Homemade Honey Herbal Cough Drops Recipes

HOMEMADE HONEY HERBAL COUGH DROPS

Steps:

• Pour 1 ½ cups of boiling water over the herbs of your choice.
• Allow the herbs to steep for at least 20 minutes or until the water is cool. Squeeze the liquid out of the herbs and discard them. Strain the resulting tea.
• Combine your herbal tea with the honey in a small, deep saucepan with a heavy bottom.
• Clip a candy thermometer to the side, with the tip in the liquid but not touching the bottom. Bring to a boil and simmer, stirring frequently, until the temperature reaches 300°F.
• As the mixture thickens and condenses, you may need to tip the pan sideways to take an accurate reading.
• While the syrup is cooking down, prepare your pan. It's also a good time to cut pieces of waxed paper or cellophane to package your drops. I use wax paper, cut into 3-inch-by-4-inch rectangles.
• When your syrup reaches 300°F, or the "hard drop stage," immediately pour it into your prepared pan to cool, using a silicone scraper to get it all out of the saucepan.
• Immediately fill the saucepan with hot water.
• Allow the mixture to cool until you can just handle it without burning your hands. This will take 15 to 30 minutes.
• Lay out a clean silicone sheet or length of wax paper to work on and dust it with the anti-stick powder of your choice.
• When you can handle the mixture use a knife or scissors (dip into cold water between cuts to minimize sticking) to cut the hardening mixture into long strips and then drop-sized bits and place them on your powdered work surface.
• You can shape them a little to round the corners as you go, but don't dawdle, as the workable stage is fleeting.
• Once they are all shaped, toss them, a few at a time, into a jar with ¼ cup of your anti-stick powder, and give it a shake to cover all sides.
• Tap off the excess and wrap each one securely. Then place the wrapped drops in a jar with a tight-fitting lid.
• Store your jar in a cool location and use your drops as needed to soothe your throat and calm coughs.

HOMEMADE HONEY LEMON COUGH DROPS

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a small pot.
• Heat the pot slightly over medium heat and melt the ingredients together.
• The honey mixture will start to bubble, remove from heat and whisk until bubbles/foam recedes slightly. Replace on heat.
• Do this for 2.5-3 minutes, whisking every 15 seconds or so. You want the mixture to get HOT but not to outright burn.
• The mixture will start to change color (dark honey color).
• After three minutes-ish, pour the mixture into silicone molds but do not fill them all the way. You want the drops to be very small and thin.
• Let cool on the counter for twenty minutes then place in the freezer to set.
• Pop the disks out when you need them. They are chilled and soothing but they're also sticky once melted (almond-like a taffy) so try not to chew them too much!
• Makes 8 drops depending on mold.