Fermented Garlic Honey (Nature’s Cough & Cold Syrup)
This remedy combines garlic and honey – two of our winter all-stars – into a potent syrup. Raw garlic is a powerful antimicrobial and raw honey is a proven cough reliever. Fermenting them together mellows the garlic’s flavor and boosts probiotic content turning this combo into a powerhouse of health! Be sure to check out our Top 5 Natural Remedies to Get Prepared for Winter!
Ingredients:
- ½ to 1 cup fresh garlic cloves, peeled (about 2–3 heads of garlic)
- 1 cup raw honey (enough to fully submerge the garlic)
- A clean pint-size mason jar with lid
Instructions:
- Prep Garlic: Lightly crush each garlic clove with the flat of a knife (this helps release its juices and beneficial compounds) and peel off the skin.
- Combine with Honey: Place the peeled cloves into the clean jar. Pour in enough raw honey to completely cover the garlic. Stir gently to coat all the cloves. (It’s okay if the garlic floats initially; just make sure everything is coated).
- Ferment: Loosely put the lid on the jar (to allow some air escape). Store the jar in a cool, dark place like a cabinet. Every day or two, tighten the lid and turn the jar upside down then back upright, to make sure all garlic cloves get bathed in honey. After about 5–7 days, you’ll notice tiny bubbles in the honey – fermentation has begun!
- Wait: Let the mixture ferment for at least 2 weeks, or up to 1 month. Over time, the garlic flavor will soften and the honey will become thinner. (Open the lid briefly maybe once a week to release any built-up pressure, then re-close loosely.)
- Storage: After a month, you can tighten the lid and store the fermented garlic honey in the refrigerator to slow further fermentation, or a cool pantry. It will keep for many months. The cloves may turn bluish; this is a natural reaction and it’s still safe to eat.
- How to Use: At the first sign of a cough or cold, eat a clove of honey-infused garlic or take a spoonful of the garlic-infused honey. The taste is sweet, tangy, and garlicky. This syrup can be taken daily as an immune tonic or as needed for symptoms. (Not for children under 1 due to honey.)