It’s widely believed that the infamous “hot toddy” came from Robert Bentley Todd (1809 – 1860). He was an Irish physician well known for prescribing a hot drink that consisted of brandy, white cinnamon (canella), sugar syrup, and water. His surname lent itself to the hot toddy’s we know them as today.
Over time, there have been different variations of this homemade cold and flu recipe. However, the principle always remains the same = combine a dark spirit, hot water, and sweetener. These days, it’s most common to use brandy/whisky/rum, hot water, cinnamon, and honey. The spirit is there to numb, the cinnamon is antiviral and an analgesic, and the honey is there to soothe. Water is also essential for getting over a cold or flu quicker and staying hydrated.
It’s common to see other spices and ingredients used these days too including lemon or cloves. A hot toddy can provide relief from annoying coughs, sore throats and even give you that lovely warm feeling on a cold night that helps relax you and make you ready for bed. If you have a cold or flu, why not try this recipe which has added ingredients to help you fight a cold and feel better at the same time?
How Do The Ingredients In This Recipe Help?
This hot toddy remedy has a combination of beneficial ingredients in it. It should make you feel better in no time and will also provide instant relief and help you get a better night’s sleep – essential when you aren’t feeling well.
- One of the key ingredients in a hot toddy is the spirit. While this recipe calls for brandy you can substitute this for rum or whisky if you prefer. The purpose of using a spirit with a high alcohol content (approximately 40%) is to help numb your throat and it will make you a little sleepy.
- The lemon in this recipe contains plenty of vitamin C that can shorten the amount of time that you’re sick. Lemons also contain bioflavonoids which are antimicrobial compounds. These can help the body to fight a cold or flu and stop it from getting worse.
- There is also cinnamon in the recipe and this can help to relieve a sore throat and treat a cold. It contains polyphenols and proanthocyanidins that increase your immunity. Cinnamon is also full of antiviral properties. You’ll also benefit from its analgesic effects which will relieve pain. On top of this, it is warming for your body so perfect when you have cold sweats and are feeling chilly.
- The cloves in this hot toddy are great for a cold or sore throat because of their anti-inflammatory compounds. They also have powerful antiviral and antibacterial properties. As well as this, cloves can also help to clear the nasal passage promoting a better night’s sleep when you have a blocked nose.
- Honey has long been used to relieve sore throats. It does this by providing a protective coating around your throat as well as easing irritation from coughing. At least one study has also found that honey is better at treating coughs than medicine available over the counter. Honey also has the power to help you recover from a cold or flu faster. That’s because it boosts the immune system.
- Of course, water is also found in this recipe and because it is warm/hot when you drink it, it will provide instant relief for your throat. It’s important to drink lots of water when you are suffering from a cold or flu because it helps to flush out the impurities. It also helps to loosen any mucus you might have and relieve congestion.
So, before you reach for over-the-counter medicine consider making yourself a hot toddy. Not only are all the ingredients natural (apart from the brandy, which still has great benefits for a cold or flu) but it should cost you less as well.
How To Make This Easy DIY Hot Toddy Remedy
When you’re feeling sick even standing up can often seem a challenge. Luckily you can whip this easy DIY hot toddy recipe up in 15 minutes (only 5 minutes of that is prep time). The following ingredients are to make a hot toddy for 1 person. Each serving will contain 94 calories (56 calories for the brandy, 21 calories for the honey, and 17 calories for the lemon).
Utensils
- Chopping board
- Small sharp knife
- Kettle
- Mug
- Teaspoon
- Hand juicer
Ingredients
- 1 Fluid ounce (fl oz) of brandy (or dark spirit like rum or whisky)
- ¼ Teaspoon of cinnamon powder
- 2 Cloves
- 1 Lemon
- 1 Teaspoon of honey
- 1 ½ Cups of water
Method
- Put 1 ½ cups of water on the boil.
- While you’re waiting for the water to boil, prepare your other ingredients. Wash your lemon then cut one of the ends off (about ¼ of the lemon).
- Stick your 2 cloves into the small end of the lemon and add this to your mug.
- Squeeze the other larger portion of the lemon and add the juice to your mug.
- Add ¼ of a teaspoon of cinnamon powder
- Add 1 teaspoon of honey.
- When the water has boiled. Add 1 ½ cups to your mug and give everything a stir. Make sure the lemon has the cloves face down so they are submerged in the water.
- Let it steep for 10 minutes, then remove the lemon with cloves from your mug. Add 1 fl oz of brandy and enjoy your hot toddy while it’s still warm but not so hot that it burns your mouth.
You should drink 1 of these every day while you have a cold or flu (no more due to the alcohol), for up to 1 week at the most. Take it in the evening because it will help you sleep as well as give your throat relief. If you really dislike the taste of dark spirits, you can mask it with more honey. Make each mug fresh so that the lemon is at its best, rather than make a big batch and reheat it the next day.
You can also make a non-alcoholic “Hot Toddy”. Follow the same method, but remove the alcohol and fill the glass with hot water instead. Because it has no alcohol, this hot toddy recipe is a perfectly safe sore throat remedy for kids and pregnant women.
With the cold and influenza season in full swing, we need all the help we can get to keep our immune systems healthy and strong. Here are a also few of Nicole’s top picks that are found in our Essential Winter Defense Bundle. Whether maintaining lung health, boosting immunity, or reducing fevers, each herb supports overall well-being this winter and beyond.
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