Best Honey Remedy for Sore Throats

During the peak of cold and flu season, coughs and sore throats become a common complaint for many of us. While over-the-counter medicines may abound, it’s honey that stands out as an age-old remedy known to work wonders for this ailment.

We know that a spoonful of honey on its own is an ideal way to soothe a sore throat, but combining honey with other natural ingredients can further enhance its therapeutic benefits. Here are some of our top honey-based remedies for sore throats and coughs…

This one is so simple. Just dissolve a dessertspoon or tablespoon of your favourite honey in a glass of warm water and sip. This mixture hydrates the throat, dilutes mucus, and provides a soothing effect. Do not use boiling water when you make this remedy, as high temperatures can affect the natural properties of the honey.

It is the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of honey that assist in the soothing of a sore throat. Examples of honey with these properties Rewarewa, Kānuka and Mānuka.

Lemon contains Vitamin C and other powerful antioxidants which help soothe inflammation and complement the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of honey. Mix the juice of half a lemon with a tablespoon of honey in a cup of warm water. Drink this concoction 2-3 times a day for best results. Honey and Lemon is a well-known time-honoured way to soothe a sore throat.

Ginger has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which add to the same kind of properties in honey. Combined, ginger and honey can offer a power-house relief to a sore throat. Add a few slices of fresh ginger (or 1 tablespoon of grated ginger) to boiling water. Let it steep for 5-10 minutes, and then mix in a spoonful of honey to your taste.

This honey concoction is a deliciously spicy way to deal with a sore throat.

You can make pack in an extra punch to a Honey and Ginger remedy by adding the juice of half a lemon. Anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant properties all in natural form to treat your sore throat.

Cinnamon is a spice with a range of properties – antioxidant with both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. In Chinese medicine, cinnamon is a traditional remedy for colds, flu, and sore throats.

Add a pinch of cinnamon to a tablespoon of honey and consume this paste once or twice daily. Or make a tea by infusing ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder in boiling water for a minute then adding a tablespoon of honey.

These are delicious spicy ways to soothe and heal a sore throat.

This special combination is especially soothing for a sore throat:

1. Place ½ tsp cinnamon powder and 1/8 tsp baking soda in a saucepan and mix together.
2. Add 1 cup almond milk and mix until combined.
3. Heat the mixture until it just begins to simmer, then remove it from the heat.
4. Stir in 1 tablespoon honey.

The acidity of apple cider vinegar can help in killing bacteria. Combine a tablespoon each of honey and apple cider vinegar in a glass of warm water and drink to soothe a sore throat.

Cider vinegar also has a range of other health benefits, and is useful as a daily tonic.

Sage is an astringent herb that has been used medicinally for centuries. It can contract the tissues of the throat tissues, thereby relieving swelling and easing a sore throat.

1. Add 2 teaspoons of sage leaves to 1 cup boiling water
2. Allow to steep for 10 to 15 minutes, then strain out the leaves.
3. Add a good spoonful of honey to your taste

Peppermint has anti-inflammatory and other properties that can help in relieving a sore throat. It also contains plenty of menthol which is well known for its cooling effect.

Steep a sachet of peppermint tea in mug of boiling water, and add honey to your taste. You can also use fresh leaves of peppermint to make this honey tea – a fragrant, refreshing remedy for dealing with a sore throat.

Chamomile flowers have properties that work as a natural pain-killer and encourage relaxation. So chamomile tea, an hour before bed-time will relieve a sore throat and make for a sound sleep.

Just steep a sachet of chamomile tea in boiling water in a mug, and add a good spoonful of honey to your taste.

This Hot Honey Toddy brings together some special ingredients to soothe a sore throat and warm the chest, so you can get a good night’s sleep. For adults only this one, of course!

1. 1. Put ¾ cup boiling water in a mug
   2. Add 30 ml of your favourite whiskey, 2-3 teaspoons of lemon juice and the same of honey, to taste.
   3. Garnish with a lemon round and cinnamon stick if you have it.

A traditional remedy for sore throats and nagging coughs, used throughout the ages, that works well for a number of reasons – just go easy on the whiskey!

• Go for raw honey: True raw honey has not been heat-treated or filtered, so it retains its natural enzymes and medicinal properties. Avoid honey that is labelled as raw but has clearly been heat-treated to keep it liquid or has been filtered or processed in some way to make it smooth and creamy in consistency. Note that most types of honey, if truly raw, will crystallise. Some raw honeys will crystallise to a relatively smooth texture; others will be grainy and an uneven consistency. These are classic signs that honey is really raw, just as bees naturally make it.
• Avoid giving honey to infants under 12 months old: The gut of an infant under 12 months old does not have the bacteria acquired later in life that can fight off some germs, such as botulism spores. Although the chances that botulism spores will be found in honey are very low, the impact for young infants can be fatal. So it’s our recommendation that this risk never be taken.
• Warm, not hot: When using honey in hot drinks, make sure the drink isn’t boiling as high temperatures can diminish honey’s beneficial properties.
• Stay consistent: For best results, regularly consume honey-based remedies until your symptoms subside.

Manawa Honey NZ has produced a raw forest honey infused with limes, that is perfect for drinks or straight off the spoon to soothe sore throats and suppress coughs. This delicious infusion is packed just like honey in a jar, and when opened lasts in cool storage conditions for up to a year. In this way, it is conveniently available for you and your family to use as a remedy for sore throats when you need it.

In 2022, our Raw Forest Honey & Lime Infusion won Gold at NZ Artisan Awards and Bronze at the Outstanding Food Producers Awards. So this infusion is not only a remedy for sore throats, it’s award-winning quality. Manawa Honey staff and their families use this infusion regularly to replace tea and coffee, and to ward off or deal with coughs and colds.

Prepare this infusion by dissolving a good spoon of the honey and lime to your taste in hot water. Then drink it warm or leave to cool and chill it for a refreshing health-giving drink.

While honey can be a wonderful natural remedy for soothing a sore throat, always remember to listen to your body. If your symptoms persist or are severe, it’s essential to seek medical advice. Sometimes a sore throat can be a symptom of a more serious condition that requires medical intervention. But in many instances, honey will be just be the remedy needed for that irritating and sometimes painful sore throat, especially when combined with other natural therapeutic ingredients such as we have presented in this article.