From The Back Burner, No. 1 · a weekly letter from the Sacred Plant Co Crew · Last Updated: November 11, 2026
What gives black licorice its flavor? If you answered "licorice root," you're in good company. Most people do. The sharp, aromatic note we call licorice comes mostly from anethole, a compound found in anise seed, fennel and star anise, and many "licorice" products sold in the US contain no licorice root at all; they are flavored with anise oil instead2.
Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) does something different. It brings sweetness, and a lot of it. So the flavor almost everyone files under one name is really two plants doing two jobs: one supplies the aroma, the other supplies the sugar-like sweetness underneath it.
This first Back Burner letter explains why, shows you how to prove it at your own counter with two teacups, and, as with everything we sell, puts the lab numbers for our licorice root lot on the page. If you have never read a lab report before, our guide on how to read a Certificate of Analysis walks through one line by line.
Key Takeaways
- Many black licorice products sold in the United States contain no licorice root and are flavored with anise oil instead, according to the US National Institutes of Health.2
- Glycyrrhizin, the main sweet compound in licorice root, is almost 50 times sweeter than table sugar and makes up about 10% of the dried root's weight.1
- Trans-anethole typically makes up 72% to 92% of the aromatic compounds in star anise (Illicium verum), which is why star anise smells like "licorice" even though it is unrelated to licorice root.5
- Sacred Plant Co licorice root lot LICR-5790 tested lead at 0.12 ppm against a 3 ppm release limit and arsenic at 0.17 ppm against a 1 ppm limit.10
- The bag tasting notes on Sacred Plant Co star anise read Licorice, Honey, Lemon; the notes on its licorice root read Stevia, Vanilla, Earth.
Does Black Licorice Actually Come From Licorice Root?
Usually not: most black licorice sold in the US gets its sharp, aromatic flavor from anise oil, which is rich in anethole, while real licorice root contributes mainly sweetness and an earthy depth.
Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is a perennial legume root in the pea family (Fabaceae) traditionally used to sweeten and harmonize herbal formulas, characterized by glycyrrhizin, a saponin almost 50 times sweeter than sucrose.1
The plant's name already tells you its job. Glycyrrhiza comes from the Greek for "sweet root," and the Greek physician Dioscorides described it under that name in the first century8. Glycyrrhizin makes up about 10% of the dried root by weight1, which is why a teaspoon of cut root can sweeten a whole cup without any sugar.
What it does not deliver is much of the sharp, perfumed note people expect. Taste a cup of plain licorice root tea and you get honeyed sweetness and a soft earthiness. The bag notes on our current licorice root read Stevia, Vanilla, Earth, and "stevia" is the right word: the sweetness arrives a beat late and stays on the tongue long after you swallow. If you want the full picture of what the root is traditionally used for and how much is sensible per day, our complete licorice root guide, including published daily limits, picks up where this letter leaves off.
The aromatic half of "licorice" comes from anethole. The US National Institutes of Health notes that anise oil, which smells and tastes like licorice, is often used in place of actual licorice in US products2. That is the flavor in most black jelly beans and twists.
Four Plants, One Familiar Flavor: How Licorice Root, Star Anise, Anise and Fennel Compare
Licorice root supplies sweetness through glycyrrhizin, while star anise, anise seed and fennel all supply the aromatic "licorice" note through the same compound, trans-anethole. The table puts the four side by side.
| Plant | Latin name | Family | Part used | Signature compound | What it brings to the "licorice" flavor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licorice root | Glycyrrhiza glabra | Fabaceae (pea family) | Root | Glycyrrhizin, about 10% of dry root weight1 | Sweetness and earthy depth |
| Star anise | Illicium verum | Schisandraceae | Star-shaped fruit (pod) | Trans-anethole, typically 72% to 92%5 | The sharp, sweet-smelling aroma |
| Anise seed | Pimpinella anisum | Apiaceae (carrot family) | Seed (dried fruit) | Trans-anethole | The same aroma; the source of the anise oil used in candy |
| Fennel seed | Foeniculum vulgare | Apiaceae (carrot family) | Seed (dried fruit) | Trans-anethole, with fenchone in some types | A softer anise note with a green, herbal edge |
| Our lab record | Licorice root: lot LICR-5790 results published below. Star anise: lab results not yet published for the current lot (see the lab results section). | ||||
Three Unrelated Plants, One Molecule
Star anise, anise and fennel share anethole even though star anise sits on one of the oldest branches of the flowering-plant tree and anise and fennel belong to the carrot family, far away on that tree.
