When the sniffles strike, and you need a comforting remedy that’s as delicious as it is soothing, have my Soothing Cold Elixir ready and waiting. This simple honey-based mix-in combines the warming power of fresh ginger, the brightness of lemon, and the sweet spice of cinnamon to create a jar of liquid comfort that’s ready whenever you need it. Just spoon it into hot tea or water, and let these time-honored ingredients work their magic while you curl up and rest. Best of all, it gets even better as it sits in your fridge, with the flavors deepening and melding into the perfect cold-weather companion.
In what I call The Before Times — before I had cancer and masking became a part of my out-in-the-public life — I would get one cold each year. One knock-down, drag-out, just-kill-me-now cold.
It could’ve been worse, I know: I could’ve caught two colds per year, ha HA. But still. It was a good three to four days of pathetic, woe-is-me misery.
The last time I had a cold, me and my sad self sat on the couch for an entire weekend, watching Walking Dead reruns (apt, for a number of zombie’ish reasons). I would get up now and then to refresh my hot tea and tissue supply, and then shuffle straight back to the couch and my blanket. If my laptop hadn’t been on the other side of the house, I might’ve googled “rent-a-grandma” to see if such a thing existed. A rent-a-grandma who delivers chicken soup. And knows the lyrics to “Soft Kitty.”
Lacking such a delivery, I wish I had had the presence of mind to stir some honey and lemon into my tea. Obvious, right? Not so much when you’re glassy-eyed, congested, and coughing your lungs inside-out.
But this season, I’m ready. A jar full of cold comfort now resides in my refrigerator. Honey, lemon, ginger, and cinnamon, at my beck and call, ready to spoon into tea. Or directly into my gob. This stuff tastes insanely amazing, like the best liquid candy you could ever dream up: not too sweet, not too tart, a little warmth from the cinnamon, a little bite from the ginger.
Bonus! This cold elixir isn’t just tasty, it contains all sorts of body-boosting goodness. Just check out the benefits contained within.
Ingredients
Honey — has anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties. Acts a cough suppressant and soothes a sore throat. Boosts immunity, and protects against infections in wounds. May improve blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity. Honey from certain flower sources contain friendly bacteria that are good for digestion. (Minor source of vitamins B2 and B6, copper, iron, manganese. 64 calories per tablespoon.)
Lemon — an excellent source of vitamin C, which neutralizes damaging free radicals and protects against inflammation in general and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Contains phytonutrients with antioxidant and antibiotic effects. (Significant source of vitamin C; minor source of vitamins B1 and B6, folate, copper. 4 calories per tablespoon.)
Fresh ginger — provides relief from nausea, motion-sickness, and morning sickness. Boost immunity and protects against bacteria, including E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Contains anti-inflammatory compounds and may provide pain relief in arthritis. (Minor source of vitamins B6 and C, copper, magnesium, and potassium. 2 calories per tablespoon.)
Cinnamon — has anti-microbial properties, helps with blood sugar control and insulin response, boosts brain function. (Excellent source, in ground form, for dietary fiber, and manganese. Also a source of calcium, vitamin K, and iron. 0 calories per tablespoon.)
(Credit: ingredient descriptions taken from the old whfoods[dot]com website, back when it was an amazing informational site, before it was bought out and became a sus product shill.)
If you appreciate feel-good home remedies, you might also enjoy my Fire Cider recipe, my Pastina for One soup, and my Cold-Fighting Couscous Chicken Soup. They might not cure a cold, but they’ll make you feel warm and cozy while you heal.
It really is just that simple, combining the ingredients in a jar. No cooking, squeezing, grinding — although you certainly can give the lemon slices a little squoosh, take a little grate of the cinnamon, and smoosh the ginger slices a bit, all to “pre-infuse” the honey.
Oh, and if the spirit strikes, add a tiny swig of bourbon or rum to your cup. Or hot sauce! It’s all good when you’ve got the icks.
Some days, I take a tablespoonful straight up, just because. And it tastes like sunshine on a spoon. Not many commercial cold remedies can claim that. Make a jar now so that you’ll be ready, too.
Soothing Cold Elixir
Ingredients
- 1 medium lemon sliced 1/8" thick and further cut into quarters, seeds removed
- 1 piece fresh ginger – 1" x 2" piece, peeled, then grated or thinly sliced*
- 3 cinnamon sticks , about 2 inches long
- 8 to 12 ounces raw honey (local-to-you honey is best)
Instructions
- Add the lemon slices, ginger and cinnamon to a medium jar (I used a one-pint Ball jar).
- Pour in honey to cover the ingredients and give it all a good stir.
- Stores wonderfully in the fridge all cold/flu season long.
- To use: with a clean spoon, stir the honey on the bottom into the lemon-honey juice on top. Add 1 tablespoon to hot water or tea. (Keep the water or tea between 100°F and 140°F – any higher, and the honey's beneficial properties begin to break down.
- If you don't have an instant read thermometer, as a point of reference, note that the temperature of the hot water coming out of the average household's faucet is 125°F.) Or, just enjoy it straight off the spoon.
- For an extra special little kick when you’re feeling particularly under the weather, add a few drops of bourbon (obviously, for adults only). Or hot sauce!
- Honey should not be given to children under 1 years old except on the advice of a physician.