This therapeutic drink to ward off colds is certainly not like Robitussin. It’s better. Cookbook author Paula Wolfert became familiar with the magic of this traditional Moroccan cold remedy from her friend Barbara Temsamani, who keeps the recipe taped to her refrigerator door as it’s so darn efficient in warding off whatever ails you. Our Rx? Take it 3 times a day for 1 to 2 days at the first sign of a cough, sore throat, or flu.–Renee Schettler Rossi
What Other Healing Ingredients Can I Include In A Cold Remedy?
Herbs and spices play critical roles not just in Moroccan and other traditional cuisines but also in these ancient cultures’ medicinal tool kits, usually in the form of soothing herbal infusions, such as this tonic that calms the system and helps ward off colds and flu. We suspect part of the healing happens from the lovely and calmative aromas and flavors of the ingredients, for example, with anise seeds imparting “a strong, warm, licorice flavor,” in the words of Paula Wolfert, and fenugreek being best described as “a little like burnt sugar or maple syrup.” As for the other part of the healing, each herb or spice plays a different role depending on its particular properties. As for other ingredients that you could turn into an infusion and reap the benefits, here’s Wolfert’s Moroccan cheat sheet:
- Absinth is the “winter tea of choice” for warmth and as an antispasmodic and digestive.
- Lemon verbena calms the nerves, helps digestion, and gives comfort from the pain of menstruation.
- Orange flower water mixed with milk and sugar helps children get to sleep.
- Marjoram is an excellent remedy for a cold or stomachache.
Therapeutic Drink to Ward Off Colds
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups cold water
- Small piece ginger, crushed, or 1/4-inch piece dried ginger*
- 1/4 lemon, preferably organic
- 1/2 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
- 1 scant teaspoon anise seeds
- Honey, to taste, (optional)
Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil. Add the ginger, lemon, fenugreek, and anise seeds, cover, and boil for 10 minutes.
- Strain the tea into a mug and stir in honey to taste, if desired. Inhale the aroma and sip the tea while it's hot.
Notes
*Dried Ginger Note
Not to be confused with ground ginger, dried ginger is an actual chunk of ginger that has been dehydrated and turns a little gnarly. Simply break off about 1/4 inch for this recipe, or slightly more or less, depending on personal preference.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe Testers’ Reviews
I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical about this recipe, however, I’m glad I made it. There were no colds in the house at the time, and hopefully after drinking this, there won’t be any for a long time to come.
he first sip is very interesting. My husband wasn’t sure about it, but he came to like it better after the first sip. I usually just make a hot drink with fresh ginger, fresh lemon, and some honey when I feel a cold or sore throat coming on, but I will definitely try this one when that time comes. I liked it with a touch of honey, but my husband preferred it straight, which is unusual for him. He usually likes hot drinks a bit on the sweet side. Very nice fragrance as well.
While I can’t say if this therapeutic drink wards off colds, I’m sure it will be comforting on a cold night or to soothe a scratchy throat. At the first sign of a cold, I make a similar hot drink and sip it all day long, and my colds are usually over in a day or two. The lemon and ginger are familiar flavors, but the fenugreek and aniseed add a nice, spicy note to the drink. I add just enough honey to sweeten, but not too much.
A few days ago, I really needed a hot drink cold remedy and remembered this recipe. My sinuses had a lot of pressure and I was sneezing and nose running…you know the deal…miserable. I picked up the ingredients from the store and my husband kindly threw this drink together in a matter of minutes. I was so stuffy and congested that I couldn’t even smell it brewing but my husband claimed it had a very interesting aroma (I don’t think he was a real fan of the smell of fenugreek). When I tasted the drink warm, I immediately felt the relief of the warm, rich liquid soothing my throat. (Next time, I would add less lemon as I think my husband may have added too much as my tummy hurt a little.) Wonder of all wonders, though, the next morning I was feeling much better and have never been rid of a cold so soon—I was seriously like 90% improved from the prior day. I also drank my lemongrass tea (my usual go-to warm soothing drink I consume when I have a cold or sore throat made with fresh lemongrass, hot water, apple cider vinegar, and a touch of honey) but this drink was new to my remedies and I’ve never felt better so fast. Was it really the tea? The scientist in me wants to try this experiment again…but not hoping to get a cold again any time soon!
