How Much Does Licorice Cost? Root, Powder and DGL
Root sticks for a few dollars or a pricier DGL extract: the price of licorice varies by form and by how well the species is traced. Here are concrete benchmarks for comparing intelligently.
To answer directly: licorice root sticks generally run $5 to $12 per 100 g (3.5 oz), root powder runs $6 to $13 per 100 g, and a DGL extract in tablets, more costly to produce, runs $14 to $26 for a one-month bottle. These ranges are indicative: they vary with the licorice species, traceability and the sales channel. One point deserves detail: licorice's price also reflects a documented risk of species-labeling errors across commercial products.
Root and powder: what price range is normal?
For traditional use as a tea or in powder form, several factors move the price within the ranges cited:
- Precise botanical labeling: a product listing "Glycyrrhiza glabra" rather than just the common name "fennel/">licorice" generally signals better traceability, and so a higher control cost;
- Origin and traceability: a root with a stated country of cultivation usually costs more than anonymous bulk root;
- Organic certification: organic certification generally adds a cost, in exchange for stricter control of inputs.
For the exact criteria to check before buying, our guide best licorice covers every quality point beyond price alone.
Why does DGL structurally cost more?
The DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) extract requires an additional industrial process, meant to remove the glycyrrhizin responsible for the blood-pressure risk while keeping the root's other compounds of interest. This manufacturing and control process explains most of the price gap with raw root or powder.
Comparison table of observed price ranges
| Format | Indicative range | What explains the price gap |
|---|---|---|
| Root sticks, bulk, no stated species | $3 to $6 / 100 g | Low traceability, species-error risk not excluded |
| Sticks or powder, species and origin traced | $6 to $10 / 100 g | Glycyrrhiza glabra stated, identified grower |
| Certified organic powder | $10 to $13 / 100 g | Organic certification, strict specifications |
| DGL extract in tablets | $14 to $26 / one-month bottle | Deglycyrrhizination process, stricter control |
Why a too-low price can signal a species error
A study by Frommenwiler, Maire-Widmer, Upton et al. (2017), published in the Journal of Planar Chromatography (see the study on Google Scholar), found that roughly one in six commercial turmeric/">licorice samples listed the wrong Glycyrrhiza species on the label. A product noticeably cheaper than the low end of the observed range, with no precise botanical labeling or traceability, carries a higher risk of this kind of error. Our article how to tell real licorice details the quality criteria to check.
How to judge good value for money
- Compare price per gram rather than the sticker price, since package sizes vary widely;
- Be wary of a price clearly below the low end observed for bulk root with no botanical labeling;
- For a DGL product, check for an explicit mention of the deglycyrrhizination process;
- Check that the Latin name "Glycyrrhiza glabra" appears on the label.
Precautions
Price is only one of the criteria for choosing licorice: it does not replace the usual precautions for this plant, detailed in licorice dangers and contraindications. The real documented risk concerns glycyrrhizin and blood pressure, with durations and doses not to exceed; contraindicated during pregnancy. An expensive licorice is no "safer" than a normally priced one if doses are not respected: these precautions apply either way. If in doubt, consult our safety and precautions guide.
Your questions about how much does licorice cost
How much does licorice cost per kilo?
Expect roughly $50 to $130 per kilo for common root or powder, depending on origin and species traceability. A noticeably lower price with no botanical labeling should be treated with caution.
Why does DGL cost more than raw root?
The deglycyrrhizination process, which removes the glycyrrhizin responsible for the blood-pressure risk, requires an extra industrial step and stricter analytical control than simple dried root.
Is cheap licorice necessarily low quality?
Not necessarily, but a study found that roughly one in six samples listed the wrong species on the label. A low price with no precise botanical labeling raises this risk.
How can I tell a well-made DGL extract?
Look for an explicit mention of the deglycyrrhizination process on the packaging, not just the "DGL" acronym, which on its own guarantees nothing about residual glycyrrhizin content.
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