Honey and onion cough syrup

This is a cough syrup and cold-relief remedy made from just two ingredients and a jar. The old-school remedy was given to me by one of my best friends, who is Polish – she loved this cough medicine so much that even if she didn’t have a cough she used to sneak into the kitchen for a spoonful or two. Very simply slices of onion layered with sugar and left to marinate, this remedy is best enjoyed every few hours for coughs and colds. I leave it out overnight to create even more of a syrup and then store it in the fridge for the next 24 hours. After that it’s best to make a fresh batch.

Onion contains a milder form of some of the active components in garlic, but both strengthen the immune system, work as natural antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and expectorants, which means they loosen mucus so you can cough it up. I’ve updated this recipe with raw honey, which is a great natural antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal that’s also soothing for itchy and irritated throats. For a thicker syrup and for young kids, use jaggery in place of the honey.

This is cheaper, tastes better than it sounds and is healthier (and probably more effective) than over-the-counter cough medicine. PICTURED HERE.

Makes 1 jar

1 medium red or white onion (red is less harsh in flavour)

340g (about 1 cup) raw honey or jaggery

1 Slice the onion into rounds. Place a round in the bottom of a 500ml (2 cup) airtight jar with a layer of honey over the top. Continue alternating these layers until you’ve used up all of the onion.

2 Cover tightly and allow to sit overnight or for 8–12 hours. There will now be liquid in the jar: take a spoonful as needed to control your cough (aim for three spoonfuls an hour, up to four times a day).

TIP

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If you’re coughing up mucus, avoid suppressing it. The action of coughing is important to loosen phlegm or mucus and get it out of your lungs.