Best Hot Toddy Recipe | With Tea & For Colds | Inspire • Travel • Eat (2024)

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What is the best cold weather co*cktail when it starts getting chilly out there and you need to turn to a winter drink? As the chilly winds of winter begin to blow, there’s nothing quite like wrapping your hands around a warm mug of a classic hot toddy.

Not only does this timeless concoction warm you from the inside out, but it also boasts a reputation for being a comforting remedy for those pesky winter colds. But how do you make a hot toddy recipe?

So many questions and here we have the answers. Cold weather is here and we all need the best hot toddy recipe to bundle up with to help your cold or just to drink because they are the best winter holiday co*cktail!

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The hot toddy recipe for colds is also a must when you just want some comfort during cold and flu season. A true hot toddy normally does not have tea however this recipe includes the tea option as typically it tastes much better with tea vs. the more straight version.

A hot toddy with tea also helps with colds due to the nutritional value and other benefits from the tea you use for this amazing winter drink. If you want another great cold weather co*cktail try out this amazing Spiced Hot Apple Cider co*cktail.

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There are many variations you can have with a hot toddy. You can make a hot toddy with hot apple cider, a traditional hot toddy without tea, a hot toddy with tea and of course multiple different liquors can be used depending on your favorite variation.

Do Use Rum or Whiskey For a Hot Toddy?

A traditional hot toddy is with whiskey, bourbon or rye. However, my favorite hot toddy is with spiced rum or a maple flavored whiskey.

Other versions of hot toddy’s are just as good using dark rum, brandy, bourbon or even fireball. Some people say to use vodka but that is not advised.

Is A Hot Toddy Good If You Are Sick?

Yes, a hot toddy has some good ingredients if you are sick and offer some benefits when you are sick. A hot toddy can help with a sore throat and a cough along with other cold and flu symptoms.

Lemon is great for you when you are sick, you can use lemon tea, honey is another good ingredient when you are sick and that whiskey may just soothe some of your pain… maybe why they call it grandpa’s medicine ;).

With all of that said, we are not medical experts so don’t write down a hot toddy for your cure for COVID, the flu or a cold.

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What is In a hot toddy?

A traditional hot toddy is few ingredients with just hot water, whiskey, honey, lemon and then a cinnamon stick or star anise for garnish.

You can of course make this tastier by adding a tea bag and making tea vs. just hot water as your base for the hot toddy recipe.

What Is The Best Tea For A Hot Toddy?

Lemon tea and plain black tea are the best teas for a hot toddy. You can use chamomile, ginger or try any other teas but typically lemon or plain black tea make the best tea hot toddy.

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Here are some other benefits of the hot toddy:

  1. Soothing a Sore Throat & cough: The combination of warm liquids and honey in a hot toddy can help soothe a sore throat. Honey has natural antibacterial properties and can provide relief from irritation.
  2. Easing Congestion: The steam from the hot toddy can help open up nasal passages and provide relief from congestion. Inhaling the warm vapors while sipping on the drink can be especially comforting.
  3. Promoting Sleep: The warmth of the hot toddy, coupled with the relaxing effects of bourbon or whiskey, can help promote better sleep. Adequate rest is crucial for recovery from a cold, and a hot toddy might be just the thing to help you drift off into a restful slumber.
  4. Hydration: Staying hydrated is essential when you’re under the weather. The hot water in a toddy, along with the additional fluids from the tea, can contribute to keeping you well-hydrated.

Next time you find yourself bundled up with a cold, consider reaching for a hot toddy.

Not only does it provide a welcome warmth on a cold day, but its soothing qualities might just be the remedy you need to kick that winter cold to the curb. Cheers to good health and the comforting embrace of a well-crafted hot toddy!

Best Hot Toddy Recipe | With Tea & For Colds | Inspire • Travel • Eat (4)

Best Hot Toddy Recipe | With Tea & For Colds

What is the best cold weather co*cktail when you need to turn to the best winter drink? Cold weather is here and we all need the best hot toddy recipe to bundle up with!

The hot toddy recipe for colds is also a must when you just want some comfort during cold and flu season. A true hot toddy normally does not have tea however this recipe includes the tea option as typically it tastes much better with tea vs. the more straight version.

A hot toddy with tea also helps with colds due to the nutritional value and other benefits from the tea you use for this amazing winter drink.

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Course: co*cktails, Drinks

Cuisine: American, Drinks

Keyword: Holiday co*cktails, holiday drinks, Hot toddy, Hot Toddy Recipe, winter co*cktails

Prep Time: 1 minute min

Cook Time: 2 minutes mins

Total Time: 3 minutes mins

Servings: 1 drink

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup hot water or brewed tea lemon tea or black tea is best
  • 1-2 oz whiskey/bourbon/rye rum or brandy
  • 1 tbsp raw honey
  • 1/2 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice

Optional

  • 1/4 cup hot apple cider in place of water/tea

Garnish Options

  • Cinnamon stick
  • Sliced apple
  • Star Anise
  • Lemon wedge

Instructions

  • Put hot water or tea in your mug, add lemon juice, honey and whiskey.

  • Garnish with lemon, cinnamon stick and a star anise if you have one.

