Simple Licorice Teas

I've already mentioned that incorporating herbal teas into your daily winter routine is beneficial, but I want to highlight one of my favorite herbs, licorice. Not the candy - the delicious, sweet root. If you don't normally like the taste of licorice, I have a feeling you will like the teas listed below. I've been experimenting with some new blends and sampling them out to friends and family who have found they are perfect for cold winter nights, even in California!

Licorice itself is very soothing and holds many medicinal properties. It's great for sore throats, coughs, and difficulty breathing. It also has a wide range of benefits for digestion, the reproductive system, the skin, as well strengthening the kidneys and calming the nerves. 

In combination with other medicinal spices, licorice tastes even more delicous. 'Licorice Marshmallow' tea is my most recent recipe, followed by two recipes crafted by my all time favorite Ayurvedic Chef, Mira Murphy. Please note that if you are experiencing excess kapha, the Ayurvedic dosha made up of earth and water then you'll need to be cautious of using licorice in excess. Also, be aware if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

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~Licorice Marshmallow~
10 cups water
2 Tbsp dried licorice root, whole (not powdered)
1 Tbsp dried marshmallow root, whole
2 tsp dried ginger root, whole
5 cinnamon sticks
*Boil water and add herbs
*Keep at a low to medium heat for 10-20 minutes, then strain
*This blend is very sweet on its own

~Licorice, Orange Peel and Vanilla~
8 cups water
1 Tbsp licorice root (cut and sifted preferred, or powdered)
1 orange, sliced into rounds, peel included
1 fresh vanilla bean, cut into small pieces
*Boil water and add licorice, orange, and vanilla
*Steep for 10-60 minutes
*Strain and enjoy!

~Licorice Spice Tea~
8 cups water
2 inches fresh ginger
3 sticks cinnamon
2 star anise
1 tsp whole clove
1 Tbsp whole cardamom
1-2 Tbsp licorice root (cut and sifted preferred, or powdered)
*Simmer ginger for 10 minutes with lid on
*Add other spices and steep for 10 minutes
Strain and enjoy! 

If you are not into making your own tea from scratch, a blend you can buy is Yogi Tea's Egyptian Licorice. It's much milder so you'll need to use several tea bags to make a medicinal dose for a sore throat...etc.

Source: Sebastian Pole, "Ayurvedic Medicine"
Source: Mira Murphy (former Ayurvedic chef at 7 Centers, Sedona). Her site, MiraMurphyMedicine.com is coming soon.