This therapeutic drink to ward off colds recipe appeared at just the right time, as summer made a long transition into the cold and flu season. I couldn’t wait to try it!
While boiling, the aroma in my kitchen caused Antonio to ask what I was making. When I shared simply that it was an herbal tea, he replied that it smelled terrific.
A quarter lemon could be a range of sizes, and my lemon happened to be extra large. This made for quite a lemony drink, which I enjoyed (and for health purposes, it provided more vitamin C than had I used a smaller lemon).
I should have used a tighter lid while it boiled. When I strained it, I was left with less than half of the liquid I started with, so it was a very small therapeutic drink. I added honey, generously, and savored the taste and aroma. I don’t know if it was the drink or the therapeutic suggestion of the drink, or some combination of the two, but I felt much better when I got up the next morning.
So the next time I’m starting to feel a little under the weather, I’ll make a cup of this right from the start of that feeling, and drink it regularly to ward off a cold, and I will highly recommend this to anyone having similar under-the-weather sorts of feelings. It’s more interesting than the drink we usually make with ginger, lemon, honey and cayenne, and it has a great story to go along with it. And what could be better than a nice, hot therapeutic drink alongside a little Moroccan bedtime story?!
Hey, it’s worth a try! This therapeutic drink to ward off colds is a comforting drink with a mild lemon and licorice flavor. And it’s very simple to make. It tastes a lot like one of those teas that are supposed to coat your throat.
I am crazy about this tea. I came across the recipe and decided to give it a try as I love lemon ginger drinks. I have never had bought fenugreek seeds before, but the smell is familiar, and I have discovered I love the flavor. I have been drinking this all the time and I’m not even sick! I just like how it tastes! And hopefully I have warded off any sickness. I have been making a larger batch and saving some to drink cold with fizzy water and a bit of (fruit sweetened) lemonade. It’s way better than any of those canned tea drinks you can get.
Squeaky, well, you’re smarter than I. I should have been drinking this, as I got really sick this past week. Now, I’m suffering. It’s the new adage, “Do as I post, not do as I do.”
Oh no! Well, thanks for the reply and I hope you are feeling better now! (I just came by to check the recipe again, I’m about to make some to ward off the -25c temperatures here). 🙂
Squeaky, I am better, thank you. And, YIKES, -25°C or 13°F. Too cold!!!
What is green aniseed?
I drink Yogi Licorice Tea and think maybe I could add a little lemon and honey to it. I also use it to make licorice ice cream, using the Jeni’s Sweet Cream Ice Cream Recipe you posted and steeping three Yogi Licorice Tea Bags in the hot “custard” (it’s not really custard since there are no eggs, but you know what I mean) for 15 minutes before proceeding with the recipe. It has an elusive flavor, more like chai or gingerbread, not like black licorice at all. It reminds me of a licorice ice cream I had in Paris, crème glacé de réglisse at the Hotel Lutetia.
Victoria, I love your creativity. And I, too, love licorice tea. While it doesn’t have quite the same properties as fenugreek in terms of healing, I think it would still be quite soothing to the body as well as the mind. Greatly appreciate you sharing your approach to licorice ice cream!
Recipe looks great…but I too am curious what ‘GREEN ANISE SEED” is? Can you clarify?
Sure. Green anise seeds are similar to fennel seeds but possess a stronger licorice flavor. The seeds vary in color from a greyish to brownish to greenish color, and I’ve taken out the “green” as a descriptor in the recipe as any anise seed will work in lovely fashion in this recipe.
One more natural therapeutic: Ginger Lemongrass Honey Tea. Just boil 4 cups of water with 2 teaspoons green tea or your favorite nice tea, 1 lemongrass stalk, and 1 inch chopped ginger for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow the fresh herbs to infuse into the tea. Strain the tea into a teapot and then mix in 2 teaspoons of local honey. Sipping this tea regularly works wonders with your sinuses & allergies.
I have written this on my blog if you want to read it.
Cheers
Praj
Many thanks, Praj. So lovely. And yes, taking in local honey does wonders in terms of acclimating or recalibrating the body to the local pollen, yes? Again, many thanks.
Hi Renee,
Yes you are absolutely correct about local honey . Excellent Immunotherapy and so good to taste 🙂 Cheers,
Praj
And sooooo good to taste! Many, many thanks, Praj.