Natural herb teas that are good for you and the environment. For more that 75 years, long before it became fashionable, Alvita was championing the profound health-giving properties of herbal teas. We travel to the far reaches of the globe for the finest herbs, the best growers, the most precious sources. Small wonder that so many consumers trust the Alvita name. Today, it stands for more than 100 different teas, including classic single herb varieties, and our unique Alvita blends. The package you hold in your hand combines ancient herbal wisdom with modern science, and brings to you all the richness and benefits of herbal teas. This philosophy is the very reason why you will find sensible, English pillow style bags that are oxygen bleached, not chlorine treated. And why you won't find any strings, tags or staples. We thank you for choosing our product, but more importantly, we thank you for the trust you've put in the herbal values that we all share. Licorice (glycyrrhiza glabra) is a perennial herb indigenous to Greece, Italy, Spain, Syria, Iraq and southern China. The root penetrates deeply into the ground and is the part of the herb that contains an abundance of valuable properties. The botanical name for Licorice comes for the Greek glykys (sweet) and rhiza (root), meaning sweet root. The root yields a substance known as glycyrrhizin or glycyrrhizic acid which is 50 times as sweet as sugar cane. The use of Licorice dates back to ancient times. Archaeologist found great quantities of Licorice stored among the fabulous jewelry and art treasures found in the 3000 year-old tomb of King Tut. This was done to enable the departed to prepare a sweet drink called mai sus in the next world. It is still a favorite beverage among the Egyptians today.