Licorice root for food, drinks and confectionery
Bogot Master supplies wild licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) from Khorezm, Uzbekistan, to food, drink and tea makers: as slices, root fibre, granules or powder. This page sets out the forms, the EU and US rules food buyers work under, and the documents we can give you.
Where licorice goes in food
The regulations themselves show where licorice is used. The EU's contaminant rules name dried liquorice root "including as an ingredient in herbal infusions", and liquorice extract "for use in food in particular beverages and confectionary". The US rule sets limits for licorice in baked goods, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, chewing gum, hard and soft candy, herbs and seasonings, and plant protein products.
The root goes into teas and infusions, and into dishes cooked with it. The extract goes into sweets and drinks.
Forms for food use
- Slices: cut at a shallow angle, so their fibres are long and they hold together in boiling water: the cut for cooking, as in traditional Korean dishes. Dried in the shade to keep their colour. Grades by diameter: A, B, C and C1; L and S, cut from large and small sticks; D, the irregular pieces; and mixed sizes.
- Root fibre: short strands of crushed root, the cheapest form, often taken for tea.
- Granules and powder: granules, peeled granules and powder, made from dried root that is washed or, for peeled granules, peeled.
Licorice extract, made by our extraction partner, "Licorice Extract" LLC, is not offered for food: it is a raw material for further purification, into glycyrrhizic acid and the root's other components, not an extract for direct use. See our extraction page.
Each root product page gives the processing steps, moisture, microbiology limits and shelf life.
EU rules
"Contains liquorice" on the label
Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on food information requires a statement on confectionery and beverages that contain glycyrrhizinic acid or its ammonium salt, added as such or through the liquorice plant Glycyrrhiza glabra (Annex III, point 3):
| Food | Glycyrrhizinic acid, from | Statement |
|---|---|---|
| Confectionery or beverages | 100 mg/kg or 10 mg/l | "contains liquorice", immediately after the list of ingredients, unless "liquorice" is already in that list or in the name of the food |
| Confectionery | 4 g/kg | "contains liquorice – people suffering from hypertension should avoid excessive consumption" |
| Beverages | 50 mg/l, or 300 mg/l for beverages with more than 1.2 % alcohol by volume | The same statement |
The levels apply to the product as offered ready for consumption, or as reconstituted according to the manufacturer's instructions. Without a list of ingredients, the statement goes with the name of the food.
Flavouring substances
Glycyrrhizic acid (FL No 16.012) and ammoniated glycyrrhizic acid (FL No 16.060) are on the Union list of flavouring substances, Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008, each with maximum levels by food category.
Ochratoxin A
Ochratoxin A is a toxin made by some moulds. Regulation (EU) 2023/915 sets these maximum levels for liquorice (Annex I, entry 1.2.19):
| Product | Maximum level of ochratoxin A |
|---|---|
| Liquorice root (dried), including as an ingredient in herbal infusions | 20 µg/kg |
| Liquorice extract for use in food, in particular beverages and confectionery | 80 µg/kg |
| Liquorice confectionery containing at least 97 % liquorice extract on a dry basis | 50 µg/kg |
| Other liquorice confectionery | 10 µg/kg |
The extract limit applies to the pure, undiluted extract; the regulation notes that 1 kg of extract is obtained from 3 to 4 kg of liquorice root.
Pesticide residues
Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 sets the maximum residue levels of pesticides in food; see our import rules chapter.
US rules
Under 21 CFR 184.1408, licorice, licorice extract, ammoniated glycyrrhizin and monoammonium glycyrrhizinate are affirmed as generally recognised as safe (GRAS), within these limits on the glycyrrhizin content of the food as served:
| Food category | Maximum glycyrrhizin, % of the food as served |
|---|---|
| Baked foods | 0.05 |
| Alcoholic beverages | 0.1 |
| Non-alcoholic beverages | 0.15 |
| Chewing gum | 1.1 |
| Hard candy | 16.0 |
| Herbs and seasonings | 0.15 |
| Plant protein products | 0.15 |
| Soft candy | 3.1 |
| Vitamin or mineral dietary supplements | 0.5 |
| All other foods, except sugar substitutes | 0.1 |
The same section does not permit these ingredients as a non-nutritive sweetener in sugar substitutes. It also sets ash, acid-insoluble ash, heavy metal and arsenic limits for licorice root; they are compared with the pharmacopoeias on our pharmaceutical page.
Why the EU labelling rule exists
The statements were introduced by Commission Directive 2004/77/EC and carried into Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011. The Directive cites the opinion of the EU's Scientific Committee on Food of 4 April 2003, which set an upper limit of 100 mg a day for regular intake of glycyrrhizinic acid. Its stated aim is to give consumers "clear information on the presence of glycyrrhizinic acid or its ammonium salt in confectionery and beverages".
What food buyers ask for
Food buyers often ask for a food-safety certificate, such as HACCP, ISO 22000 or FSSC 22000. We hold none of these yet. What we offer instead:
- Free samples: 100–200 g of each grade, for companies; you pay the FedEx shipping, or use your own FedEx account.
- Visits and audits: your team is welcome to see the site and our records. We help with the visa and hotel and meet you at the airport.
- Certificate of analysis: issued for every export load.
- Retained samples: we keep a sample of every shipment for one year.
- Specification: on each product page.
- Shipping documents: the phytosanitary certificate, the certificate of origin, the fumigation certificate and the rest; see shipping and documents.
Each load has a certificate of analysis from a professional laboratory in Uzbekistan that you can choose. It always covers glycyrrhizic acid, ash and moisture; ochratoxin A, pesticide residues and other tests are added when you ask for them, so send your specification, with the tests it requires, with your enquiry. Every load is fumigated with phosphine (aluminium phosphide) before shipping; the root is never irradiated.
For a quote or a sample, use the button below.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on food information to consumers, Annex III, point 3 (consolidated text of 1 April 2025).
- Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 on flavourings, Annex I, Part A (consolidated text of 16 February 2026).
- Regulation (EU) 2023/915 on maximum levels for certain contaminants in food, Annex I, entry 1.2.19 (consolidated text of 19 August 2026).
- Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 on maximum residue levels of pesticides.
- Commission Directive 2004/77/EC, recitals 4 and 5.
- 21 CFR 184.1408, Licorice and licorice derivatives (edition of 1 April 2025).
All read on 24 October 2026.