ConsumerLab Identifies Best Licorice and DGL Supplements

White Plains, NY, January 27, 2026 — Licorice root and deglycyrrhizinated (DGL) licorice supplements are widely used for digestive support and enjoyed in teas and candies, but few products disclose their levels of glycyrrhizic acid — the compound responsible for licorice’s sweetness but also its potential to raise blood pressure and disrupt electrolytes. ConsumerLab.com recently purchased and tested popular licorice root and DGL supplements, candies, and tea, finding significant variation in glycyrrhizic acid levels and identifying several DGL products that contained far more glycyrrhizic acid than expected.

Key Findings:

• Half of the DGL products failed testing, with three DGL supplements NOT APPROVED because they contained higher-than-expected levels of glycyrrhizic acid — suggesting that the compound had not been adequately removed, despite being marketed as “deglycyrrhizinated.”
• Licorice candies differed dramatically in potency, with an equal serving of one brand containing more than twice as much glycyrrhizic acid as another — highlighting how unpredictable candy-based licorice products can be.
• Licorice tea contained the most glycyrrhizic acid -- 46 mg per brewed cup.

Fortunately, none of the tested products exceeded CL’s strict limits for toxic heavy metals, including lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury.

ConsumerLab’s Top Picks

Among products that were Approved in testing, ConsumerLab selected Top Picks based on the amounts of glycyrrhizic acid found, lack of heavy metal contamination, and value, including Top Picks for:

• DGL Capsules
• DGL Chewable Tablets
• DGL Powder
• Licorice Root Candy
• Licorice Root Tea
• Licorice Root Capsules

Access the Full Report:

ConsumerLab’s full Licorice and DGL Supplements, Candies, and Tea Review can now be accessed online by ConsumerLab.com members – currently over 100,000 individual subscribers and thousands more with access through libraries, schools, and medical centers.

The Licorice and DGL Supplements, Candies, and Tea Review includes test results and comparisons for 11 licorice and DGL supplements, candies, and a tea, selected for testing by ConsumerLab: Natural Factors DGL Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice Root Extract, Nature's Way DGL Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice Extract - Licorice Flavored, NOW DGL with Aloe Vera, NOW Licorice Root 450 mg, Panda Licorice Soft Original, Pure Encapsulations DGL Plus, Swanson DGL, Swanson Licorice Root, Traditional Medicinals Organic Licorice Root Tea, Vital Nutrients DGL Powder, Wiley Wallaby Classic Black Gourmet Licorice.

The review summarizes the clinical evidence for and against licorice root and DGL supplements for specific uses, including decreasing fatigue and reducing symptoms of acid reflux. It also explains dosage, the best way to take licorice products, and potential side effects and drug interactions with licorice.

A video that explains ConsumerLab’s findings and provides expert tips for selecting and using licorice root and DGL products is freely available.

Founded in 1999, ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. It has tested and reviewed over 7,000 products and has published Product Reviews covering nearly every popular category of dietary supplements and health foods.

Membership to ConsumerLab.com is available online and provides immediate access to continually updated reviews of nearly every popular type of dietary supplement and health food, answers to reader questions, and product recalls and warnings. ConsumerLab also provides independent product testing through its voluntary Quality Certification Program. The company is privately held and based in New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.

We Tested 11 Licorice + DGL Products and the Results May Surprise You