5 Honey Drinks You Need to Try this Winter!
Honey is great on granola or hot, buttered toast. But have you ever thought about adding it to your favourite drinks? Here’s your guide to the best honey drinks this winter!
The Classic Hot Honey & Lemon
A warming, hot water with honey and lemon makes a soothing drink if you’re struggling with a sore throat or an irritating cough. Use warm, not hot, water, as hot water will destroy the beneficial enzymes in high-quality honey.
Pour into a mug with a teaspoon of honey, Necta & Hive Jarrah honey works well, and a squeeze of lemon. Add a few slices of fresh ginger for an extra boost or a shot of whiskey for a hot toddy.
Fun fact – did you know that NICE, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, who oversee healthcare in the UK, now recommend active healing honeys (such as those sold here at Necta & Hive) as a first-line treatment for coughs?
Bees Knees Cocktail
Originating from the 1920s prohibition era, the Bees Knees contained honey to mask the taste of the cheap, often homemade “bathtub” gin of the time. Now, with the luxury of better quality gin, we can enjoy this cocktail to its full potential!
First, you’ll need to make a honey syrup by combining equal parts honey and warm water (depending on the number of guests you’re catering for) in a saucepan. Warm over a low heat and keep stirring until the honey is dissolved, but don’t allow the mixture to bubble. Cool, and keep in an airtight container for up to a month.
For the cocktail, combine 50 ml gin, 20 ml fresh lemon juice and 20 ml honey syrup in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously with plenty of ice for 20 seconds. Strain into a martini glass and dress with a lemon twist.
Old Fashioned with a Modern Twist
An Old Fashioned is a classic whiskey cocktail, but who says something old can’t have something new, too? Adding a drizzle of honey instead of sugar syrup adds a touch of class to this already stylish short drink.
Mix 1 teaspoon of honey with 2 dashes of Angostura bitters in a short, heavy-bottomed glass. Fill the glass with ice and pour in 50 ml of whiskey. Stir with a bar spoon for 30 seconds to ensure a good mix and garnish with a slice of orange.
Honey Breakfast Smoothie
High-quality, active healing honey doesn’t just taste nice; it can play an important role in your winter wellness armoury, too. With antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, active honey like ours here at Necta & Hive can help to bolster your immune system as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Start your day with a health boost with this super smoothie. Blend all the ingredients in a Nutribullet and enjoy:
·. 250 ml dairy or non-dairy milk
· One banana
· Generous handful of blueberries
· Heaped dessertspoon of hemp protein powder
· Heaped teaspoon of peanut butter
· Teaspoon of active honey
Chambord Honey Sparkler
Add a twist to your champagne flute with this simple crowd-pleaser. Chambord is a sweet black raspberry liqueur made from cognac and is ideal for cutting through the sharpness of champagne or prosecco.
Mix 20 ml Chambord with 20 ml honey syrup (see above) in a coupe or champagne flute, then top with your favourite bubbles. For extra wow, add a small sprig of fresh rosemary to each glass. Cheers!
