10/14/2026
🍋🍯 It’s That Time of Year Again!
Folks are starting to get sick, so I thought I’d share what we do in our household to help fight off the colds and flu that tend to make their rounds this time of year.
I’m making our homemade lemon, honey, and elderberry tonic!
The quantities are really up to you and your taste. I’m actually making enough to fill these half-gallon jars with the ingredients you see in the photo.
Here’s what I’ll be adding:
● Several lemons, sliced
● Elderberries
● 1 heaping teaspoon of ginger
● 1 heaping teaspoon of turmeric
● ¼ teaspoon of cloves
● ½ teaspoon of cinnamon
● ⅛ teaspoon of cayenne pepper
● A little black pepper
● Honey to fill the jars
I’ll combine everything and let the flavors infuse for several days. The lemon juice helps loosen the honey, while the other ingredients blend together to create a flavorful, spiced syrup. The elderberries will give it that beautiful purple color!
How do we use it?
You can take a little by the spoonful, mix it into another drink or tonic, or stir it into warm water or tea. I prefer to let my tea cool a bit before adding the honey mixture to help preserve its flavor.
The result is a delicious, sweet-and-tangy tonic with a little kick from the ginger and cayenne.
Now, let’s be honest: Is it scientifically proven to prevent colds or flu or make them go away faster? No—not as this particular mixture. Some individual ingredients have been studied, but the evidence is limited and doesn’t establish that this recipe works as a treatment.
Is my experience with it anecdotal? Absolutely.
Do I believe in what we do in our household? Absolutely!
When someone comes home saying they don’t feel quite right, this is one of the things we reach for. In our experience, it seems to help us get through those times, and we’ve been doing it for years.
Sometimes, the old family traditions are worth sharing—even when the science hasn’t caught up with our personal experience.
Stay healthy, take care of one another, and enjoy the season! 🍋🍯💜
One important safety note: If you're making this to share with others, use fully cooked elderberries or a properly prepared elderberry product. Raw or inadequately cooked elderberries can cause illness. Also, don't assume a honey-based mixture is shelf-stable just because it contains lemon juice; refrigerate it, and don't rely on fermentation for preservation without a tested process. Honey should never be given to children under 12 months.
