Honey Lemon Throat Lozenge Recipe

This post is long overdue but better late then never. 

This was the first time I made anything like this so I was a bit apprehensive and thought I would do things a particular way and then changed some of it as I went. 

The hardest parts for me were finding a mold to use and making sure I got the honey to the proper temperature without burning it. I was so nervous that either I would burn the batch and ruin the whole thing, I wouldn't get the temperature right so they wouldn't harden, or that the lozenges would get stuck in the mold and I wouldn't be able to use them. Thankfully none of these things happened! 

So, I will give you a step by step process of how I made my lozenges and give you any tips or tricks that I found helpful along the way. 

One of the greatest things about these hard lozenges is that the only ingredients in them are local honey and young living essential oils! No added ingredients or high amounts of processed sugars. You can always play around with different flavors by switching up the essential oils but I stuck to a fairly basic flavor and combined theives, lemon, and eucalyptus for an immune supporting Lozenge that would also help sooth a sore throat. 

* I personally only ingest young living essential oils. It is a brand I trust because of their seed to seal guarantee and their transparency as a company. 

First, you will need to gather your supplies and ingredients. 

You will need some form of silicon mold or hard candy mold for your lozenges. You can buy them online but I found my hard Lozenge mold at hobby lobby. The one I purchased made 90 lozenges and I would recommend buying 2 as I should have bought 2 myself and found that out too late. 

*you could also just drop them onto parchment paper but they won't be as pretty and uniform. 

You will also need a candy thermometer. This is vitally important and the proper temperature is paramount in successfully making these lozenges. Always make sure to test the thermometer before using it. 

You will also need 1 cup of honey. I highly recommend you use honey from a local farmer for added benefit, known quality, and community support. 

Lastly, you will need quality essential oils. I will be using theives, lemon, and eucalyptus essential oils in this recipe. If you are looking to purchase these items from young living let me know. I can help you out :) 

*I purchased a set of these little bottles thinking I would put the liquid mixture inside and squeeze it into the mold. FYI the liquid hardens too quickly for that. 

Before you get going, you need to lightly coat the hard candy mold with olive oil to help prevent any sticking. 

Next, bring 1 cup of honey to 300 degrees using a candy thermometer. Start on a medium to low heat and adjusting to low to keep it from burning. Be patient and stir often. Mine took a good 25 minutes to reach the desired temperature. 

*be very careful as honey can burn easily but you need it to reach 300 degrees or they will not harden and be extremely sticky. 

*I personally didn't encounter too much foaming but if it does foam too much, I read that you can add a teaspoon of butter to keep the foaming down. 

Once you reach 300 degrees, remove the pot from the stove and add in your essential oils. I used 10 drops of theives, 8 drops of lemon, and 3 drops of eucalyptus. 

*you can play around with the strength of the oils or even try different combinations. Like orange or peppermint. 

After the oils are added, I recommend you work quickly to place the liquid into the mold. My sister was there and I ended up using extra hands in this part of the process. I probably could have managed but having her there made it much easier, especially as the mixture started to harden and become sticky. I had the genius idea of placing the mixture in the little bottles to drop it into the mold but found that it was hardening far too quickly so I just used a spoon to transfer the liquid. 

*I should have bought 2 molds but just used a piece of parchment paper for the extra that didn't fit in the mold. 

Let the drops cool until they are hard and then pop them out of the mold (I think I waited 30+ minutes just to make sure) and than wrap them individually in parchement paper.  

*dont use wax paper or they will stick 

I then placed the individually wrapped lozenges into a mason jar and keep them in the cabinet. 

I hope you find this recipe helpful. Please let me know if you try to make these and if you try different variations. 

*disclaimer-I am not a doctor nor do I intend for this post to be used to help prescribe, diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is your responsibility to educate yourself and address any health or medical needs you may have with your physician. Please seek professional help when needed.