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Lemon, Honey, and Ginger Throat Soother

4.64 from 25 votes

This Lemon, Honey, and Ginger Throat Soother is an old-fashioned homemade natural remedy for colds, coughs, and sore throats. It can help boost your immune system and soothe sore, scratchy throats. Use it alone or in a cup of warm tea.

Lemon, honey, and ginger tea.

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If you’re like me, when allergy, cold, or flu season rolls around you’ll do almost anything to avoid getting a cough or sore throat. But when that does inevitably happen, one of my favorite natural remedies is this delicious lemon, honey, and ginger throat soother.

This syrup is an easy to make, natural treatment that may even give you a little immune boost.

I’ve used this little sore throat soother and cough remedy for years. I think my Mama even gave us something similar when we were children.

You can keep a jar of this in your pantry or refrigerator and use it any time you start to feel that little tickle in your throat. You know that little tickle? The one that says “Get ready. I’m a nasty cold and here I come?” Yuck.

I know people who swear that taking a spoonful of this honey-lemon-ginger mixture every day will keep colds away and prevent seasonal allergies. I don’t know about that, but some of them are pretty adamant about it.

You can keep this mix indefinitely. Honey and lemon are both natural preservatives after all. If you want to know exactly how long you can keep this, well, they’ve found intact jars of honey in the pyramids after thousands of years.

Guess what else? If you completely forget that this is in your pantry, after a while it turns into the most delicious marmalade! Ask me how I know 😉.

Disclaimer

Now, I am NOT giving anyone medical advice here. I’m just sharing a little something that might make you feel better if you’re under the weather. And, by the way…don’t give this to children under 12 months of age. Honey is not safe for them.

🍋 What Immune-Boosting Benefits do Lemon, Honey, and Ginger Have?


I am glad you asked! Each of the ingredients in this syrup has its own unique set of benefits for your immune system.

A mixture of lemon, honey, and ginger in a mason jar.

❤️ Why You’ll Love This “Recipe”


  • It tastes great! Kids and adults both love it. (Remember – don’t give honey to children under 12 months of age!)
  • It’s cost-effective and easy to make at home with just three ingredients.
  • You can use as much as you want, whenever you want, without any worries.
  • It helps stop that persistent tickle in your throat.

🛒 Ingredients and Equipment You’ll Need


One of the best things about this homemade throat soother recipe is that it doesn’t require many ingredients nor do you have to dirty any pots and pans!

The ingredients needed for making the recipe.

This post contains affiliate links. Lana’s Cooking is reader-supported and earns a tiny commission at no extra cost to you when you shop from our links.

You’ll find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the recipe at the bottom of this post.

🍯 How to Make Homemade Throat Soother


  1. Start by washing and slicing the lemons. I take out the seeds, but it doesn’t matter. Pack about half the lemon slices into a clean pint jar.
  2. When you’re halfway through filling the jar with lemons, grate in about a 1-inch piece of fresh ginger root. Finish filling with the lemon slices.
  3. Now, slowly pour in the honey, giving it time to settle between all the lemon slices. Put the cap on and let it sit for about 24 hours before you start using it.
A mixture of lemon, honey, and ginger in a mason jar.

Most people stir a spoonful of the mixture into a cup of boiling water, let it steep for a few minutes, then strain it and sip it. I actually prefer it as a hot lemon ginger tea.

And, if you’re really feeling under the weather, adding a little spoonful of whiskey won’t hurt a thing.

🍚 Storage Information


Store this homemade cough syrup mixture in a cool dark place like a pantry or kitchen cabinet. It doesn’t require refrigeration unless you just want to!

Lemon, honey, and ginger tea.

❓ Questions About Honey and Lemon for Sore Throat


Can I use lime instead of lemon?

Yes, I suppose you could use lime or even orange or grapefruit in place of lemon. I prefer lemon because its taste pairs best with the honey and ginger.

Can I substitute dried or ground ginger for fresh?

I don’t recommend dried or ground ginger for this recipe. While it would still taste delicious, it will cloud the mixture and you won’t get all the benefits that come from using fresh ginger root.

What kind of honey is best for making this homemade cough remedy?

I recommend using raw, organic honey. Honey that has not been heat treated or processed in any way will contain the most benefits.

Lana Stuart.

More Questions? I’m happy to help!

If you have more questions about the recipe, or if you’ve made it and would like to leave a comment, scroll down to leave your thoughts, questions, and/or rating!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

📖 Recipe

Lemon, honey, and ginger tea.

Lemon, Honey, and Ginger Soother for Colds and Sore Throats

This Lemon, Honey, and Ginger Throat Soother is a homemade remedy for colds, coughs, and sore throats. Use it alone or in a cup of warm tea.
4.64 from 25 votes
Print It Rate It Save
Course: Condiments and Extras
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 94kcal
Author: Lana Stuart

Ingredients

  • 3 lemons
  • 1 one-inch piece fresh ginger root
  • 1 cup honey (more or less as needed)

Instructions

  • Wash the lemon and cut into slices. Pack the slices in a clean, dry jar.
  • Grate the ginger root into the jar with the lemon wedges.
  • Fill the jar with honey.
  • Close the jar and let stand for at least 24 hours before using.
  • Store in refrigerator or dark, cool pantry.

