Listen up guys. We are at the height of flu and cold season – Even with spring on the horizon, now is the perfect time for a virus to bring down your immune system. That’s why you need this recipe for DIY cough drops. My DIY drops even taste like candy – The main ingredient, elderberry, isElderberry is used for its antioxidant activity, to lower cholesterol, to improve vision, to boost the immune system, to improve heart health and for coughs, colds, flu, bacterial and viral infections and tonsillitis.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups boiling water
- 1/2 cup unsweetened pomegranate juice
- 1 tbsp dried Elderberries
- 1 tbsp slippery elm powder (optional but great for cough) + 1⁄2 cup for dusting
- 1.5 cups honey
- Candy Thermometer
DIRECTIONS
- Pour boiling water over herbs, mix and leave to steep for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, add the honey to a heavy bottomed saucepan
- Strain the herbs from the water using cheesecloth, and add 1 cup of the tisane (strained water) to the saucepan. Add the pom juice.
- Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
- Place the slippery elm powder that you are going to use for dusting in a small bowl.
- Bring the liquid to a boil, and continue boiling until temperature reaches 300 degrees (known as “Firm Ball” in candy making), on your thermometer. Use a wooden spoon to stir the mixture during the first few minutes of boiling, but after it reaches 300 degrees, just let it bubble away.
- As soon as your mixture has reached the “firm ball” stage, remove from the heat and pour into the baking sheet.
- It will set very quickly, so as soon as it’s cool enough to handle (a minute or so), make little scoops with your spoon, and with your fingers, firm into little ball shapes.
- Roll the balls in the slippery elm powder to prevent them from sticking to each other.
