Best Hot Toddy Recipe | With Tea & For Colds | Inspire • Travel • Eat (2024)

FAQs

Does a hot toddy really help a cold? ›

A hot toddy contains several ingredients that may be able to reduce cold symptoms, such as lemon, honey, and hot water. Adding spices, such as ginger, to a hot toddy may also have benefits. There is, however, no evidence to suggest that alcohol can help with the symptoms.

While the alcohol in one drink is great for falling asleep and feeling rested, one too many and you may wake up the next morning with worse symptoms than you had before. So stick to one, and you should be good to go.

Irish Whiskey: Known for its smoothness and light sweetness, brands like Jameson and Bushmills blend well without overpowering the other ingredients. Bourbon: With its rich, vanilla, and caramel notes, bourbon like Maker's Mark or Woodford Reserve adds depth and complements the honey and lemon in the toddy.

Brandy, with its warming properties, is often considered a traditional remedy for cold symptoms. When consumed in moderation, brandy can help relax the muscles, providing relief from the aches and pains associated with a cold. Yes, you should drink a lot of water.

Hot Toddy Ingredients

One cup of hot tea - You can use any tea you like as the base (see our recommendations below.) Two ounces of spirits - Bourbon, brandy, and dark rum are all great options. Lemon juice to taste - If you have it, fresh-squeezed lemon juice is ideal.

A hot toddy is a mixture of a spirit (usually whisky), hot water, and honey (or, in some recipes, sugar). In Canada, maple syrup may be used. Additional ingredients such as cloves, a lemon slice or cinnamon (in stick or ground form) are often also added.

So, how does this drink actually help you feel better? We have science to back it up. Heated beverages are known to help break down excess mucous and relieve chills and shakiness in those that are sick while lemon is known for its healing vitamin C and honey has antimicrobial benefits.

Toddy, which is typically a fermented palm sap, might have some health benefits due to its probiotic content and potential for providing certain nutrients. However, moderation is key as excessive consumption can have negative health effects, such as liver damage and increased risk of alcohol-related issues.

Alcohol dilates blood vessels, which makes it easier for your body's mucus membranes to deal with the infection. And if you enjoy your whiskey mixed into a hot beverage like a toddy, then you'll experience additional benefits as the moisture from the hot water helps relieve nasal decongestion.

Is whiskey in tea good for you? ›

In 19th-century Britain, it was common for doctors to prescribe a Hot Toddy as a cure for almost anything, from stomach pain to insomnia. Today it is sipped more to soothe colds – whisky to fortify, tea to warm, lemon to boost vitamins – or as a pick-me-up for a moment of comfort in our busy world.

But for many Americans, the Hot Toddy is primarily a bourbon drink, which makes sense given its generally sweeter character. Yet as with all things whiskey-related, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to which one is best in any given context.

Preparation: Put bourbon, honey, and lemon juice in a mug. Top off with hot water and stir until honey is dissolved. Garnish with a lemon peel.

Specifically, Crown Royal is a Canadian whisky, and even though this technically uses a bourbon mashbill (64% corn, 31.5% rye, 4.5% malted barley), bourbon can only be made in America. Though the TTB originally approved the label, they reversed their decision and forced the brand to stop using the name 'Bourbon Mash'.

Hot toddies are reported to help reduce cold symptoms, although you really don't want to overdo it on the whiskey. Your body needs to heal, and the simple combination of warm water, honey and lemon combined can work wonders. Alcohol doesn't mix well with over-the-counter and prescription medications.

The ingredients in a hot toddy have been shown to have cough-suppressing properties. Alcohol isn't needed in the recipe to experience these benefits. Consuming warm water, lemon, and honey is the key to symptom relief. Additional items can be added to taste, such as tea, clove, and ginger.

Alcohol is not a treatment or cure for colds, and it does not act as a decongestant. Generally, health authorities do not recommend consuming alcohol during a cold. Some older research suggests that moderate alcohol consumption may reduce the frequency of colds.

Your body needs rest to heal. Sip warm liquids. Many cultures use warm liquids, such as chicken soup, tea or warm apple juice, for colds. Warm liquids might ease stuffiness by increasing mucus flow.