Soothing Cold Elixir
Every ingredient in this homemade cold remedy is full of restorative nutrients. And every ingredient is delicious. Together, they're amazing – this can be eaten by the spoonful, people. Unlike chemical, weird-tasting commercial cough syrup, this elixir is a healthy hug of comfort when the cold or flu bug bites. Whether healthy or sick, I love it stirred into my favorite herbal tea (cooled a bit first to protect the nutrients in the honey).
Servings 16 servings
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.
Notes
*If you like the texture of bits of fresh ginger, then grate it. But if you simply want the flavor, use slices, which will infuse their flavor into the honey.