T’is the season…. for colds and coughs. And one of my favorite herbal remedies is homemade Honey Lemon Ginger Cough Drops. They are easy to make and soothe every kind of sore throat. Best of all, they only use three ingredients!

Sarah Munro, the heroine of ONE DARK WISH (book 2 in the Deadly Force Series), and I, adapted this recipe from a few we found on apothecary sites on the internet. All three ingredients were available during the 17th and 18th centuries and Sarah had a similar recipe in her collection of colonial-era herbal remedies. Honey is a natural anti-bacterial, fresh lemons are loaded with Vitamin C and are a natural antiseptic, and fresh ginger is an anti-inflammatory agent. So together, all three make a great, homemade cough drop that has no other added flavorings or colors or sugars.

This is essentially a candy recipe so you need to watch the mixture to make sure it doesn’t boil and a candy thermometer makes it easier to check the temperature. And if the mixture foams while it is boiling, lower the heat and/or remove the pan from the stove for a minute. Then bring back to a boil under a lower temp. I prefer to use a candy mold, but you can also make these on a parchment-lined or silicone-lined baking sheet. If you are going to store them for later use, dust them with a bit of powdered sugar or cornstarch so they don’t stick together.


Sarah Munro’s Honey Lemon Ginger Cough Drops

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup honey

2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon finely-grated fresh ginger

Powdered (confectioner’s) sugar or cornstarch for coating

DIRECTIONS:

Peel the ginger root and finely grate using a microplane or the small holes on a hand grater. In a heavy saucepan, use a wooden spoon to stir together the honey, lemon juice, and freshly-grated ginger.

Slowly, heat the mixture over a medium-low heat until it gently boils. Stir constantly to prevent scorching or burning.

There are two ways to test if the sugar has reached the candy hard crack stage. The easiest is by testing the mixture with a candy thermometer–heat the ingredients until they hit 300-310 degrees F (148-154 degrees C). If you don’t have a candy thermometer, test the mixture by dropping a tiny amount into a a bowl of VERY cold water. If it hardens, it’s done. If the mixture begins to form a foam around the edges, lower the heat. You may even have to remove the pan for a minute until the foam subsides. Then put back on the burner and cook until it reaches the hard crack stage. Keep the heat lowered, though, to prevent the honey from burning.

Once the mixture hits the hard crack stage, remove the pan from the heat. Cool for a few minutes and the mixture with thicken slightly. Then pour the mixture into small candy molds or drop by teaspoons onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicon baking sheet. Cool the cough drops until they are hard and firm and cool to touch. After the cough drops are fully cooled, dust with powdered sugar or cornstarch (or cinnamon for more flavor). This prevents the drops from sticking together.

Store the cough drops in a glass container with a tight fitted lid and store in a cool, dry cabinet.


IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER ABOUT WILD PLANTS, FORAGING, AND MAKING HERBAL REMEDIES:

I am not a medical professional and nothing written on this blog is medical advice. None of my statements have been evaluated by the FDA (I am legally required to give you this disclaimer).

It is important to do your due diligence before foraging, harvesting, and/or consuming any type of medicinal plant.

  • If you are taking any medications, talk to your doctor about any potential drug interactions.
  • If you are allergic to anything, make sure whatever you are foraging is not in the same family. Example: While dandelions are typically considered safe, those who are allergic to ragweed, latex, daisies, or any other plants in the same or similar families, may not be able to consume dandelion.

Always research potential side effectsdosage recommendations, and how to properly prepare and consume each medicinal plant.

Always make sure you are foraging what you believe to be. Fully prepare and study the anatomy before harvesting wild plants.

Always make sure your kitchen/work area is clean and that all materials are sterilized.

Do not forage plants from areas that have been sprayed within the past 2 years at the very least.

I am not legally or morally responsible for the health of any of my readers. Please do your own research!



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