Honey & Home Remedies

Honey, Lemon and Whiskey for Colds: Does a Hot Toddy Actually Help?

Honey, lemon and whiskey have been combined in warm drinks for generations. But does the traditional hot toddy actually help a sore throat, cough or cold? Some parts of the drink have better evidence behind them than others.

Quick answer: A warm honey-and-lemon drink may help soothe a sore throat and calm a cough. Honey has some evidence for reducing acute cough symptoms. Whiskey may make the drink feel warming or relaxing, but it does not cure a cold, and alcohol can contribute to dehydration.

The simplest version: if you're drinking a hot toddy because your throat feels rough, the warm water, lemon and honey are probably doing most of the useful work. The whiskey is optional.

What Is a Hot Toddy?

A hot toddy is traditionally made with hot water, honey, lemon and a small amount of whiskey or another spirit.

It has long been used as a comforting winter drink when someone has a cold, sore throat or cough.

It is important to separate symptom relief from actually treating the infection. The common cold is usually caused by viruses, and a hot toddy does not kill the virus or shorten the infection in a proven way.

Which Ingredients May Actually Help?

Honey

Honey can coat and soothe an irritated throat, and research suggests it may help reduce coughing, particularly at night.

Lemon & Warm Water

Warm liquids can feel soothing on a sore throat and help maintain hydration. Lemon adds flavour and acidity and may encourage you to drink more fluids.

Whiskey

Whiskey can create a warming sensation, but there is no good evidence that it treats the virus causing a cold. Alcohol may also contribute to dehydration.

Does Honey Help a Cough?

Honey is the part of the traditional hot toddy with the strongest evidence for cough relief.

Systematic reviews of clinical trials have found that honey may reduce cough frequency and improve sleep in people with acute coughs, although the overall certainty of the evidence varies between studies.

Honey's thick consistency may also help coat the throat and reduce the irritation that triggers coughing.

Important: Never give honey to a baby under 12 months old because of the risk of infant botulism.

Does Honey and Lemon Help a Sore Throat?

A warm honey-and-lemon drink is commonly recommended for soothing a sore throat.

The NHS recommends hot lemon and honey as one self-care option for cold symptoms, while Australian Healthdirect also suggests a warm honey-and-lemon drink for symptoms associated with rhinovirus.

Honey provides sweetness and a coating sensation, while the warm fluid helps keep the throat moist.

What Does the Whiskey Do?

This is where traditional folklore and medical evidence start to separate.

A small amount of whiskey can make a hot toddy feel warming and relaxing, which may be part of why the drink became associated with going to bed when you're unwell.

But alcohol does not cure a cold.

In fact, medical guidance commonly recommends limiting or avoiding alcohol when you are unwell because it can increase fluid loss and contribute to dehydration.

So if your main goal is symptom relief, a simple hot honey-and-lemon drink is the better-supported option.

Dural Honey Hot Toddy Recipe

Honey, Lemon & Whiskey Hot Toddy

Serves: 1 adult

Ingredients

  • 1–2 teaspoons Dural Honey
  • ½ fresh lemon
  • 200–250ml hot water
  • 15–30ml whiskey, optional
  • 1 cinnamon stick, optional
  • 1 thin slice of fresh ginger, optional

Method

  1. Boil the water and allow it to cool slightly.
  2. Squeeze half a fresh lemon into a mug.
  3. Add 1–2 teaspoons of Dural Honey.
  4. Pour in the hot water and stir until the honey dissolves.
  5. Add a small amount of whiskey if desired.
  6. Add ginger or cinnamon for extra flavour.
  7. Sip slowly while warm.

Alcohol-free version: Simply leave out the whiskey. For cold and sore-throat comfort, the honey, lemon and warm water are the most important parts of the drink.

Should You Add More Whiskey if You Have a Bad Cold?

No.

More whiskey does not mean more cold relief. Higher alcohol intake can make dehydration worse and can also interact with medicines commonly taken when people are sick.

