Is horehound vegan?

Horehound, most commonly referring to white horehound (Marrubium vulgare), is a flowering perennial herb in the mint family. Native to Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia, it is widely cultivated for culinary and flavoring applications. The leaves and flowering tops are harvested and dried, then steeped in water or solvent to produce extracts, concentrated infusions, or natural flavorings.

Food and beverage manufacturers primarily use horehound as a bitter, aromatic flavoring agent in hard candies, herbal throat drops, teas, and specialty soft drinks.

Horehound is vegan because it is derived entirely from a plant with no animal sources or processing aids involved in its production. While the herb itself is completely animal-free, consumers should still review the complete ingredient list of finished horehound-flavored goods like lozenges and sweets, as these products are frequently formulated with animal-derived additions such as honey.