About Ricola Cough Drops Made with Swiss Alpine Herbs
Ricola Original Herb Cough Drops provide effective, over-the-counter relief for coughs due to colds or irritation using a time-tested recipe perfected in 1940. These world-famous drops feature Ricola's signature cube shape and a unique blend of 10 high-quality herbs grown high in the Swiss mountains. Each drop contains natural menthol for immediate soothing, and they are naturally flavored and colored, making them Kosher, gluten-free, and vegetarian. Experience the crisp, pleasing herbal taste that has been making throats feel better for nearly a century.
Key Benefits & Features
- Effective Cough Relief: Soothes coughs and irritations like an itchy throat using natural menthol
- Signature 10-Herb Blend: Contains Ricola's exclusive, world-famous blend of 10 Swiss Alpine herbs cultivated sustainably
- Natural & Clean Ingredients: Gluten-free, vegetarian, Kosher, with natural colorings and flavorings only
- Historically Established Quality: Based on a mixture perfected by Swiss herbalists in 1940 and manufactured fresh in Switzerland
Ricola Cough Drops Made with Swiss Alpine Herbs FAQs
Are Ricola's herbs classified as organic?
The herbs used in Ricola products are cultivated using natural methods and align with high standards for sustainability. While not all of our farmers are certified organic, many follow practices that meet stringent guidelines like those of Bio Suisse. Ricola remains committed to supporting sustainable and responsible farming methods wherever possible.
I am a vegetarian/vegan. Can I eat Ricola products?
Information for vegetarians: Ricola herbal drops are suitable for vegetarians. All ingredients are listed on the product packaging. Information for vegans: Ricola does not use ingredients derived from animals in any of our drops. While several of our flavors do contain honey, use of this ingredient follows fair trade guidelines. We understand the use honey is subject to one’s personal definition of vegan classification, therefore our drops are classified as vegetarian.
Why do Ricola herb drops sometimes change color after the pack is opened? Can I still eat them?
Ricola herb drops may sometimes change color or develop a white layer after the pack is opened due to exposure to air or high humidity, which can cause the natural sugars or isomalt to crystallize. This is completely normal and harmless. As long as the drops are within their expiration date and stored properly, they are safe to eat.
Can I enjoy Ricola while pregnant or breastfeeding?
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, we recommend that you consult with your doctor to review all of the ingredients, which are listed on the package.
Why are the original cough drops shaped differently?
The cube-shaped Ricola Original Herb herbal drops are our traditional product. Their shape and recipe have hardly changed since 1940. The cube shape is characteristic of this product and is very popular with many consumers who like its straight edges.
What does ‘Ricola’ mean?
The name Ricola is derived from the name of the owner family, Richterich, and the name of the town in Switzerland where Ricola products were invented and are still produced today - Laufen. So take the first two letters of RIchterich COmpany LAufen - and you have RICOLA!
Are Ricola products gluten free?
All Ricola products are gluten-free according to FDA standards, making them suitable for people with gluten intolerance. While they do not contain gluten, we recommend consulting your doctor if you have severe gluten sensitivity or specific health concerns.
Are Ricola products lactose free?
All Ricola products are considered lactose-free according to FDA. This means they are suitable for people with lactose intolerance. If you have specific dietary concerns, we recommend consulting your healthcare provider.
Are Ricola products certified Kosher/Halal?
All Ricola products manufactured in Laufen are certified Kosher by the Chief Rabbi of the Orthodox Jewish Community of Geneva, which generally includes all products sold in North America. Our products are also Halal in nature, as they do not contain any banned ingredients for Muslims, such as pork or alcohol-derived components. The manufacturing process complies with Halal regulations; however, not all products are officially Halal-certified. For specific dietary concerns, we recommend reviewing the product ingredients or contacting us for more information.
Are Ricola products free from alcohol?
The alcohol content in Ricola products is less than 0.5% and therefore the products are considered alcohol-free. Ricola products may contain traces of alcohol (ethanol) due to their ingredients. This is similar to fruits and other foods containing sugar or starch, which may produce small amounts of alcohol when consumed and digested.
