Licorice extract is traded in several physical forms because manufacturers have different dosing, handling, storage and processing needs. The form is not merely a packaging choice: it affects flow, dissolution, sampling, transport efficiency and the way a buyer should write the specification.

US food regulations describe licorice extract as available in liquid, paste or block, and spray-dried powder forms. In commercial conversations, terminology can vary between suppliers, so buyers should define both the physical form and the analytical requirements instead of relying on a product name alone.

Spray-dried licorice extract powder

Spray drying converts concentrated extract into a powder that is generally easier to weigh, blend and dose in a dry production environment. A buyer may prefer it for dry premixes, food and beverage formulations, nutraceutical manufacturing or other processes where controlled powder handling is important.

For Botanic Herbs, the current commercial product is spray-dried licorice extract powder with GA 7–9%, food grade. The current signed specification and batch CoA govern the supplied material.

Important specification questions include:

  • glycyrrhizic acid range and analytical method, commonly HPLC where agreed;
  • moisture or loss on drying;
  • particle-size distribution;
  • bulk density where it affects filling or dosing;
  • solubility or dispersibility under the buyer’s process conditions;
  • total ash or water-insoluble matter where relevant;
  • microbiological and contaminant limits;
  • carrier or processing-aid declaration, if any.

A percentage without a basis is incomplete. Confirm whether the assay is reported as received, on a dry basis or under another defined convention. Also confirm the reference standard and calculation used by the laboratory.

Thick or viscous licorice extract

Viscous extract retains water and has a paste-like or thick liquid consistency. It can be useful when the customer’s process already handles liquids or when eliminating a drying step is commercially attractive. Compared with powder, it may require heated transfer, suitable pumps, drum or aseptic-bag handling and closer control of temperature during sampling.

The purchase specification should state solids or moisture, glycyrrhizic acid or other agreed marker, viscosity test conditions if viscosity is critical, pH where relevant, appearance, microbiology, packing and storage temperature. “Viscous” alone is subjective: viscosity changes with temperature, so any numerical limit needs a specified method and measurement temperature.

Review the thick and viscous licorice extract page, then request the current specification for the intended application.

Licorice extract blocks

Blocks are a concentrated solid or semi-solid commercial form. They can offer compact transport and traditional handling advantages, but the buyer must consider how the material will be broken, dissolved, heated or otherwise introduced into production.

A block specification may cover dimensions or unit weight, moisture or solids, marker-compound assay, appearance, foreign matter, packing and conditions that prevent sticking or deformation. Sampling deserves special attention because a dense block may not be as easy to sample representatively as a free-flowing powder.

See the licorice extract blocks product page for the commercial inquiry route.

Crude glycyrrhizic acid is a different purchasing category

Crude glycyrrhizic acid, sometimes abbreviated CGA, should not be treated as another physical presentation of the same general extract. It is purchased around a defined concentration range and analytical basis. Botanic Herbs lists CGA 25–28% as a separate product.

The identity, assay method, moisture, ash, impurities, microbiology, contaminants and intended application should be assessed against a dedicated specification. Do not infer interchangeability between CGA, spray-dried whole extract and DGL products.

Why HPLC method details matter

Glycyrrhizin, also called glycyrrhizic acid, is a major characteristic constituent of licorice root. An HPLC result depends on sample preparation, reference standard, chromatographic conditions and calculation basis. Two certificates that both report “GA %” are not necessarily directly comparable if the methods or bases differ.

Ask for the named method or a method summary, units, reporting basis and acceptance range. During supplier qualification, your laboratory may compare a representative sample using its own approved method. Any systematic difference should be resolved before commercial release limits are agreed.

Food-use and labelling considerations

The ingredient buyer remains responsible for confirming legality and use level in the final product. In the United States, 21 CFR 184.1408 describes specific food categories, functions and maximum glycyrrhizin levels for licorice ingredients. In the EU, Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 contains specific consumer statements for certain foods and beverages above defined glycyrrhizic-acid concentrations.

JECFA concluded that an acceptable daily intake could not be established from the available data and noted that 100 mg per day would be unlikely to cause adverse effects in most adults, while susceptible individuals may respond below that level. This is a formulation and regulatory consideration, not a product claim.

A useful request for quotation

  • intended application and destination country;
  • preferred physical form;
  • target GA range and test method;
  • moisture, particle size, solids or viscosity requirements;
  • microbiological and contaminant limits;
  • packaging format and net weight;
  • trial quantity and annual demand;
  • documents needed for qualification.

If the correct form is not yet clear, send process details through the Botanic Herbs inquiry form. The export team can confirm available formats and provide the current documentation for review.

Sources and regulatory references

This article provides general procurement information. Confirm current regulatory and formulation requirements for the finished product and destination market.