I love to make my own cough drops because it’s like making candy, but with healing herbs.
The two herbs I used are Elderberry, which has been used for hundreds of years in Native American Cultures to heal upper respiratory conditions. I also used Slippery Elm, which is mucilaginous, meaning it forms a gel like coating to sooth a sore throat and dry cough.
Ingredients:
2 cups water
1/3 cup dried Elderberries
1.5 cups honey
1 tbsp Slippery Elm Powder
1 tbsp Vitamin C Powder
Directions:
Simmer the berries in 2 cups of water in a saucepan over a low heat for 20-30 minutes. Remove from heat and strain off the berries.
In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt the honey, then add 1 cup of the Elderberry tisane. Whisk in the remaining ingredients and bring to a rolling boil.
Use a candy thermometer. Heat until it reaches 300 degrees (Hard Crack Stage), remove and very carefully pour into silicone candy molds.
Allow it to set for at least an hour before popping drops out of molds. Roll them in Slippery Elm powder, stevia, or powdered sugar to prevent them from sticking together. Keep in a tin or Mason jar.