Anise seed (Pimpinella anisum) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) are close cousins in the Apiaceae, the family that also gives us carrots, dill and parsley. Star anise (Illicium verum) is an evergreen tree in the Schisandraceae, part of the Austrobaileyales, a lineage that branched off near the base of the flowering-plant family tree6.
So star anise did not inherit its anethole from the carrot family. Two very distant lineages ended up producing the same aroma compound, which is why a pod from a tree and a seed from a feathery herb can make the same candy taste. If you cook with star anise already, our full star anise guide, from pho broth to five-spice goes deeper on the tree and its traditions.
Why Would a Plant Make So Much Anethole?
The leading explanation is defense: in laboratory studies, star anise extracts and their main compound, trans-anethole, repel or kill insects that attack stored grain and food.
Two studies make the case well. In a 2014 study, star anise fruit extracts were tested against adult maize weevils, a common grain pest. The ethyl acetate extract repelled 76.9% of the weevils and killed 94.5% of them on contact3. A 2022 study tested star anise essential oil against Indian meal moth larvae, the pantry moth that gets into flour and dried fruit. The oil was 94.24% trans-anethole, and at 1.0 mg per square centimeter it repelled 94% of the larvae after three hours4. The authors identified trans-anethole as the main active compound.
These are laboratory results against pests, not proof of exactly why the tree evolved the compound. Still, the pattern is a common one in aromatic plants: a smell that people love may, for the plant, simply be a defense.
Anethole belongs to the class of plant chemistry called secondary metabolites, the compounds a plant makes to deal with its surroundings rather than to grow. That is the same class of chemistry at the center of how we think about soil.
The Soil-to-Potency Thesis is Sacred Plant Co's foundational principle that microbial diversity in living soil directly increases secondary metabolite production in medicinal herbs.
We believe soil health translates to medicinal potency, and the soil measurements behind that view are laid out in our report on a 400% increase in soil biology in one season.
What Good Star Anise and Licorice Root Smell and Taste Like
Good star anise smells sharp, sweet and unmistakably anise the moment the bag opens, and good licorice root smells mellow and sugary; a stale lot of either smells faint, dusty or musty.
Star anise. The bag notes on our current star anise read Licorice, Honey, Lemon. The licorice note is the anethole; the honey and lemon show up as a rounder sweetness and a bright lift on the finish. Look for whole, unbroken stars with a reddish-brown color and glossy seeds. Whole pods hold their aromatic oils far longer than ground spice, so we pack them whole; our guide to buying and storing herbs in bulk covers jars, light and shelf life.
Licorice root. The bag notes read Stevia, Vanilla, Earth. Break a piece and the center should look cream to pale yellow, and the smell should be sweet rather than woody. A dull, papery smell or a musty note means the root has been sitting too long or stored damp. Licorice's sweetness is also why herbalists reach for it as a softener; it rounds out sharper herbs in blends like The Floating Guru, our most popular tea built around licorice root, and it contrasts nicely with the slippery mildness explained in licorice root vs. marshmallow root.
The Two-Teacup Experiment: Taste the Difference Yourself
Brew star anise and licorice root in separate cups, taste each one, then blend them, and you will taste the "licorice" flavor split into its aroma half and its sweetness half. Ask everyone to guess which cup will taste like licorice before anyone sips.
The Two-Teacup Experiment
You will need:
- 1 whole star anise pod
- 1 teaspoon cut and sifted licorice root
- 2 cups of water, just off the boil
- 3 teacups, plus a small saucer to cover each brewing cup
- Cup one: star anise. Drop in one whole pod, pour over one cup of hot water, cover and steep for five minutes. Expect a bright, sweet anise aroma with a honeyed edge, and far less sweetness on the tongue than the next cup.
- Cup two: licorice root. Add a teaspoon of cut root, pour over the second cup of water, cover and steep for five minutes. Expect a slow, stevia-like sweetness over a soft, earthy base, with very little of the sharp "licorice" smell.
- Blend them. Pour equal parts of each into the third cup. That is the flavor most people call "licorice," built by two plants that never met.
- Optional: for a sweeter root cup, give the licorice a full ten minutes, or simmer it gently, and taste how much rounder the blend becomes.
A note from Patrick: I add the pod whole and leave the cup unagitated; within minutes the anethole is volatilizing so freely that the steam alone reads as confectionery, while the root liquor is only just taking on its gold. Cleanse the palate with still water between cups, because glycyrrhizin has a famously long finish and will flatter whatever follows it. Approach the blend as you would a proper cupping: nose first, then a deliberate slurp across the whole tongue.
