Fancy Tea
May 5, 2013 1:49 PM Subscribe
Any recommendations for a tea with strong licorice flavor that isn't fruity or sweet?
I have been getting into non-tea teas, like Dandelion Root and Tulsi.
I also REALLY like Traditional Medicinal's Throat Coat tea, especially because of the licorice flavor.
I'm looking for a new tea that combines the earthiness of the former with the medicinal kick of the latter. Caffeine is just fine. I love Yerba Mate. Mixed with real tea leaves would also be just fine. I don't want to eliminate a possibly awesome tea.
Specific brands or just ingredient recs are both great. I am working in between the International District and Pike Place Market in Seattle, and therefore have access to some amazing tea options.
I have been getting into non-tea teas, like Dandelion Root and Tulsi.
I also REALLY like Traditional Medicinal's Throat Coat tea, especially because of the licorice flavor.
I'm looking for a new tea that combines the earthiness of the former with the medicinal kick of the latter. Caffeine is just fine. I love Yerba Mate. Mixed with real tea leaves would also be just fine. I don't want to eliminate a possibly awesome tea.
Specific brands or just ingredient recs are both great. I am working in between the International District and Pike Place Market in Seattle, and therefore have access to some amazing tea options.
Best answer: Yogi Egyptian Licorice is really good.
posted by easy, lucky, free at 2:11 PM on May 5, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by easy, lucky, free at 2:11 PM on May 5, 2013 [5 favorites]
Best answer: A company called Yogi do a liquorice tea that's good. It's a bit sweet, but only from the liquorice, not from added sugar or anything. Tea Pigs do liquorice & peppermint, which is a nice combination. No idea on their US availability though.
posted by gregjones at 2:14 PM on May 5, 2013
posted by gregjones at 2:14 PM on May 5, 2013
Best answer: I've been enjoying dandelion and burdock tea recently. The burdock root has a good medicinal flavour.
I was also just about to recommend the Yogi Egyptian Licorice. Ha.
posted by pipeski at 2:14 PM on May 5, 2013
I was also just about to recommend the Yogi Egyptian Licorice. Ha.
posted by pipeski at 2:14 PM on May 5, 2013
The technical word for non-tea tea is tisane, if that helps your search at all.
Aveda Salons serves a Comfort Tea with licorice, peppermint, and basil, which is really excellent and completely non-fruity, but, because it has a goodly amount of licorice, it's fairly sweet.
posted by BrashTech at 2:23 PM on May 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
Aveda Salons serves a Comfort Tea with licorice, peppermint, and basil, which is really excellent and completely non-fruity, but, because it has a goodly amount of licorice, it's fairly sweet.
posted by BrashTech at 2:23 PM on May 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
Licorice more often than not is included due to its glycyrrhizin content, which is about 40 times sweeter than table sugar. If sweet = bad, you'll definitely want to look into anise or fennel to provide your licorice flavor.
posted by soma lkzx at 2:39 PM on May 5, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by soma lkzx at 2:39 PM on May 5, 2013 [2 favorites]
nthing Yogi. If you have a Middle Eastern grocery in your vicinity, you might be able to get hold of areek sous powder (aka erk sous) but that's meant to make a cold drink. Standard caveats for licorice consumption apply.
posted by holgate at 2:41 PM on May 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by holgate at 2:41 PM on May 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
Traditional Medicinal's Throat Coat tea has a mild licorice taste and is not sweet.
posted by agatha_magatha at 3:23 PM on May 5, 2013
posted by agatha_magatha at 3:23 PM on May 5, 2013
Have you tried adding dried horehound to your tea? When you said you like things that have a medicinal/earthy taste, that came to mind, as long as you don't mind bitter. But mixed with some crushed star anise in your favorite neutral blend would be delicious. You can usually find it in a well-stocked mexican spice aisle/store.
posted by theuninvitedguest at 3:24 PM on May 5, 2013
posted by theuninvitedguest at 3:24 PM on May 5, 2013
My mom and I just Mighty leaf Bombai Chai and believe it or not, it had a strong licorice smell to it. I was holding it for her while we shopped. I'm not into chai, but love just about everything else tea. You may also want to embrace loose tea websites such as tealuxe.com and espemporium.com to find some blends you may enjoy. Teavana is very expensive. You may want to check out this place, too http://memteaimports.com
posted by Jewel98 at 3:26 PM on May 5, 2013
posted by Jewel98 at 3:26 PM on May 5, 2013
Best answer: Nthing Yogi Egyptian Licorice. I've tried a few other licorice teas and it is by far the best.
posted by anotheraccount at 5:40 AM on May 6, 2013
posted by anotheraccount at 5:40 AM on May 6, 2013
Response by poster: Got some Yogi Egyptian Licorice (and the Licorice Mint) as well as some Fennel Tea. I've been wary of Yogi tea, probably because of the marketing, rather than any actual taste test. Can't wait to try it! I'm really excited about the fennel tea, also, I'll probably blend it with black tea. Thanks everyone.
posted by kittensofthenight at 2:05 PM on May 9, 2013
posted by kittensofthenight at 2:05 PM on May 9, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by goo at 2:04 PM on May 5, 2013 [1 favorite]