Is Licorice Root Tea Safe During Pregnancy?

Short answer

Avoid licorice root tea during pregnancy unless your clinician gives specific advice. NHS tells pregnant people to avoid teas containing liquorice root, and NCCIH says large oral licorice extract intake during pregnancy is unsafe.

Avoid licorice root tea

What is the safest way to think about this?

NHS pregnancy food guidance says to avoid teas containing liquorice root and explains that liquorice root may be harmful to the baby's development. NCCIH says licorice contains glycyrrhizin, which can cause serious adverse effects in some people, and says large oral licorice extract intake during pregnancy is unsafe. Medsafe also notes that liquorice extract can lower potassium and raise blood pressure in some situations. The practical label check is both spellings: licorice and liquorice.

Working through a longer grocery list? The Pregnancy Food Safety Hub gathers all 43 SafeMama food and drink guides, grouped by pasteurization, cooking temperature and mercury questions.

What is generally okay?

Choose herbal teas without licorice root, and keep herbal tea intake modest if you follow NHS guidance.
Read blend labels for licorice, liquorice, Glycyrrhiza, gan cao or sweet root.
Ask your clinician before using a licorice supplement, extract, lozenge or medicinal herbal blend.

What should you avoid or double-check?

Avoid herbal teas containing licorice root during pregnancy.
Avoid licorice root supplements or extracts unless your clinician specifically recommends one.
Do not assume a tea is pregnancy-friendly because it is caffeine-free or sold as natural.

How SafeMama helps

SafeMama can flag licorice root, liquorice root, Glycyrrhiza, gan cao, herbal tea blends, throat lozenges, supplement extracts, blood pressure cautions and breastfeeding uncertainty.

Open the SafeMama app, scan the barcode or search the ingredient, then use the result as a starting point for a conversation with your healthcare provider.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Is licorice root tea safe during pregnancy?

The cautious answer is no. NHS says to avoid herbal teas containing liquorice root during pregnancy.

What does NCCIH say about licorice root in pregnancy?

NCCIH says large oral licorice extract intake during pregnancy is unsafe and may increase the risk of delivery before 38 weeks.

Is liquorice the same as licorice?

Yes. UK labels often use liquorice, while US labels often use licorice. Check for both spellings, plus Glycyrrhiza on supplement or herbal labels.

Is licorice candy the same as licorice root tea?

Not always. NCCIH notes that many US licorice-flavored products use anise oil instead of actual licorice. Read the ingredient list rather than relying on the flavor name.

What if I drank licorice root tea once while pregnant?

Do not panic. Stop using it, save the label if you can, and ask your clinician if you have symptoms, high blood pressure, kidney or heart conditions, or repeated exposure.

Check products faster with SafeMama

SafeMama scans food, skincare, medicine and supplement labels and explains pregnancy-safety flags using published guidance from authorities like ACOG, NHS, FDA, CDC and WHO.

Download SafeMama