Keep Learning Keep Smiling

Liquorice (Licorice) Root Drink

Liquorice root drink

This is another scheduled post while I am away. Thanks very much for visiting and your lovely comment. Happy reading and cooking. Hope you have a wonderful day everyday.

Liquorice root is one herb that my parents introduced to us when we were very young. It is one of the most prescribed herbs in Chinese medicine, apparently second only to ginseng. It’s used widely in many Chinese medicine for various types of cure. It’s also added to many Chinese herbal mix for making tonic and therapeutic soups. It’s also known as a sweet root as it adds sweetness to soup.

I remember my mom would boil a big pot of liquorice water and make all of us drink. She said it’s good for detoxifying the body. We didn’t drink it everyday but very often. In fact I love the drink. It’s yellow in colour and has a lovely natural sweetness.

Liquorice roots

Recently I walked into a health shop and was really happy to see these lovely liquorice roots in packets. I bought 2 packets. Once I got home, I couldn’t wait to put them to boil immediately. As the weather is getting cold, I added a few thin slices of ginger to it. It was really delicious. I had 2 glasses. If you don’t like ginger, you can omit that.

The liquorice (licorice) plant is a native plant to southern Europe and central Asia. It is a sweet root and a type of herb. It is said to be 50 times sweeter than sugar.

Liquorice is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 5,000 years for its many health benefits and healing power. It is a prized herb that’s widely used (often in combination with other herbs) to treat a variety of ailments, including coughs, sore throats, food poisoning, liver, and digestive and urinary disorders. It is the second most prescribed herb in China, exceeded only by ginseng.

This Liquorice Drink Recipe that my mom made for us is very simple. She did not add ginger.

Ingredients
3 liquorice roots
3 thin slices of ginger (optional)
1 litre of water or more

Put the liquorice roots to cook

Wash the liquorice roots. Break into short lengths or if you have a sharp knife or cleaver, you can chop it or slice it. In Chinese herbal shops, they are always sliced into thin pieces. When I went back to the shop the second time, I saw there were ready chopped liquorice roots in packets. So I bought another 2 packets. I would love to make this drink once or twice a week.

Put the liquorice pieces and ginger slices into a pot. Add water and let it boil. You can top it up later. I let it boil under low fire for about 20-30 minutes.

Liquorice drink

You can drink it hot or cold. I love the smell and sweet taste.

Do you have a good herbal drink that’s good for health or therapeutic? Please share, add and comment in the comment box below.

Other healthy drink that you may be interested in:
Carrot Apple Juice - What A Wonderful Drink!
Carrot, Apple And Beet Juice For Health
Carrot, Apple And Broccoli Juice For Health
Healthy Lemongrass Drink
Fennel And Apple Juice For Health
Healthy Avocado Drink
Mango Raspberries Smoothie
How To Make A Delicious Low Fat healthy Smoothie

Quote of the day….

“The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition.”

Thomas Edison

Share and Enjoy:

26 Comments

sonia aka nasi lemak lover on October 28th, 2010

ya, this drink sound healthy!

lequan on October 28th, 2010

hi Mary,

i think i’ve seen my mom use these before, but i’m not totally sure if it is the same thing. actually, probably not as you said these are sweet. the ones she used were for a herbal black chicken soup. i just called them twigs…teehee. there are so many “twigs” in Chinese herbal medicine. by the way that you described the drink, i would love to try these. must be very refreshing with the ginger added to it.

my parents preserve kumquats (sorry this is not herbal but it is therapeutic) with salt in jars. when i have a sore throat, i cut up half a kumquat, smoosh it up in a cup, add some of the jarred salted juice from the kumquat with some honey and hot water and mix it all together. this helps soothe my sore throat.

Priya on October 28th, 2010

Wat a healthy drink..

Katerina on October 28th, 2010

The weather here is very cold today. A hot liquorice like that would definitely warm us up.

edith on October 28th, 2010

I am definitely going to grab a pkt if I see one. I love liquorice and only know it existed in those long candy strip.

busygran on October 28th, 2010

It’s a nice healthy drink and so easy to prepare. But my family’s not keen on the flavour. So I hardly make it.

anncoo on October 28th, 2010

I don’t think I had seen this before. Wonder what is the Chinese name for this Liqourice?

Faith on October 28th, 2010

What a healthy, delicious drink Mary! I hope I can find licorice roots here!

Christine@Christine's Recipes on October 28th, 2010

I know this drink, but interestingly, I haven’t tried it at all. It must be good to try somehow.

Jess @ Bakericious on October 28th, 2010

I cant recognise this herb, what is the chinese name?

Aipi on October 28th, 2010

Healthy and delicious..very new!

US Masala

Swathi on October 28th, 2010

Thanks to introducing me to new herb

penny aka jeroxie on October 28th, 2010

Hmmm.. not my favourite thing in the world. It is good of rme I know but can’t get over the taste.

Sushma Mallya on October 28th, 2010

looks nice..love the golden colour

peteformation on October 29th, 2010

Drinking it warm would be nice!

Cheah on October 29th, 2010

I normally add this to boil with the ‘yeong sum soe’, but I’m not a fan of liquorice.

Stella on October 29th, 2010

Nice, Mary! I always make ginger tea like that. I will keep my eye open for licorice root at the health food store. I love licorice, so I bet I would really enjoy this…thanks;)

Drick on October 30th, 2010

looks good and I know healthy for you, but I will let you have my glass, not a big fan of licorice

Ananda Rajashekar on October 30th, 2010

wow i have never herd of sweet root herb that would be awesome for cold season!

Angie's Recipes on October 30th, 2010

I like the taste and aroma of licorice! Never made a drink with it though.

Conor @ HoldtheBeef on October 31st, 2010

Sadly this would fall under the tastes-bad-so-must-be-good-for-you mantle for me Wish I liked the taste of licorice, and I keep trying it, but sadly the day has not yet come!