Mulethi

मुलेठी ਮੁਲੱਠੀ Sanskrit: यष्टिमधु (Yaṣṭimadhu), मधुयष्टि (Madhuyaṣṭi)

A woody root that tastes of honey. The Sanskrit name means "sweet stick", and mulethi is what gives a blend its rounded, lingering sweetness without any sugar at all.

Settles Vata
Settles Pitta
Can raise Kapha

Dravyaguṇa · its qualities

How Ayurveda reads mulethi

Rasa · taste: Sweet (madhura)
Guṇa · nature: Heavy, unctuous (guru, snigdha)
Vīrya · potency: Cooling (śīta)
Vipāka · after digestion: Sweet (madhura)
Part used: Root

Reviewed by the Vapika team.

In the tradition

Yaṣṭimadhu — "sweet stick" — is one of the most used roots in the classical texts. Caraka lists it in several of his groups of fifty herbs, and it turns up in a great many formulations, often to sweeten and soften them. A stick of mulethi to chew on is an old grandmother's habit across North India.

How Ayurveda reads it

Mulethi is sweet in taste and after digestion, heavy and unctuous, and cooling. It is described as settling Vata and Pitta, and, being heavy and sweet, able to raise Kapha. It is counted among the rasāyana, the herbs of renewal.

It is said to be good for the voice (svarya) and the complexion (varṇya).

In the Indian kitchen

Not a cooking spice. Mulethi is chewed as a stick, or simmered into kadha and herbal teas, where a little sweetens the whole pot.

How we use it

We use cut mulethi root in our kahwas and teas — usually in small amounts, for sweetness and body. If a blend tastes sweeter than its ingredients suggest, this is why.

Go gently if you have high blood pressure, heart or kidney trouble, are pregnant, or take medication for any of these — licorice is not for you without your doctor. For everyone else it is a herb for small amounts, not for strong cups every day for weeks.