If you are taking cold and flu medicines, pain relievers, antihistamines, sedatives or prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before mixing them with alcohol.

When Should You Skip the Whiskey?

An alcohol-free honey-and-lemon drink is generally the more sensible option if:

  • you are dehydrated
  • you have a fever
  • you are taking medication that interacts with alcohol
  • you are driving
  • you are pregnant
  • you are under the legal drinking age
  • you simply want the sore-throat benefits without alcohol

Can a Hot Toddy Cure a Cold?

No. There is currently no cure for the common cold.

Most colds improve on their own with time, fluids and rest.

A hot honey-and-lemon drink may make symptoms more comfortable while your immune system deals with the infection, but it should be viewed as a comforting drink rather than a medical treatment.

Make It with Dural Honey

Use Dural Honey in warm lemon drinks, tea, cooking, baking and everyday recipes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does honey and lemon help a sore throat?

A warm honey-and-lemon drink can help soothe an irritated throat. The warm liquid keeps the throat moist while honey provides a soothing coating sensation.

Does whiskey cure a cold?

No. Whiskey does not cure the virus responsible for a common cold. Alcohol can also contribute to dehydration, so it should be used cautiously or left out entirely.

Does honey help coughing?

Research suggests honey may help reduce acute cough symptoms and improve sleep in some people. Evidence is strongest for symptom relief rather than treating the underlying infection.

How much honey should I put in a hot toddy?

One to two teaspoons of honey is generally enough for one mug. Adjust according to taste.

Can I make a hot toddy without alcohol?

Yes. Hot water, lemon and honey make an effective comforting drink on their own and are the components most relevant to soothing a sore throat.

Can children have honey and lemon?

Children over 12 months can generally have honey as a food. Honey must never be given to babies under 12 months old. Whiskey or other alcohol should not be added to drinks for children.

Reviewed Against Current Health Guidance

This article is intended as general information about a traditional drink and symptom relief, not medical advice.

Current guidance from the NHS recommends fluids and a warm lemon-and-honey drink as possible ways to soothe cold symptoms. Australian Healthdirect similarly recommends warm honey and lemon for rhinovirus-related sore throats. Mayo Clinic advises avoiding alcohol during a cold because it can contribute to fluid loss.

Clinical reviews have also found that honey may provide some relief from acute coughing, although research quality varies.

Does honey have health effects
Honey & Health

Health Effects of Honey: What Does the Evidence Actually Say?

Honey has been used as a food and traditional remedy for thousands of years. Modern research suggests it may offer antioxidant, antimicrobial and soothing properties, but some health claims are better supported than others.

Quick answer: Honey is primarily a natural source of sugars, but it also contains small amounts of antioxidants and other bioactive compounds. Research suggests benefits in areas including cough relief and some forms of wound care, while evidence for broader metabolic and disease-prevention claims remains limited or mixed.

In simple terms: Honey can be part of a balanced diet and has some interesting properties beyond sweetness, but it should not be treated as a medicine or used to replace appropriate medical care.

What Is Honey Made Of?

Honey is produced by bees from floral nectar. Its main components are naturally occurring sugars, particularly fructose and glucose, along with water and smaller quantities of organic acids, enzymes, minerals, amino acids and plant-derived compounds.

One group of compounds that has attracted particular research interest is phenolic compounds, including flavonoids. These compounds are associated with antioxidant activity in laboratory studies and may contribute to some of honey's biological properties.

Potential Health Effects of Honey

1. Antioxidant activity

Honey contains naturally occurring antioxidant compounds, including phenolics and flavonoids.

Reviews of human and laboratory research have found that honey can contribute antioxidant compounds to the diet, although the amount varies significantly depending on the floral source and processing.

2. Cough relief

One of the better studied uses of honey is for soothing acute coughs.

A systematic review of studies in children found honey may reduce cough frequency and improve sleep compared with no treatment or some cough medicines, although the quality of evidence varies between studies.

3. Antimicrobial properties

Honey can inhibit some microorganisms under laboratory conditions.