Notes

To use: Dissolve a tablespoon of the honey from the mixture in a cup of hot tea or plain hot water. 
Important Note: honey is not safe for infants. Do not give this mixture to children under 12 months of age.
This is a home remedy. Nothing in this post is to be construed in any way as medical advice.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 | Calories 94kcal | Carbohydrates 26g | Protein 1g | Fat 1g | Saturated Fat 1g | Sodium 2mg | Potassium 52mg | Fiber 1g | Sugar 24g | Vitamin A 6IU | Vitamin C 14mg | Calcium 9mg | Iron 1mg

Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.

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— This post was originally published on January 31, 2013. It has been updated with new photos and additional information.

This Lemon, Honey, and Ginger combination is an old-fashioned homemade soother for colds and sore throats. Use it alone or in a cup of warm tea. https://www.lanascooking.com/lemon-honey-and-ginger-soother-for-colds-and-sore-throats/

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Recipe Rating




79 Comments

  1. 4 stars
    Hi Lana,

    I always known you know ginger lemon and honey but the exact amounts my question is the Lemon you leave the peel the ginger do you cut the peel and just use the inside which would be the root I guees or is it the entire 11 inch piece of Ginger and then the cup of honey you know could be half you know a whole cup according to whatever we need let me know thank you God bless you I appreciate this

    1. Hi Sal – I’m not really sure I understand what you’re asking. You’ll use three lemons, a one-inch piece of fresh ginger grated, and one cup of honey as specified in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. You can peel the ginger or not, it doesn’t matter.

  2. 5 stars
    Love this! It is easy and delicious. Can’t wait to make some jars as gifts! Thank you for this recipe, Ms. Lana.

    1. It does make a great gift. Put it in a pretty jar and tie with a ribbon. No refrigeration needed, either.

  3. Sarah Layton says:

    5 stars
    This is a delicious add-in to hot tea. I woke up with a sore/tickly throat. Upon realizing I ran out of my Gin – Gins ginger chews, I went right in to find a ginger recipe that would help. I had on hand fresh ginger, lemons, and a couple of jars of local honey in pint-size. One was nearly empty, so I cut the lemons and grated ginger right in the jar and refilled it with more honey. It worked out great! The best hot tea sweetener and put a stop to throat irritation. Thank you for sharing.

    1. You’re welcome! I just made a jar of this for myself. It’s great even if you don’t have a sore throat to treat :-)

  4. 5 stars
    Honey is the best remedy 4 everything !!! It goes back in time

  5. Many mornings I will have hot water with lemon and manuka honey.
    My husband found a tea for me from the Puuka tea company that is lemon, ginger and manuka honey all in the tea bag.

  6. When finished the liquid, can I just add more honey?

  7. man And van says:

    It iss a wonderful article. I have been looking for something like that for
    ages. Cheers!

  8. Does anybody add cinammon to this?

    1. 5 stars
      I add a Cinnamon stick and split garlic cloves. if you don’t want the garlic in with the mixture, just make a jar of garlic and honey. Great antibiotical properties.

  9. Nice recipe !! :)
    But how long can i store it in my fridge?:)

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      It can be stored indefinitely.

  10. As a person who gets a lot of sore throats all year round, I tried this mixture and it works so well. I just have a couple of teaspoons at a time, and it soothes my throat straight away, it also tastes amazing. I wouldn’t be without it. Thank you so much for posting this.

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      So glad it helps you, Jayne!

  11. can i change the lemon into lime? i know is different kind of citrus and the formula–idk what it called–is kinnda different. but can i? or i should change the recipe to match the citrus i use? thankyou

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      Listya – it’s just a recipe. You can change it any way you want.

  12. helo it is posible to cook them all together ginger,lemon and after boiled pour honey

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      I’m sorry, but I’m unsure what it is that you’re asking.

  13. shelly scott says:

    Would this be good to flavor Tea?

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      Yes, it’s very good in tea.

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      I guess you could, but I don’t think it would taste very good. Especially when mixed with hot tea.

  14. hello I Love this omg I was wondering what does the ginger do?

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      The ginger is just for taste. You can leave it out if you’d like.

      1. The ginger is really good for upset stomach. I added my mixture to some club soda and it was fantastic!

      2. Ginger is also very good for digestion and upset stomach….it has many uses…it is spicy if eaten so people should be aware of that if they try to eat it raw.

  15. Katrina Phillips says:

    Made this the on Tuesday, and I used ginger in it. I was wondering how long do you leave the lemon in it or do you strain it and keep it like that?

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      You can leave the lemon in it indefinitely. You store it with the lemon in it.

  16. Can this work with ground ginger instead of fresh ginger?

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      If you don’t have fresh ginger, I’d just leave it out. I often make it with just lemons and honey. The ginger is just for a different taste.

  17. …..need to pick up more fresh ginger next shopping trip.

  18. I could leave the ginger out but want to add it later. Do you think adding it to the honey/lemon mixture in weeks time would be alright?

