Why Mint and Licorice Belong in the Same Cup
When your throat feels scratchy, your sinuses feel tight, or the air has turned dry and cold, there is a quiet little remedy that Chinese food therapy has turned to for centuries: a simple infusion of mint and licorice root. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this pairing is not accidental. Mint, known as bo he (薄荷), brings a cool, dispersing energy that is traditionally used to clear heat from the head and throat, while licorice, or gan cao (甘草), is the great harmonizer — sweet, soothing, and gentle on irritated tissue.
Together they make one of the most comforting cups of tea you can brew on a cold evening or a dry morning. This guide covers the TCM properties behind each ingredient, how to brew the tea properly, simple variations, and the precautions worth knowing before you make it a regular habit.
The TCM Properties of Mint (Bo He)
Mint has been used in TCM for more than a thousand years. In the language of food energetics, mint is cool in nature and pungent in flavor, and it is said to enter the Lung and Liver channels. The classic Chinese pharmacopoeia describes mint as dispersing wind-heat, easing the throat, and clearing the head and eyes.
In practical terms, this means that in TCM theory, mint is traditionally used when heat rises upward — a stuffy head, a sore throat, red eyes, or the early stage of a cold with a scratchy voice. The cooling, aromatic quality of mint is believed to help the body feel clearer and lighter, which is why mint tea is such a popular choice in spring and summer, when wind-heat patterns are more common.
What to Look For When Buying Mint
- Fresh mint leaves — bright green, fragrant, and free of yellow spots. Spearmint and peppermint both work; peppermint is stronger and cooler, spearmint is milder and sweeter.
- Dried mint — should still smell strongly of menthol when you open the jar. If the aroma has faded, the leaves are too old to give you much benefit.
- Mint tea bags — convenient, but check the label for added sugar or flavors. Pure mint is best for a TCM-style brew.
The TCM Properties of Licorice (Gan Cao)
Licorice root is one of the most frequently used herbs in the entire Chinese materia medica. Its Chinese name, gan cao, literally means "sweet herb," and TCM texts describe it as neutral in nature and sweet in flavor, entering the Heart, Lung, Spleen, and Stomach channels. The Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Divine Farmer's Classic of Materia Medica), written over two thousand years ago, lists licorice in the highest grade of herbs — substances believed to nourish and harmonize when used over time.
Licorice is traditionally prized for three things. First, it is said to moisten the throat and support a dry cough or hoarse voice. Second, it is considered a natural detoxifier that moderates the effects of other ingredients — which is why it appears in hundreds of classical formulas. Third, TCM practitioners call it the "harmonizer" that gently pulls a formula together, making harsh herbs gentler and sweet herbs sweeter.
One caution about licorice: it is powerful in small doses. The root contains glycyrrhizin, which in large amounts over a long period is associated with elevated blood pressure and lowered potassium. Traditional use treats licorice as a supporting player — a little goes a long way.
Why This Pair Works in TCM
In TCM food therapy, a well-composed tea balances yin and yang, cooling and warming, opening and settling. Mint is the mover — cool, pungent, and dispersing, it is believed to help push stagnant heat out of the throat and head. Licorice is the anchor — sweet, moistening, and calming, it coats the throat and softens the edges of mint's brisk energy.
The result is a tea that is both refreshing and deeply soothing: cooling enough to feel calming on a hot throat, yet gentle enough to sip before bed. It is traditionally drunk when the throat feels dry or irritated, when the voice is tired, or simply as an after-meal digestive tea.
How to Brew Mint and Licorice Tea
This recipe makes one large mug (about 350 ml / 12 oz).
Ingredients
- 8–10 fresh mint leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried mint)
- 1 small slice of dried licorice root (about 2–3 cm / 1 inch) — not a whole handful
- 350 ml / 12 oz hot water (just off the boil, around 90°C / 195°F)
- Optional: a slice of lemon, or 1 teaspoon honey to finish
Steps
- Place the mint leaves and licorice slice in a mug or teapot.
- Pour the hot water over the herbs and cover the mug with a small saucer or lid. Covering helps trap the aromatic oils, which carry most of mint's cooling quality.
- Steep for 5–7 minutes. Licorice releases its sweetness slowly, so give it time — the tea should turn a light golden-brown and taste naturally sweet.
- Remove the herbs (or leave the mint in if you like a stronger cup). Add lemon or honey if desired, and sip slowly.
When to drink: Traditionally this tea is sipped when the throat feels scratchy, after talking for long hours, or as a soothing cup in the evening. In TCM terms it suits wind-heat patterns — think dry throat, mild stuffiness, and feeling warm and restless — more than deep cold chills.
Simple Variations
Mint, Licorice & Chrysanthemum Tea
Add 3–4 dried chrysanthemum flowers to the brew. Chrysanthemum is traditionally used to clear heat from the head and eyes, making this a lovely afternoon cup for screen-weary eyes and a warm, stuffy feeling.
Mint, Licorice & Ginger Tea
Add 2 thin slices of fresh ginger. Ginger warms the middle, which balances mint's coolness — a good choice if you like the throat-soothing quality but tend to feel cold easily.
Licorice & Honey Lemon Tea
Leave out the mint, steep licorice alone with a slice of lemon, and stir in honey once the tea has cooled slightly. This is a very simple, very sweet comfort cup for a tired voice.
Who May Benefit, and Who Should Be Careful
In TCM tradition, this blend is believed to be most helpful for people who feel dry, hot, or congested in the upper body — a scratchy throat, hoarse voice, dry cough, or mild sinus stuffiness. It is also a pleasant after-dinner digestive tea, since both mint and licorice are traditionally associated with settling the stomach.
People with the following profiles may want to be cautious:
- High blood pressure or low potassium — licorice root, in regular larger amounts, is traditionally avoided because of its effects on blood pressure and potassium balance.
- Pregnancy — licorice is traditionally limited during pregnancy; many sources recommend avoiding it. Mint alone is generally considered gentle.
- Cold constitution (yang xu) — if you feel cold easily, have pale skin, and prefer warm drinks, the cooling nature of mint may feel too chilly. Ginger variation or a warming tea may suit you better.
- Anyone on diuretics or heart medication — check with your healthcare provider before regular licorice intake.
FAQ
Can I drink mint and licorice tea every day?
For most people, one cup a day for a few days at a time is reasonable, especially when you feel a scratchy throat coming on. Licorice root is traditionally used in small amounts, so it is best not to make this tea a daily habit for weeks on end. If you have high blood pressure, low potassium, or take diuretics, check with your healthcare provider first.
Is mint and licorice tea safe during pregnancy?
Mint tea is generally considered gentle, but licorice root is traditionally avoided in larger amounts during pregnancy. Many herbalists recommend choosing a pregnancy-safe tea instead, or speaking with your midwife or doctor before drinking licorice blends. When in doubt, leave the licorice out and drink mint tea alone.
What does mint and licorice tea taste like?
The tea is refreshingly cool and aromatic from the mint, with a naturally sweet, almost honey-like finish from the licorice root. It is soothing on the throat and has no bitterness when brewed with a light hand. Adding a slice of lemon or a little honey brings out the sweetness even more.
Can I drink this tea for a sore throat?
In TCM, mint is traditionally used to clear heat from the throat and licorice is prized for its soothing, harmonizing nature, so the blend is popularly sipped when the throat feels dry, scratchy, or irritated. It is a comfort drink, not a treatment — if a sore throat is severe, lasts more than a few days, or comes with a high fever, see a healthcare professional.