How to add formatted text via variable in an email?

Hello, 

We want to send an email with tracking codes. These tracking codes are grabbed from our database, and there is not limit on their amount. We are currently using a sql query to grab all the tracking codes are adding <a href> and <br> links in between each tracking code. 

The result of this query is then added to a variable of our process flow, and this variable is inserted in our email. The result of this however is that the literal HTML code is pasted in the email, instead of the formatted result.

What can we do to add the result in this query in such a way that only the links are visible and not the literal html elements. 

Thank you.