Homemade Honey Ginger Throat Drops

Fall is the time of year when I am most prone to allergies, and one symptom I always have is a dry, scratchy throat.  Not to mention, winter is nearing – the season of colds and sore throats.  I wanted to be prepared going into this season and had done some reading online about how to make your own cough drops.  It didn’t seem too difficult, so this weekend I set out to make my own honey ginger throat drops. I am thrilled with how they came out and I can’t wait to make more, and experiment with different flavors!

honey ginger throat drops

What you need: To make the throat drops, I used fresh ginger root and honey.  For this project you will also need a large pot, a baking tray, powdered sugar, corn starch, and a cooking thermometer that goes up to at least 300 degrees.

honey ginger throat drops

Dice the ginger into pieces and put into a pot with about 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil, infusing the water with the ginger flavor.

honey ginger throat drops

You’ll need the powdered sugar and corn starch to make a “mold” for the throat drops.  Prepare this now so that it’s ready. Mix the powdered sugar and corn starch (1:1 ratio) and spread evenly on a baking tray.  Use a small, cylindrical object to make impressions in the powder – these are your molds. I used the top of a tube of chapstick!

honey ginger throat drops

honey-ginger-throat-drops (6)

Once the ginger is finished steeping (I just let it simmer until the water had a strong, gingery flavor).  At this point you could also add some lemon or other flavoring of your choice! Strain the pieces of ginger out of the water. Next, add one cup of honey to the ginger water.  Many of the recipes for throat drops that I found online used raw sugar, but you could also use agave nectar, or honey. I chose honey because of its soothing properties, making it the perfect ingredient for throat drops.

Bring the honey and ginger mixture to a boil. Let it boil until it reaches the temperature of 300 degrees.  Once it reaches that temperature, it is ready to be poured into the mold.  Be extremely careful doing this – the mixture is extremely hot, and once you remove it from the heat it hardens quickly.  I used a baster and transferred the mixture a little bit at a time into the molds.  I found that a lot of the liquid had burned off, so I was left with only about 10-15 drops.  Next time I would definitely make a larger batch!

honey ginger throat drops

It’s so cool to watch the liquid solidify in the sugar molds.

honey ginger throat drops

Let the drops sit for a couple of hours until they harden and cool.  As you remove them from the molds you can brush the powdered sugar off of them.

honey ginger throat drops

These honey ginger throat drops are like little bits of heaven..they taste so good I’d eat them even if I didn’t have a sore throat!  I can’t wait to experiment with some different flavors…what would you put in yours?

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Leisa
10 years ago

I love this post and all of the down home ideas FP gives.

meg
10 years ago

I will probably need these as winter rolls around!

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10 years ago

I love this, so awesome! I actually bought a little book that has natural homemade remedies to help sooth or heal just about anything. I get an itchy throat when the leaves begin to fall and this is something I will definitely be giving a try.

10 years ago

Is the powdered sugar necessary? Or can I just use the corn starch? I’m off sugar. :(

Gypsy Plunder Vintage Shop

10 years ago

Ooh, so cool!
Gonna need some more honey, I’ve already eaten like two litres this fall and the winter is yet coming!!

10 years ago

Lovely!

10 years ago

I rarely get sick, but I do get a scratchy throat sometimes. As a singer, I’m supposed to avoid mentholated cough drops. These look like they’d be good for me.

These look so yummy!! Love these home remedies :)

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Belinda
10 years ago

Megan, what is the title for the book you bought? I love natural home remedies and I’m curious to look through that book. Thanks. :)

Shirva
10 years ago

How much ginger do I need to make this much?

Joycehelene
10 years ago

I will try these. Can you give recipes for different favors?

Anonymous
10 years ago

These didn’t work for me :( they never solidified

Kristin Lam
10 years ago

this is too cool! definitely gonna try this one out, for me and my hun :)

thz fp!

Micy
10 years ago

I tried them, but it didn’t work. The mixture was very runny and it soaked up the starch and the sugar :(

Rebecca
10 years ago

I make a similar throat soother only I do not add any water to it. I simply grate fresh ginger and hear one cup on honey with the grated ginger until it is at the soft crack candy stage. Then pour the how mixture on a cool surface and allow it to cool until you can handle it. Once you can handle it hand pull the mixture until it is smooth and chewy.

Anonymous
10 years ago

the corn starch would help absorb moisture

Ellie Gillespie
9 years ago

I would use manuka honey – expensive but drop dead fabulous for sore throats!

Anonymous
9 years ago

300 degrees C or F?