Get both for the tasting (2 oz each, $18.98) →
How Much Star Anise and Licorice Root to Use in a Cup
For a single cup, one whole star anise pod or about one teaspoon of cut licorice root is plenty; licorice in particular is best enjoyed occasionally rather than every day for long stretches. Star anise is strong, so half a pod gives a gentler cup, and it pairs well with warming roots like those in our ginger root guide. For licorice root, the safe daily amounts published by regulators are set out in our licorice root guide linked above. If you would rather grow your own sweet root, start with growing licorice plants from seed.
Is Star Anise or Licorice Root Unsafe for Anyone?
Licorice root is not for everyone because its glycyrrhizin can raise blood pressure and lower potassium in large or frequent amounts, and star anise tea should never be given to infants.
Contraindications
Licorice root. The FDA has warned that eating 2 ounces of black licorice a day for at least two weeks can be enough to cause an irregular heart rhythm in people over 40, because glycyrrhizin can lower potassium7. The NIH notes that even small amounts of glycyrrhizin have been linked to serious effects, that about 250 grams of licorice a week during pregnancy is unsafe, and that interactions with corticosteroids have been reported2. If you're pregnant or nursing, have high blood pressure or heart or kidney concerns, or take prescription medication, check with your practitioner before using licorice root, and enjoy it in moderation.
Star anise. A 2004 case series described 7 infants, aged 2 to 12 weeks, who developed neurological symptoms after being given star anise tea; possible causes included too much true star anise, contamination with toxic Japanese star anise, or both5. Do not give star anise tea to babies.
One identification note. Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum) looks very similar when dried and is not a kitchen spice; it is toxic. Ours is Illicium verum, the culinary species.
Traditional and Energetic Considerations
In Chinese herbal tradition, licorice (gan cao) is the classic harmonizer, added to formulas to moderate and balance the other herbs9. Star anise (ba jiao hui xiang) is described in the classical materia medica as a warming spice for the stomach11. Those traditions are a guide to how the two have been used together for centuries, not a substitute for the safety points above.
Whole Star Anise Pods (Illicium verum) for Chai, Pho, and Baking | Premium Bulk Star Anise
Starting at $9.99
Tasting Notes: Licorice, Honey, Lemon
Caffeine-FreeThe aroma half of the experiment: whole, unbroken stars that hold their anethole until the moment they hit hot water.
Shop Star Anise
Licorice Root, Cut & Sifted Bulk Dried Herb (Glycyrrhiza glabra) for Tea and Tinctures
Starting at $8.99
Tasting Notes: Stevia, Vanilla, Earth
Caffeine-FreeThe sweetness half: cut and sifted root that steeps into a naturally sweet, earthy cup with lab results published for its lot.
Shop Licorice RootLab Results Behind the Two Cups
Licorice root spends years in the ground, so it is a root where heavy metals and microbial counts are worth measuring rather than assuming. Our current licorice root lot was third-party tested for microbial safety, heavy metals and foreign matter, and the full results are below with the signed report linked. Our star anise lab results are not yet published for the current lot; when they are, they will appear here and on our lab testing page. To make sense of any line in the table, see how to read a Certificate of Analysis.
Licorice Root, Lot LICR-5790 (manufactured 06.01.2026, retest due 06.01.2029)
| Test | Method | Result | Release Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microbial | ||||
| Total Plate Count | Petrifilm AOAC 990.12 | 430,000 CFU/g | 500,000 CFU/g | Pass |
| Yeast | Petrifilm AOAC 2014.05 | <100 CFU/g | 1,000 CFU/g | Pass |
| Mold | Petrifilm AOAC 2014.05 | 480 CFU/g | 5,000 CFU/g | Pass |
| Total Coliform | Petrifilm AOAC 991.14 | <100 CFU/g | 1,000 CFU/g | Pass |
| E. Coli | Petrifilm AOAC 991.14 | <10 CFU/g | <10 CFU/g or Negative/25g | Pass |
| Salmonella | BAX (PCR) AOAC 2013.02 | Negative/750g | Negative/25g | Pass |
| Heavy Metals | ||||
| Arsenic | #C55 AOAC 2015.01 | 0.17 ppm | 1 ppm | Pass |
| Cadmium | #C55 AOAC 2015.01 | Not Detected | 1 ppm | Pass |
| Lead | #C55 AOAC 2015.01 | 0.12 ppm | 3 ppm | Pass |
| Mercury | #C55 AOAC 2015.01 | Not Detected | 1 ppm | Pass |
| Foreign Matter | ||||
| Foreign matter | Visual and metal detection | Pass | <2.0% pieces by weight | Pass |
Material: Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra), root with minor rootlet pieces, cut and sift. Sterilization method: heat treated. No pesticides were used to grow this product, and it contains no additives, preservatives, solvents, or excipients. View the full signed COA for lot LICR-5790 (PDF).