This is thought to relate to factors including its high sugar concentration, acidity, low water availability and naturally occurring compounds.

4. Wound care

Medical-grade honey is sometimes used in clinical wound care.

Evidence is strongest for certain burns and infected surgical wounds, although effectiveness varies by wound type. Medical-grade honey should be used for wound care rather than ordinary food honey.

Can Honey Be Better Than Refined Sugar?

Honey and table sugar are both sources of added sugars and energy.

Honey does contain small amounts of antioxidants and plant compounds that ordinary refined sugar does not, but this does not mean honey can be consumed without considering total sugar intake.

Some controlled trials have suggested that replacing other sweeteners with honey may produce small improvements in certain metabolic markers. However, systematic reviews describe the certainty of much of this evidence as low or very low. More high-quality research is still needed.

What does the research say overall?

A review examining 48 clinical trials involving 3,655 participants found potentially beneficial effects of honey across several areas, including cough, wound healing and some metabolic markers.

However, the researchers also noted that studies were limited and highly variable, meaning broad claims that honey prevents or treats disease are not justified by the evidence currently available.

Honey and Blood Sugar

Honey is still a source of sugar.

Although its glucose and fructose profile differs from ordinary table sugar, honey can still raise blood glucose levels and should be counted as part of overall carbohydrate and sugar intake.

People managing diabetes or other blood-sugar conditions should not assume honey is a "free" or medically superior sweetener simply because it is natural.

Honey for Coughs and Sore Throats

Honey is often used in warm water, tea or lemon drinks when someone has a cough or irritated throat.

Research suggests this traditional use has some evidence behind it. A 2023 systematic review of paediatric trials found honey appeared to reduce cough frequency and sometimes improve sleep compared with no treatment or placebo.

That does not mean honey treats the underlying infection, but its texture and sweetness may provide soothing relief.

Important: Honey should never be given to a child under 12 months of age because of the risk of infant botulism.

What About Honey on Wounds?

Honey has a long history in wound care, and modern medicine has developed sterilised medical-grade honey products for certain wounds.

A Cochrane review found relatively strong evidence for honey dressings in some partial-thickness burns and moderate evidence for some infected post-operative wounds. Evidence for many other wound types remained uncertain.

This is very different from putting supermarket or food-grade honey onto an open wound.

For wounds, burns or infections, seek appropriate medical care and use medical-grade products if recommended by a healthcare professional.

Does Raw Honey Have More Health Benefits?

Raw honey is generally less processed and may retain more naturally occurring compounds than heavily heated or filtered honey.

However, the exact nutritional and antioxidant content of honey varies with floral source, climate, harvest conditions and processing.

It is more accurate to say that raw honey retains its natural character than to claim that raw honey has been proven to prevent or cure specific diseases.

Is Honey Healthy?

Honey can be part of a healthy diet, particularly when used in moderate quantities and in place of more heavily refined sweeteners.

The key word is moderation.

Honey is nutrient-dense compared with plain sugar in the sense that it contains additional compounds, but it is still energy-dense and predominantly made of sugar.

Dural Honey

Dural Honey is Australian honey harvested in Dural, NSW. Our 500g jar is suited to everyday use, from breakfast and tea to cooking and baking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is honey healthier than sugar?

Honey contains antioxidants and other naturally occurring compounds that refined sugar does not, but both are sources of sugar and energy. Honey should still be consumed in moderation.

Does honey have antioxidants?

Yes. Honey contains naturally occurring antioxidant compounds including phenolics and flavonoids. The amount varies depending on the honey's floral source and how it has been processed.

Can honey help with a cough?

Research suggests honey may reduce cough frequency and improve sleep in some children and adults with acute coughs. It should not be given to children under 12 months old.

Does honey have antibacterial properties?

Honey has demonstrated antimicrobial activity in laboratory research. Medical-grade honey is also used in some wound-care settings.

Can I put ordinary honey on a wound?

