Cinnamon-Honey Tonic

A simple warm drink of cinnamon and honey — a long-standing folk remedy sipped for sore throats, coughs, and general comfort during cold season. Both ingredients carry antimicrobial properties (honey soothes and coats the throat; cinnamon is warming and mildly antibacterial), and together they make a pleasant, lightly sweet tonic that's easy to drink when you're run down. Keep it simple and don't boil the honey — heat above a certain point degrades it.

Ingredients

• 1 cup hot water (not boiling)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (or a small cinnamon stick steeped)
• 1 to 2 teaspoons honey, to taste
• Squeeze of lemon (optional)

Method

1. If using ground cinnamon, stir it into the hot water and let it sit 3 to 4 minutes so it hydrates and settles (it won't fully dissolve — stir as you sip). If using a stick, steep it in just-boiled water for 5 minutes.
2. Let the water cool slightly to drinking temperature, then stir in the honey and optional lemon. Adding honey to merely hot (not boiling) water preserves its soothing properties.
3. Sip warm, once or twice a day as needed.

Notes

• Honey timing is the whole trick — add it to hot, not boiling, water. Overheated honey loses much of its benefit and can turn harsh.
• Cinnamon type — Ceylon ("true" cinnamon) is milder and preferable for drinking regularly; cassia (the common supermarket type) works fine for occasional use.
• Not for infants — honey should never be given to children under one year old.
• Related: for a stronger cold remedy see Kadha (Immunity Decoction); for throat/nausea see Ground Ginger Remedies.