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Essential Takeaways
A homemade honey drink is a great natural remedy to soothe scratchy sore throat. It helps by providing nutrients, drawing in moisture, and lining your throat with a soothing coating.
Of all the types of honey you can use, manuka honey is the best for this purpose, as it contains high levels of methylglyoxal (MGO) which offer powerful antibiotic and antiviral properties.
This recipe provides a simple base drink and variations with ingredients like lemon, ginger, apple cider vinegar, and cinnamon to target specific symptoms such as irritation, coughing, and a desire for a warming effect.
Feeling that frustrating, raw feeling in your throat?
A sore throat can be a real drag, making it difficult to swallow, talk, and even sleep.
But before you reach for over-the-counter medications, consider the soothing power of nature's own remedy – honey!
In this blog, we share a simple, delicious and effective honey sore throat drink recipe with variations you can try to help your body recover and get back to feeling healthy again.
Keep reading to learn about:
The Power of Honey for Sore Throats
Honey has a long history of being used for sore throats.
Its natural sweetness provides a comforting coating effect, while its hygroscopic nature (the ability to draw in moisture) can help to soothe dry, irritated tissue.
This can bring welcome relief from that scratchy, uncomfortable feeling.
Manuka honey, in particular, provides even greater benefits thanks to high levels of the naturally effective and powerful compound, Methylglyoxal (MGO).
MGO provides powerful antibiotic, antifungal and antiviral properties that set manuka honey apart from the rest. Different grades of manuka honey have different concentrations of methylglyoxal, with higher MGO or UMF™ numbers indicating a more potent product.
Simple Soother: The Basic Honey Sore Throat Drink
Creating a soothing honey sore throat drink when you’re sick is simple and requires just a few ingredients.
However, it's important to be gentle with your honey to preserve its beneficial properties. To make your drink, all you need to do is boil water, then let it cool slightly and stir your honey into the hot water (and any other ingredients, as we discuss in the next section below).
Once you’ve made it, you can sip this soothing drink slowly throughout the day to experience its full benefits. The warmth can help relax your throat muscles, while the honey coats and soothes the irritated tissues. For an extra dose of relief, you can also gargle with the honey mixture.
For a basic recipe, you’ll need:
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High-quality honey (such as this UMF™ 20+ manuka honey)
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Fresh water
To add more beneficial properties and flavours, try some of the ideas we share in the next section.
Extra Ingredients to Boost Your Honey Sore Throat Drink
Looking to add some extra firepower to your honey sore throat drink? Here are a few variations you can try.
For extra soothing
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Lemon and Honey: A classic combination, lemon juice adds a touch of tartness and a dose of Vitamin C, which can support your immune system. The acidity of lemon juice can also help to further soothe a sore throat.
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Ginger Relief: Ginger is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, which may help reduce swelling and discomfort in your throat. However, it’s important to be aware that ginger can cause heartburn in some people, and it's not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women.
For cough relief
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Apple Cider Vinegar: If you’re also getting irritation from coughing, you can try adding a splash of apple cider vinegar to your drink. Apple cider vinegar's acetic acid content may help loosen mucus, making it easier to cough up and clear congestion. However, keep in mind that apple cider vinegar can irritate sensitive stomachs, so if you suffer from sensitivity, don’t add too much.
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Cayenne Kick (use with caution): A very small amount of cayenne pepper can temporarily relieve a sore throat by numbing pain receptors in the throat. This is thanks to the presence of a compound commonly found in chillies called capsaicin. Cayenne pepper is spicy, so start with a very small amount and dilute if needed. Also, keep in mind that cayenne pepper can irritate sensitive stomachs.
Warming comfort
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Cinnamon Spice: A sprinkle of cinnamon can add a warming and comforting touch to your honey drink. Some research suggests that cinnamon may have antimicrobial properties, which could add extra benefits to your soothing sore throat drink.
These are just a few ideas to get the most out of your honey sore throat drink. Try experimenting with different ingredients to find the combination that works best for you.
Other Ways to Take Manuka Honey
Soothing your sore throat with manuka honey is just one of its many uses. It can also be used in a wide range of other ways. For example:
And much more… Here’s a list of 175+ ways to use manuka honey.
Make Sure You’re Buying Legitimate Manuka Honey
If you decide to buy manuka honey to use in your sore throat drink, make sure that what you’re buying is a genuine, 100% pure, raw product.
Due to the huge demand for manuka honey (compared to a very limited supply), there are plenty of fake and adulterated jars of honey sold as the real thing.
The best way to make sure that your honey is legitimate is to look for the UMF™ certification, and to check that it was produced and packaged in New Zealand.
UMF™ is an industry certification indicating authenticity, purity, potency and freshness. In addition to this, New Zealand’s laws around honey export are very strict, giving you confidence in what you’re buying.
Here at New Zealand Honey Co., we take these standards to another level. Not only are our manuka honey jars UMF™ certified, we also undertake further testing to certify that it contains no glyphosate or agricultural pesticides, genetically modified materials, is halal and kosher friendly, and much more.
Find out about our accreditations here.
Get your genuine, raw manuka honey here.
Unsure which grade of honey to buy? Take our quiz here.
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Your wellness journey starts with a spoonful a day.
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