Elderberry Lollipops

As the weather cools down in the fall, it’s common to notice more people dealing with sore throats and sniffles. While the cold air itself doesn’t make us sick, the change in season still brings about more sickness. So, what can you do when that scratchy throat hits?

Many people turn to cough drops, but as you know, some store-bought options contain added sugar, dyes, and other ingredients you may not want. When you're feeling under the weather, it's important to choose remedies that support your body – not make it work even harder!

A fun and budget-friendly solution is making your own! You can make homemade cough drops or lozenges, and if you want to add a fun twist, you can make them into lollipops. But if DIY isn’t your style, you could try Earthley’s Herbal Throat Spray, Cough-B-Gone, and Elderberry Elixir for soothing discomfort.

Elderberry Lollipops

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of raw, local honey
• 1 cup of Elderberry Syrup
• Optional additions: syrup from ginger, mullein, wild cherry bark, or cinnamon. The possibilities for this are endless, really!

Directions:

1. Add ingredients to a small pot and turn on high, ensuring you stir it consistently.
2. When the mixture reaches 300ºF (use a candy thermometer — it won’t take long), you can turn the heat to low and carefully spoon it onto a non-stick surface placing sticks in the center, do drops, or into a mold. When the mixture has been used, turn off the heat.

Notes:

• Remember that heating honey to this temperature does take away some of its benefits. However, it still does the job of soothing and certainly doesn’t harm. Choose a local, raw honey to get the most out of the honey. Sometimes, what is on the store shelves does not contain much honey!
• Usually, give the first round a chance to set for a minute, and then spoon a little more over the top in order to get more of a lollipop shape. As you can see, some shape well – and others less so. Let them sit until they are firm, which usually takes a few hours. Alternatively, using a mold will help ensure a more structured and consistent appearance.

And there you have it! A good-tasting, fun way to soothe a sore throat this winter. This is something that kids and adults can use. You can whip it up quickly, keep it handy, and the best part – you know exactly what is in them!