and third-party test report?

Yes. Every batch ships with a Certificate of Analysis, and third-party testing is available on request.

What is the MOQ and packaging?

Standard packaging is a 25kg drum. Please contact us for current MOQ and sample availability.

Is deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) available?

Yes, DGL and ammonium glycyrrhizinate variants can be arranged for customers who need them.

How sweet is it?

Glycyrrhizic acid is roughly 50 times sweeter than sucrose, with a characteristic lingering licorice note.

Can it replace sugar in beverages?

It works as a natural sweetener and flavor, though most beverage formulators blend it with other sweeteners for a clean profile.

Is it food grade?

Yes. The extract is produced and tested to food-grade specifications for confectionery, beverage and supplement use.

How to Get Started

1. Tell us your format and target dose – capsules, powders, tablets, gummies or beverages.
2. We confirm the matching grade, send the specification sheet and a free sample.
3. Approve the sample and run a trial batch; we lock the COA and lead time.
4. Scale to full production with batch-to-batch consistency guaranteed.