New Harvest Alerts
Star anise and licorice root arrive in small lots, and a fresh lot is when the pods are most fragrant and the root at its sweetest. Sign up and we will email you the moment a new batch of either lands.
Sign Up for Harvest AlertsQuestions People Ask About Licorice Flavor
Is black licorice made from licorice root?
Often it is not, because many black licorice products sold in the United States contain no licorice root and get their flavor from anise oil, which smells and tastes like licorice thanks to anethole. Some candies, especially imported ones, do use real licorice extract, and those carry glycyrrhizin.2
What is anethole?
Anethole is the aromatic compound behind the classic licorice smell, found mainly as trans-anethole in star anise, anise seed and fennel, and it typically makes up 72% to 92% of star anise's aroma compounds. In laboratory studies it also repels stored-food pests such as the Indian meal moth.45
Is star anise the same as anise?
No, star anise is the star-shaped fruit of an evergreen tree in the Schisandraceae, while anise seed comes from a small herb in the carrot family, though both get their licorice-like flavor from trans-anethole. They can stand in for each other in recipes, but star anise is stronger, so use less.6
Why doesn't licorice root tea taste like black licorice?
Licorice root tea tastes mostly sweet and earthy because the root's main flavor compound is glycyrrhizin, a sweetener, while the sharp aroma people associate with black licorice comes from anethole, which the root contributes far less of. Add a star anise pod to the cup and the familiar flavor appears.1
How much black licorice is too much?
The FDA warns that eating 2 ounces of black licorice a day for at least two weeks can cause an irregular heart rhythm in people over 40, because glycyrrhizin from real licorice can lower potassium levels. Candy flavored only with anise oil does not carry that glycyrrhizin risk, so check the ingredients for licorice extract.7
Is licorice root safe to take with prescription medication?
Licorice root can interact with some medications, and interactions with corticosteroids have been reported, so anyone taking prescription medication should check with their practitioner before using licorice root regularly. The NIH also advises caution for people with high blood pressure and during pregnancy.2
Is star anise tea safe for babies?
No, star anise tea should not be given to infants, because a 2004 report described 7 babies aged 2 to 12 weeks who developed neurological symptoms after drinking it, possibly from overdose or toxic Japanese star anise contamination. All of the infants in that report recovered, but the risk is not worth taking.5
The Short Version
Black licorice is a two-plant flavor wearing one name. The sharp, sweet-smelling part is anethole, borrowed from star anise, anise or fennel; the deep, lingering sweetness belongs to licorice root. Brew them apart and you meet each half; pour them together and the candy shop comes back.
Thank You For Being You,
The Sacred Plant Co Crew
References
- Pastorino G, Cornara L, Soares S, Rodrigues F, Oliveira MBPP. Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra): a phytochemical and pharmacological review. Phytotherapy Research. 2018;32(12):2323-2339. PMC7167772
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Licorice Root. US National Institutes of Health; updated April 2025. nccih.nih.gov/health/licorice-root
- Wei L, Hua R, Li M, Huang Y, Li S, He Y, Shen Z. Chemical composition and biological activity of star anise Illicium verum extracts against maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais adults. Journal of Insect Science. 2014;14(1):80. PMC4212851
- Choi I, Kim S, Lee J-S, Chang Y, Na JH, Han J. Analysis of the insect-repelling mechanism of star anise extract and its major active compounds against Plodia interpunctella. Food Science and Biotechnology. 2022;31(4):451-462. PMC8994810
- Ize-Ludlow D, Ragone S, Bruck IS, Bernstein JN, Duchowny M, Garcia Peña BM. Neurotoxicities in infants seen with the consumption of star anise tea. Pediatrics. 2004;114(5):e653-e656.
- The Angiosperm Phylogeny Group. An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG IV. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 2016;181(1):1-20.
- US Food and Drug Administration. Black Licorice: Trick or Treat? FDA Consumer Update; 2017.
- Dioscorides P. De Materia Medica, Book III, entry on glycyrrhiza (sweet root). First century CE.
- Bensky D, Clavey S, Stöger E. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica. 3rd ed. Seattle: Eastland Press; 2004. Entry: Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix).
- Sacred Plant Co. Certificate of Analysis, Licorice Root lot LICR-5790. PDF; and How to Read a Certificate of Analysis. sacredplantco.com
- Li Shizhen. Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica). 1578. Entry on hui xiang, including ba jiao hui xiang (star anise).
- Sacred Plant Co. Beyond Organic: How Sacred Plant Co Achieved a 400% Soil Biology Increase in One Season. sacredplantco.com
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA; this product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