Why does Ricola use the artificial sweetener aspartame in some of its sugar-free products?
Ricola uses aspartame in some of its sugar-free products to provide a sweet taste without adding calories or sugar. Most of our sugar-free products are sweetened with aspartame, while one product variant of Original Herb is sweetened with stevia. This allows us to offer options for people managing their sugar intake or following specific dietary preferences.
Do Ricola cough drops contain GMO ingredients?
Ricola cough drops are made in Switzerland, where GMO use is heavily restricted. As a result, our products are considered GMO-free under Swiss standards.
What is Polyol and polyhydric alcohols, listed in the nutritional table?
The term “polyols”, which we use in the nutrition values table in compliance with the declaration requirements for food products, refers to the sugar substitutes. In our sugar-free products, we use isomalt as a sugar substitute. Isomalt (or sorbitol and sorbitol syrup) belongs to a group of substances known as "polyols/polyalcohols" (sugar alcohols), and we are required by law to label them as "polyalcohols". Polyalcohols have no "alcohol-like" effects. Because isomalt has mild sweetening properties, it must be declared as a sweetener. However, most of the sweet taste in the drops comes from the sweeteners (aspartame / sucralose / acesulfame-K) or the steviol glycosides from the stevia plant. Isomalt isn't actually that sweet, and must be used in combination with another sweetener to give the product the sweet taste that consumers enjoy.
How much menthol is in Ricola drops?
Each Ricola flavor varies in menthol strength – some ease coughs, others soothe sore throats, and some do both. Whether it's a cough, an itchy or sore throat, or everyday voice care, Ricola has you covered! To view the menthol amounts for each drop, visit our product list page.
I am allergic to nuts. Can I consume Ricola products?
Ricola products do not contain nuts as ingredients, and our facility in Laufen exclusively manufactures Ricola products, reducing the risk of cross-contamination with nuts or other allergens. However, if you have a severe nut allergy, we recommend reviewing the ingredient list on the packaging and consulting your healthcare provider for added reassurance. The ingredient listed as “bitter almond” in Ricola Cherry is made from ingredients which imitate the almond taste. It is not made with any nuts.
How are Ricola drops sweetened without sugar?
Ricola herbal drops are primarily sweetened with sugar, but we also offer sugar-free options. Our sugar-free products are sweetened with aspartame or stevia. For more details on our assortment, including sugar-free varieties, please visit our product list page.
Does Ricola use caramel coloring?
Caramel color is used in some of our products, which is heated / burnt beet sugar. The products that contain caramel color are: Original Herb, Honey Herb, and Sugar Free Original Herb. There are 4 classes of caramel coloring in food manufacturing. Our caramel is considered Class I Plain Caramel. It is derived naturally and is safe to consume. We do not use the colors Ammonia Caramel (E 150c) and Sulphite Ammonia Caramel (E 150d) which contain 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI).
Drug Facts
Serving Size: 2 Drops
| Amount Per Serving | Berry Medley | Original Herb |
|---|---|---|
| Menthol | 1.7 mg | 4.8 mg |
Ingredients
Original Herb:
Active: Methol, Cough Suppressant, Oral Anesthetic.
Inactive: Color (Caramel), Extract of a Ricola Herb Mixture (Elder, Horehound, Hyssop, Lemon Balm, Linden Flowers, Mallow, Peppermint, Sage, Thyme, Wild Thyme), Natural Flavor, Starch Syrup, Sugar.
Berry Medley:
Active: Menthol.
Inactive: Bilberry Juice Concentrate, Black Currant Juice Concentrate, Citric Acid, Extract of Ricola Herb Mixture (Elder, Horehound, Hyssop, Lemon Balm, Linden Flowers, Mallow, Peppermint, Sage, Thyme, Wild Thyme) Glucose Syrup, Natural Color, Natural Flavors, Peppermint Oil, Raspberry Juice Concentrate, Sugar.