Stay Cozy: Herbal Hot Toddy

Hot toddies are simple to make, delicious to drink, and help to keep you warm and cozy on cold winter nights. In this recipe, the classic toddy (water, lemon, honey, whiskey) gets a super-charged herbal twist thanks to kitchen farmacy favorites (ginger, cinnamon, clove rosemary) and reishi, the Queen Healer of the mushroom kingdom. This drink helps support healthy circulation, respiratory health, and immune function. The addition of reishi also confers cardioprotective, stress-relieving, and heart-opening properties. Use manuka or raw local honey for optimal throat-soothing and immune supporting benefits. If whiskey isn’t your thing, you can substitute brandy, vodka, apple cider vinegar (a splash of fire cider is great here!), or omit it entirely. This is a deliciously warming and soothing herbal sip that’s good for whatever ails you.

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Ingredients:

• 2 cups of water
• 3 slices of reishi mushroom
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 cloves
• 1 3-4inch knob of ginger, sliced (peeled if not organic)
• 1 lemon, juice and peel for garnish
• 2 teaspoons manuka or raw local honey
• Sprig of rosemary
• 2 ounces whiskey

Directions:

1. In a small saucepan, combine the water, reishi, cinnamon stick, cloves and ginger. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, grab two serving glasses or mugs and prep the rest of the toddy.
3. Using a paring knife, remove a couple of strips or lemon peel for garnish. Divide the juice of half the lemon between the two glasses (about 1 tablespoon each, but if you like more lemon go for it!).
4. Add 1 teaspoon honey and 1 ounce whiskey to each glass and stir.
5. Add a spring of rosemary and a twist of lemon peel to each glass. Top with your herbal decoction, stir, and enjoy! Serves 2.