Food-grade honey should not be considered a substitute for medical wound treatment. Medical-grade honey is specially prepared and sterilised for clinical use.

Is raw honey better for you?

Raw honey undergoes less processing and may retain more of its naturally occurring compounds. However, evidence is not strong enough to claim that raw honey prevents or cures specific diseases.

Does honey raise blood sugar?

Yes. Honey contains glucose and fructose and can raise blood sugar levels. People managing diabetes should account for honey as part of their total carbohydrate and sugar intake.

Can babies eat honey?

No. Honey should not be given to babies younger than 12 months because of the risk of infant botulism.

Australian Honey from Dural, NSW

Discover Dural Honey for cooking, baking, breakfast and everyday use.

Shop Dural Honey
Lemon honey meringue pie made with Dural Honey
Cooking with Dural Honey

Lemon Honey Meringue Pie with Australian Honey

Tangy fresh lemon, golden Australian honey and soft toasted meringue come together in this homemade lemon honey meringue pie made with Dural Honey.

Prep 25 mins
Cook 25 mins
Serves 8
Honey 150g

Can you make lemon meringue pie with honey?

Yes. Honey works beautifully in lemon meringue pie and can replace much of the traditional sugar used in the lemon filling. In this recipe, Dural Honey adds natural sweetness and floral flavour while fresh lemon provides the acidity. We keep caster sugar in the meringue because it helps create its characteristic stable, glossy peaks.

Recipe at a glance: This Australian honey dessert combines a crisp shortcrust pastry base, lemon curd sweetened with Dural Honey and a traditional toasted meringue. One 23cm pie serves approximately eight people and uses around 150g of honey.

Honey and lemon are one of those combinations that simply work. The acidity of fresh lemon balances honey's natural sweetness while the floral character of the honey gives the filling more depth than sugar alone.

For this recipe we're using our 500g Dural Honey, giving you plenty for the pie with honey left over for breakfast, tea, marinades or your next bake.

Ingredients

For the pastry

  • 1 × 23cm shortcrust pastry case
  • Baking weights or uncooked rice for blind baking

For the honey lemon filling

  • 150g Dural Honey
  • 150ml fresh lemon juice
  • Finely grated zest of 2 lemons
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 2 whole eggs
  • 100g unsalted butter, cubed
  • 1 tablespoon cornflour

For the meringue

  • 4 egg whites, at room temperature
  • 200g caster sugar
  • ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, optional

How to Make Lemon Honey Meringue Pie

1

Prepare the pastry

Preheat your oven to 180°C fan-forced. Line a 23cm tart tin with shortcrust pastry.

Cover the pastry with baking paper and add baking weights or uncooked rice. Blind bake for approximately 15 minutes.

Remove the baking paper and weights and bake for another 5–8 minutes, or until lightly golden.

2

Make the honey lemon filling

Add the Dural Honey, lemon juice, lemon zest and cornflour to a saucepan and whisk until smooth.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and whole eggs.

Warm the lemon and honey mixture over medium-low heat without allowing it to boil.

Slowly whisk a small amount of the warm mixture into the eggs. Gradually return the egg mixture to the saucepan while whisking continuously.

Cook gently until thick and glossy, then remove from the heat. Stir in the butter a few cubes at a time until completely melted.

3

Fill the pie

Pour the warm honey lemon filling into the prepared pastry shell and smooth the top with the back of a spoon.

4

Make the meringue

Beat the egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks begin to form.

Gradually add the caster sugar, around one tablespoon at a time, while continuing to beat.

Continue until the meringue becomes glossy and holds stiff peaks.

5

Top the pie

Spoon the meringue over the lemon filling, spreading it all the way to the pastry edge.

Use the back of a spoon to create peaks and swirls across the top.

6

Toast the meringue

Bake at 180°C for around 8–10 minutes, watching carefully until the meringue peaks become golden.

Alternatively, lightly toast the surface with a kitchen blowtorch.

