Each culture has their own version of a home-brewed cold remedy, but a large portion of the west is familiar with the Hot Toddy. Honey to soothe, Lemon to heal, and Liquor to numb – from the Irish to the American South, many households consider this hot drink a quick and easy healing concoction when they catch a cold. History, however, writes that the origins of this drink is neither hot nor western.
Taree or Toddy?
The Hot Toddy’s roots come from a Hindi drink called Taree, a sweet alcoholic drink made from the fermented sap of palm trees. The Hot Toddy, however, doesn’t use Taree as a main ingredient – British traders and soldiers merely mixed water and sugar with local spirits and adapted the name. Taree itself is traditionally served chilled, and is not to be associated with the spirit-water concoction British colonialists were mixing. The Toddy only became hot when British Colonization transformed it into a hot drink to better fight the cold climate back home.
There is no argument, however, that a good Hot Toddy is sure to help with a cold no matter what climate you live in. In fact, some don’t like waiting until they catch a cold to have this drink – it apparently warms the soul as much as it warms your body.
Hot Toddy Recipe
Yield: 1 Serving
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 0 Minutes
Total Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup of Water
- 3 – 4 tbsp of dark liquor of your choice (dark rum, whiskey, bourbon, brandy or cognac)
- 1- 2 tbsp of Honey, to taste
- 2 – 3 tbsp of Fresh Lemon Juice, to taste
- 1 Lemon Round
- 1 Cinnamon Stick
- 3 Cloves
- 1 Star Anise
Directions:
- Slice a whole lemon in half crosswise. Slice one half the same way into thin rings for the lemon round. Squeeze the other half for lemon juice.
- In a kettle or small pot, bring water to a boil. Pour water into a mug.
- Add liquor, honey, and fresh lemon juice. Stir until honey dissolves into the water. Have a taste, and add more honey or lemon juice to your liking.
- Garnish with the cinnamon stick, cloves, star anise, and lemon round.
Enjoy!
Have fun with it!
Feel free to customize the drink to your liking using a few tips and tricks listed below.
(Not Too) Tipsy Time.
Everyone has their own liquor preference, so browse the cabinet and pick out whichever one you enjoy best. However, stick with dark liquor – the barrel aging process gives dark liquor a subtle smokey flavor that complements the spices in this drink very well. Keep in mind not to add too much liquor, though – you want this drink to heal, not give you a massive headache the next morning.
Sweet or sour?
Add as much or as little honey and lemon to your Hot Toddy, but don’t exclude them completely. The purpose of a Hot Toddy is to help alleviate your cold, or sore throat. Honey soothes, and the lemon gives you a much needed vitamin C boost. But, do yourself a favor and tweak with the measurements of these ingredients, so your drink is good on your taste buds as it is good for the body.
Add a bit of… heat to the spice.
The amount of spices listed in this recipe provides a nice, subtle fragrance, and a flavor that isn’t overpowering. If you’re a fan of strong flavors and spices with a kick, try boiling the cinnamon stick, cloves, and star anise in the water instead of just garnishing your drink with it. Boiling creates a spice infused water for a stronger kick, and releases a nice aroma into the air guaranteed to soothe your sinuses.
If you’re interested in a similar remedy that’s alcohol-free, take a look at this Honey-Ginger Tea recipe!