  19. So, my ginger went bad because I left it in a sealed plastic bag on the counter…..oops. I was wondering if ground ginger would be recommended to substitute. If so, how much would you suggest? Thanks

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      You can just leave the ginger out. It will still work fine and will taste just as good.

  20. Okay I’m gonna ask it. Do you the lemons and too with the rind on it?

    1. Sorry…. Do you eat the lemons with the rind on it too?

      1. Lana Stuart says:

        You can if you want to. Usually, you just stir the honey into your tea or water…whatever. The lemon juice infuses into the honey and the honey into the lemons.

  21. Curious if I could replace the honey with agave? As a vegan I don’t consume honey. Thanks :)

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      I’ve never tried it with agave.

      1. If I didn’t use honey, I would try pure maple syrup in it.

        1. Lana Stuart says:

          I don’t believe maple syrup would have the high viscosity of honey so it wouldn’t coat the throat as well. Honey also has antibacterial properties and has been used for medicinal purposes for ages.

  22. C. Thompson says:

    I just put a jar together yesterday. Is it supposed to be liquidy? Also, should I stir it all together before using it or just take out a spoonful? Thanks. :)

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      Depending on how juicy your lemons are, it could be fairly thin. It doesn’t really make any difference to the taste or effectiveness. You don’t have to stir it.

    2. raymond harmon says:

      How many times per day should you drink this?

      1. Lana Stuart says:

        You can drink it as often as you like. It’s a beverage, not a medication.

  23. I made this last night but it has not turned to a jelly consistency. Did I do something wrong?

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      Tessa, this is not jelly. Please read the entire post carefully to understand the uses of this mixture.

  24. I read somewhere that you are not suppose to mix honey with hot water or any liquid for that matter as the heat destroys all the goodness in the honey. Can anyone here confirm that to be a fact?

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      Never heard that, Tereze.

    2. Anne-Maree says:

      You can pour a hot liquid onto honey and that will be fine.
      What you are not supposed to do is heat honey up along with a liquid b/c apparently that does destroy the beneficial properties of honey.

  25. I have always made a “tea” with these ingredients, one cup at a time. Now, to think I’ll have it on hand all the time?? Fantastic, thank you!

  26. Just received the whole article, so now I know how to use it. Thanks so much.

  27. Did I miss something? How do you use it, by the tablespoon? Add whiskey? Help! My husband need this.
    Thanks

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      Yes MPW – as I said in the post, you can stir it into hot water, hot tea, add some whisky…or just eat it out of the spoon. Whatever suits you!

  28. I saw this when you originally posted it. Today I need it. Thanks for the great idea and the re-post!
    Happy New Year,
    Rocquie

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      I’m sorry that you need this today, Rocquie! Hope it makes you feel a bit better :-)

  29. OMG. . . this sounds wonderful. I am going to make some for myself and it will definitely be in my Christmas goody baskets next year.

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      I keep a jar on hand all the time, Paula. It just gets better and better with time.

  30. Gisele DeAngelis says:

    Made some today and it tastes wonderful – also made some for gifts – can’t wait to give it too – Merry Christmas

  31. Lana,
    We originally saw this recipe on Facebook. I googled and it led me to you. On the Facebook posting it said to refrigerate it. You talk of keeping it in the pantry. Does it keep well on a shelf unsealed? What would you say the “shelf life” is?
    Thanks, Tim

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      Tim,

      You can keep it either way. Most people choose to refrigerate it. Even though honey is one of the world’s best preservatives (they’ve found it still edible in tombs in the pyramids), there could be some kind of contaminants on the lemon skin and refrigeration slows down bacterial growth. For that reason, most people would refrigerate it.

      Shelf life? I can’t say exactly but it’s a very long time.

  32. We just made 12 jars today to give as Christmas presents to friends.

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      What a good idea, Tim. I’ve never thought of giving it as gifts, but it would be so nice to receive a jar!

    2. How long will each jar keep for

  33. I have never ever used ginger so with that said do i peel it or just use it as is?

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      Tiffiney, the ginger is, of course, optional, but if you choose to include it you’d peel it and grate it into the mixture.

  34. Jenn Brown says:

    I am just wondering if you need to refrigerate this wonderful concoction?

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      Jenn – refrigeration is not strictly necessary as honey and lemon are both natural preservatives. That said, however….I do keep mine in the fridge.

  35. I’m touring with a children’s musical that requires me to wake up early every Monday-Friday for the next few months. Usually waking up at 6:00 am makes my voice stage a protest, and I kept finding myself with a sore voice when the weekend rolled around. I’ve been sipping this stuff with hot water on a pretty much daily basis, and I haven’t had a problem since. I’m pretty sure this will be a permanent addition to my fridge. Thanks!

  36. Oh excellent, thank you :)

  37. Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles says:

    This actually sounds GOOD! :)

    1. It is good, Brenda! Sometimes I eat a spoonful of it for no good reason at all :-)

  38. If I feel really really really yucky, I use rum instead of whiskey. There is less taste, but you get the same sleep factor.

    Thanks.

    Miss P

    1. Good idea! I’m going to try that.