Got a cold or flu coming on? Suffering from a sore throat? These honey, ginger and elderberry lozenges will help to clear up the head, soothe the throat and give your body immune-boosting benefits. The best part? You make these lozenges in your own kitchen.
In Winter or summer, it is easy to catch a common cold or nasty flu. There are many natural home remedies for boosting our immune system and calming the sore throat but today I want to share a recipe from my friend Claire Yates, who makes her own, homemade throat lozenges with honey, ginger and elderberry.
Benefits Of Lozenges
Lozenges have been traditionally used in herbal medicine to soothe the throat and mouth when you have a cold/flu. They have a local effect, allowing the medicinal properties of the lozenge to be held in contact with the inflamed area. Because it is allowed to slowly dissolve in the mouth, it helps to soothe and calm the throat.
All of the ingredients used in the lozenge such as the ginger, elderberry and honey have been used for their antibacterial, antimicrobial and inflammatory properties.
Elderberries
Elderberries are used to boost the immune system and provide antioxidant support. They are packed with vitamin C, vitamin A and quercetin. They have been used traditionally throughout Europe and North America as a treatment for colds and flu because of their antiviral activity and to help shorten the duration of a cold.
Honey
Honey is traditionally used for treating colds and sore throats. The antibacterial, antimicrobial properties of honey make it well suited for this purpose. It is soothing and calming on the throat and oesophagus. The prebiotics and oligosaccharides in honey can enhance the immune system.
Ginger
Ginger is great for boosting the immune system and contains zinc, which is essential for immune system functioning.
Honey, Elderberry & Ginger Throat Lozenges
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: Makes 12 1x
- Category: Candy
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Healthy
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
These homemade lozenges with honey, elderberry and ginger will help to soothe the throat and will boost your immune system. Use as needed when you have a cold or flu.
Ingredients
Ginger and elderberry decoction
2 cups of water
60 g / 2 oz fresh ginger, grated
2 tablespoons elderberries (dried)
For the lozenges
¼ cup of ginger and elderberry decoction (see above)
¼ cup coconut sugar
¼ cup honey
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup iced water
Instructions
First, you have to make a ginger and elderberry decoction. Place all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer for about 8-10 minutes and then strain and reserve the liquid. Store the liquid in a clean, sealed jar. Use the liquid to make tea, lozenges or to add to a cold drink such as soda water.
Making the actual lozenges. Lightly coat a 12-piece silicone mold (I used a silicon ice tray) with some coconut oil.
Place the decoction liquid, coconut sugar, honey and cream of tartar in a saucepan over medium heat and stir until it comes to a gentle boil. Once boiling, do not stir. Leave to gently boil for about 20-30minutes.
At about the 25-minute mark, begin to test the mixture to see if it’s ready. You do this by dripping a small amount with a teaspoon into some iced water to see if it immediately hardens to toffee.
Continue to gently boil and test until the mixture comes to the ‘hardened cracking’ stage when dripped into iced water. When this stage has been reached, take off the boil and evenly pour the mixture into the silicone mold.
Place the mold in the fridge or freezer and allow to chill. Turn out the mold and store the lozenges in a glass container in the fridge. Separate the layers with some baking or parchment paper to prevent from sticking.
What’s your go-to natural remedy for colds and sore throat? Let me know in the comments below.
These sound so good! Why the cream of tarter?
Cream of tartar will help the product to not crystalize. You could also use any number of other acids. Vinegar, lemon juice, etc etc.
Definitely trying, i just sold my first elderberry syrup, thanks
Can I make these with xylitol? Thanks!
★★★★★
Hey, Andrea
You can’t as you need the sugars in the honey and coconut sugar to come to the caramelisation/hardening stage to form the actual lozenges. If you need to avoid sugar but want the benefits of elderberry and ginger, I would just make an elderberry concoction and drink it in a hot tea with ginger,and you can add some xylitol for sweetness. Hope that helps!
Is there a way to get the lozenge to harden with using honey but not cooking it? Honey loses it’s medicinal properties when heated.
You’re probably better off making a honey, elderberry and ginger syrup in that case. Mix it all and keep in a bottle in the fridge and have a teaspoon of that followed by some water instead of a lozenger.
Can you use fresh elderberries? I just harvested a bunch and would love to try these out.
What can I use in place of coconut sugar
Brown sugar, palm sugar, honey.
Can I swap sugar for xylitol?
Hey, in this particular recipe, the honey acts as a medicinal ingredient and a way to crystalize the lozenges. If you want to get the benefits of elderberry and ginger without the added sugar, I suggest leaving it as a syrup sweetened with xylitol. Store it in an airtight jar or bottle in the fridge and take a few teaspoons per day.