Cold & Sore Throat Relief

[Bakersdozen]

It's almost cold and flu season time again.  I came across this recipe and it's sounds logical.
1. Slice 2 lemons and a 1 inch piece of fresh ginger.
2. Pack lemon and ginger into a 12 ounce jar.
3. Pour 1 cup of raw honey over top; mix, cover and refrigerate.
4. After 2 days, mixture will meld and thicken.
5. Stir 2 teaspoons of mixture into a cup of hot water.
6. Sip and relax.

[lazy shooter]

If you leave it in the refrigerator how long will it last?  Sounds good!  Ginger is often used in Chinese Holistic medicines.  Those Chinese have expanded their population to 1.25 billion people during hard times, so they must know something.

[Jen]

Nice recipe Baker, I would drink a cup of that every day thru winter to keep my immune system strong. This recipe is really a perfect food for winter time. I'm going to make some    Thanks!

[Bakersdozen]

If you leave it in the refrigerator how long will it last? 

I wondered the same.

[apisbees]

Adding the moisture of 2 lemons will rise the moisture content of the honey so fermentation will take place. this can be lessened by using pasteurized honey so the yeast spores are killed. Also if stored in a fridge will lesson slow the fermentation also but mold will grow on the mixture. for maximum storage the entire concoction would need to be sterilized (Canned) and stored in a air tight container and refrigerated once opened.
Or mix up 1/2 or 1/4 batches and use it up quickly.

[brooksbeefarm]

An ounce or two of Wild Turkey mixed in does wonders also. Jack

[Jen]

I'm liking the 1/4 cup version. It's easy enough to make up in a canning jelly jar

[Bakersdozen]

I agree, this would be easy to cut in half.  Then there wouldn't be as much waste.  Who wants to waste their precious honey?

[Jen]

I'm going to make it 1/2 batch first. But frankly, I would probably go thru a whole batch in a couple of weeks. That would be drinking one cup a day everyday in the winter.

[lazy shooter]

It sounds medicinal, but does it taste good.

[Jen]

Personally I think it will taste fabulous because I love all those flavors anyway. Lemon, honey, ginger .... oh yeeeah

[apisbees]

If it did ferment it would have some carbonation bubbles in it. Honey lemon ginger-ale. Kind of like the old fashion homemade root beer. 

[Jen]

But Apis, wouldn't the anti-bacterial aspect of honey hold that fermentation back a bit?

[apisbees]

Not when you add the juice for a lemon the under 17.8 % moisture of the honey will be over 20% and if the temp is between 51 deg to 80 deg it will ferment.

[Jen]

That's right, the moisture thing.

  Sent you a pm Apis

[Bakersdozen]

So, everyone be sure to date your jar when you make this recipe.  We will know how long it will last in the fridge.  I am going to guess that the acidity in the lemon will help retard fermentation.  Meade makers probably know more than me about acidity and honey.

[apisbees]

In the fridge which is set to around 4 deg C 37 Deg F is cold enough to keep it from fermenting. But mold will grow on the surface in the fridge at that temperature.