3 Hot Drinks to Soothe a Sore Throat

The causes of a sore throat can be many, from viral and bacterial infections to irritation from allergies or exposure to pollutants in the air. The mucus membranes in your throat are irritated and inflamed, and every swallow can be dreadful. Here are recipes for three throat-soothing hot drinks to calm a sore throat.

Dark Chocolate Peppermint Cocoa

Dark chocolate is known to soothe sore throats. Its thick, coating nature, when eaten, calms irritated tissues and can comfort a scratchy, irritated throat. Add in peppermint and turn it into a rich Italian-style hot chocolate, and you have the perfect soothing treat for an irritated, scratchy throat.

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips (or dark chocolate bar broken into chunks)
• 1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract

To make your cocoa, melt butter in a saucepan over low heat. Whisk in cornstarch until well combined. Add milk, sugar, and cocoa powder before raising the heat to medium. Whisk continually until the mixture is warm and begins to thicken. Remove from heat and immediately stir in dark chocolate pieces and peppermint extract until the mixture is thick and melty. Then enjoy.

Skip this choice if you’re overloaded with mucus though; milk is known to increase the feelings of sliminess, so one of the other options here might be a better choice.

Ginger Tea

The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger make this a perfect natural solution to reach for during times of throat irritation. Since the root cause of a sore throat is often inflammation in the tissue lining of your throat, ginger is a great herbal remedy to consider. And hot or cold herbal ginger tea is easy to make at home and can be sipped slowly, extending the relief. Here is the easy-to-make recipe.

• 1 cup water
• 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

To make ginger tea, boil the water, remove from heat, add ginger, and cover. Allow the tea to steep for ten minutes. Stir in honey and lemon to finish. This drink can be enjoyed hot, or you can add ice if you’d prefer a cooling beverage to calm your throat. 

Hot Toddy

A hot toddy is a classic hot alcoholic beverage commonly used to soothe the symptoms of colds and the flu. The combination of heat and known throat-soothing ingredients makes this one home treatment many swear by. The basic ingredients of a hot toddy are:

• 1 cup water
• 1 shot of whiskey (for adults only)
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

To make your hot toddy, warm water to as hot as you can handle without burning your mouth before adding in the other ingredients. Stir well, and sip slowly for maximum throat-soothing effect. For children or those who prefer to stay alcohol-free, simply skip the whiskey. You can also add ginger or peppermint to your toddy if desired. These herbal add-ins will boost the flavor of your drink, and both ginger and peppermint are also known to soothe inflamed throat tissues, adding to the benefits of your hot toddy.  

Any of these throat-soothing beverages can be helpful to soothe throat irritation. Remember to take it easy as well, as getting lots of rest is one of the best ways to help your body heal. And if you’re not feeling better within a few days or are experiencing any extreme symptoms, please follow up with your doctor.

*Photo by Drew Jemmett on Unsplash