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As fall makes its yearly presence, colder weather is on the horizon, bringing increased chances of finding yourself needing the sweet relief of a cough drop. A frequent companion of the cold season is the dreaded sore throat. The reasons for a sore throat are varied: it could be the dry indoor heat, an early sign of a cold or flu, overstraining of vocal cords, or even allergens present in the atmosphere. While it’s essential to understand the root cause and address it, soothing the pain and discomfort becomes equally vital.
With the pharmacy checkout counters full of a variety of sugared-up throat lozenges with dubious colourants. When I have a sore throat, all I want is a simple, homemade and nutritious option to remedy my pain. So, a while back, I decided to skip the commercial brands and went directly to Google to learn more. There, I quickly found all kinds of great homemade cough drop recipes. Many use lots of refined sugar and corn syrup, but when I stumbled upon a delicious ginger honey version from the recipe blog Tasty Ever After, I was inspired to make my own Sea Buckthorn lozenges. Combining the great benefits of turmeric, ginger, and honey with sea buckthorn juice, this homemade cough drop recipe might become your Go-To sore throat remedy.
Turmeric, ginger, and honey have long histories of use in traditional medicine for their therapeutic properties, and they have been used as remedies for various ailments, including sore throats.
Turmeric (Curcuma longa):
Ginger (Zingiber officinale):
Honey:
Sea Buckthorn Juice: Sea buckthorn is rich in vitamins C and E and other beneficial nutrients which can help soothe a sore throat and boost your immune system. Sea buckthorn has gained attention in modern times for its potential health benefits, especially as an ingredient in throat lozenges. Here’s why sea buckthorn juice is considered a beneficial ingredient for remedying a sore throat:
Rich in Vitamins and Antioxidants: Sea buckthorn berries contain vitamins, especially Vitamin C, and other antioxidants. Vitamin C plays a crucial role in immune function and can help the body fight off infections that might lead to a sore throat.
Homemade cough drops are made from nature’s very own therapeutic ingredients -they provide relief and act as a preventive measure by straightening your body’s resistance. So, as you wrap yourself in warm scarves and sip on pumpkin-spiced lattes, arm yourself with these homemade lozenges and ensure that your throat remains as clear and melodious as autumn’s rustling leaves.
Here’s a simple recipe for sea buckthorn, ginger & turmeric cough drops.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup honey
4 tablespoons sea buckthorn juice
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger (remove the fibrous parts and keep the finer pulp and juice)
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
A mixture of cornstarch & cinnamon for dusting
Instructions:
1. Combine sea buckthorn juice, honey, ginger, and turmeric in a medium saucepan. Stir to combine.
2. Place the saucepan over medium heat. Allow the mixture to come to a boil, stirring occasionally.
3. Once boiling, reduce heat to low and simmer for about 30 to 45 minutes, or until the mixture reaches 300°F (149°C) on a candy thermometer. All the moisture should be cooked out. This is known as the hard-crack stage in candy making, which ensures that your cough drops will solidify and not remain sticky. It is essential not to overcook your mixture. If you don’t have a candy thermometer, you can test by dropping a small amount into a glass of cold water. If it hardens instantly, it’s ready.
4. While your mixture is cooking, prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or a silicon baking mat and dusting it with the cinnamon and cornstarch mixture. This will prevent your cough drops from sticking.
5. Once your mixture has reached the hard-crack stage, remove it from the heat. Allow it to cool for a moment until it stops bubbling.
6. Then, carefully drop small rounds of the mixture onto your prepared baking sheet using a teaspoon or dropper. They should be about the size of a store-bought cough drop. You can also use a candy mould for this step.
7. Allow the drops to cool completely. This will take 2-3 hours but could be sped up in the refrigerator.
8. Once cooled, dust them with more cinnamon and cornstarch to prevent them from sticking together.
9. Store your sea buckthorn cough drops in an opaque, airtight container.
They should be kept for about a month, but if you notice any changes in colour, smell, or texture, discard them.
Please remember these cough drops can soothe a sore throat but are not a cure for a more severe condition. If your symptoms persist, please consult with a healthcare provider.
BENEFITS
With 70% of our immune system residing in our gut, what we put into it, counts! Sea buckthorn juice is known to help achieve balanced nutrient intake, cold and flu resistance and increased energy levels. It’s inflammation reducing antioxidants help athletes fight body fatigue, and the balanced Omegas fatty acids 3 – 6, 7* & 9, are considered to have a clear role in the prevention and healing of certain Atopic disorders.
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