7

Cool and serve

Allow the pie to cool before refrigerating for approximately 2–3 hours. This gives the honey lemon filling time to set and makes the pie easier to slice.

Made with Dural Honey

Our 500g Australian honey jar is ideal for cooking, baking, breakfast and everyday use. You'll use approximately 150g for this recipe, leaving plenty for your next creation.

Why Use Honey in Lemon Meringue Pie?

Honey isn't simply another way to make the filling sweet. It contributes flavour as well.

Fresh lemon brings acidity while honey contributes sweetness and natural floral characteristics. Together they create a rounded lemon filling that is slightly different from a traditional lemon curd made entirely with refined sugar.

Because honey naturally contains moisture and different sugars, it shouldn't always be substituted gram-for-gram for sugar in every baking recipe. This recipe has been designed specifically to use honey in the lemon filling.

Why Dural Honey?

Australian Honey

Dural Honey is produced in Dural, NSW, in Sydney's Hills District.

Small Harvests

Our honey is harvested in small seasonal batches from bees foraging around Dural and the surrounding area.

Raw & Unfiltered

Our honey is kept simple, allowing the natural character, colour and flavour of each harvest to shine through.

Honey is a natural agricultural product, so colour, aroma, consistency and flavour can vary between harvests depending on seasonal conditions and the flowers available to the bees.

That's part of what makes cooking with genuine local honey interesting. You're not simply adding sweetness. You're adding the character of the honey itself.

Where Can I Buy Dural Honey?

Dural Honey can be purchased online or from selected local retailers around Sydney's Hills District.

Martelli's Fruit Market – Cherrybrook
Cherrybrook Village Shopping Centre
Cherrybrook NSW
Dural Honey Online
Order directly from our online store for delivery.

Shop Dural Honey →

Tips for the Perfect Honey Lemon Meringue Pie

  • Use fresh lemon juice rather than bottled lemon juice.
  • Add the warm lemon mixture to the eggs gradually to avoid scrambling them.
  • Cook the lemon filling gently over moderate heat.
  • Use room-temperature egg whites for your meringue.
  • Make sure your mixing bowl is completely clean and dry.
  • Add the caster sugar gradually while whipping the egg whites.
  • Spread your meringue all the way to the pastry edge.
  • Allow the finished pie enough time to cool and set before slicing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you substitute honey for sugar in lemon meringue pie?

Yes. Honey works particularly well in the lemon filling. However, conventional sugar is useful in the meringue because it helps stabilise the whipped egg whites and create a glossy, structured topping.

Does honey taste good with lemon?

Yes. Lemon and honey are a classic flavour combination. Lemon's acidity balances the sweetness and floral characteristics naturally present in honey.

How much honey do I need for lemon meringue pie?

This recipe uses approximately 150g of honey for one 23cm lemon meringue pie serving around eight people.

Can I use raw honey for baking?

Yes. Raw honey can be used in cooking and baking. Heating honey naturally changes some of the characteristics associated with raw honey, but it continues to provide sweetness, colour and honey flavour.

What honey is best for lemon desserts?

A balanced Australian honey works particularly well with lemon because its floral sweetness complements rather than overwhelms the citrus flavour.

Why does honey crystallise?

Crystallisation is a natural process that can occur in honey. It does not mean the honey has spoiled. The rate of crystallisation varies depending on the honey's natural sugar composition and storage conditions.

Where is Dural Honey produced?

Dural Honey is produced in Dural, NSW, within Sydney's Hills District. Our bees forage around the local area, including gardens and native vegetation.

Is Dural Honey Australian honey?

Yes. Dural Honey is Australian honey harvested from our apiary in Dural, New South Wales.

Where can I buy Dural Honey?

Dural Honey can be ordered directly online and is also available from selected local retailers including Martelli's Fruit Market at Cherrybrook Village Shopping Centre.

Cook with Australian Dural Honey

From desserts and baking to marinades, breakfasts and dressings, discover what you can make with locally harvested Australian honey.

Shop Dural Honey
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