Print Recipe

Tried this recipe?Mention @InspireTravelEat or tag #InspireTravelEat!

Best Hot Toddy Recipe | With Tea & For Colds | Inspire • Travel • Eat (2024)

FAQs

Does a hot toddy actually help a cold? ›

A hot toddy contains several ingredients that may be able to reduce cold symptoms, such as lemon, honey, and hot water. Adding spices, such as ginger, to a hot toddy may also have benefits. There is, however, no evidence to suggest that alcohol can help with the symptoms.

What food goes well with a hot toddy? ›

Pairings for a Classic Hot Toddy

To complement the citrus notes in your Hot Toddy, other lemon-based foods pair well such as lemon bars or lemon-infused cakes. Ginger cookies or snaps provide a spicy and warm contrast to the soothing qualities of the Hot Toddy.

What is the best whiskey for a hot toddy? ›

Irish Whiskey: Known for its smoothness and light sweetness, brands like Jameson and Bushmills blend well without overpowering the other ingredients. Bourbon: With its rich, vanilla, and caramel notes, bourbon like Maker's Mark or Woodford Reserve adds depth and complements the honey and lemon in the toddy.

What is the best hot drink for a cold? ›

For boosted immunity and/or sickness relief, try making lemon-ginger-cinnamon tea or a hot toddy. To make the immune-boosting tea, simply squeeze half a lemon into a mug and add the lemon rind. Add one or two cinnamon sticks and five slices of peeled ginger root.

Does hot toddy break up mucus? ›

Is a Hot Toddy Good for a Cough? Yes. The alcohol can help clear mucus by dilating blood vessels in the upper body. The steam from the hot water might also help to clear congestion.

Is a hot toddy healthy? ›

Hot toddies are reported to help reduce cold symptoms, although you really don't want to overdo it on the whiskey. Your body needs to heal, and the simple combination of warm water, honey and lemon combined can work wonders. Alcohol doesn't mix well with over-the-counter and prescription medications.

Does a hot toddy contain tea? ›

Spiking that tea with a generous splash of whiskey to turn it into the very best version of a hot toddy. This twist on the classic warm co*cktail calls for ginger tea as its base rather than the usual hot water, which infuses spicy sweetness into every sip.

Which popular alcoholic drink is best served hot? ›

Put on the kettle, and let's get started.
  • 01 of 09. Hot Toddy. ...
  • 02 of 09. Traditional Chinese Medicine-Inspired Mulled Wine. ...
  • 03 of 09. Inverno Arancione. ...
  • 04 of 09. Hot Buttered Spiked Cider. ...
  • 05 of 09. Ginger & Bourbon. ...
  • 06 of 09. Cinnamon & Tequila. ...
  • 07 of 09. Apple-Brandy Hot Toddies. ...
  • 08 of 09. Whiskey Chai.
Dec 1, 2023

What are the ingredients in hot toddy fast recovery? ›

HOT TODDY™ FAST RECOVERY capsules, hard

(olive leaf), Rosa canina L. (rose hip), propolis, Pinus pinaster Aiton (pine bark extract), niacin (vitamin B3), calcium D-pantothenate (vitamin B5), glutathione, pyridoxine (vitamin B6), riboflavin (vitamin B2), thiamine (vitamin B1), cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12). Sugar free.

Is toddy good or bad for you? ›

Numerous studies have demonstrated the value of consuming Palm Toddy in moderation to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. Heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases are less likely to occur when a Palm Toddy is consumed. Neera contains potassium, which can decrease blood pressure and improve heart health.

Do doctors recommend a Hot Toddy? ›

The answer is yes – to a degree – according to experts of the co*cktail and medical variety. Gabe Urrutia, a Bacardi Single Malts ambassador, told USA TODAY that the ingredients that make up a hot toddy can help you feel better – though he doubts a doctor would prescribe the drink as a "cure-all."

What is Jim Beam Hot Toddy? ›

Preparation: Put bourbon, honey, and lemon juice in a 6-ounce mug. Top off with hot water and stir until honey is dissolved. Garnish with a lemon peel.

What alcohol goes well with hot tea? ›

The classic Hot Toddy recipe is the simplest way to incorporate alcohol into your favorite tea in a tasteful manner. Pour your preferred spirit—rum, gin, whiskey, or vodka—into a mug with a touch of honey and a spritz of lemon, then top with tea instead of hot water.

Does Whisky really help a cold? ›

Myth: Alcohol's decongestant properties can help treat cold symptoms. Alcohol is rumored to work as a decongestant, but actually, the reverse is true. Small amounts of alcohol can cause vasodilation — a widening of blood vessels — which can worsen a runny nose or congestion.

Does drinking hot drinks help colds? ›

Hot drinks are a good choice as the hot steam may help relieve nasal congestion.

Can you sweat out a cold? ›

Contrary to popular belief, sweating doesn't expel cold viruses from our bodies. Its primary role is to regulate body temperature by releasing impurities, not to combat infections like colds directly. Though some think sweating out a cold can speed up recovery, there's no scientific support.

Does the alcohol boil off in hot toddy? ›

But fear not, hot cider, hot toddy, and mulled wine lovers: Around 85 percent of your beloved alcohol will survive the heating process. The U.S. Department of Agriculture did a study in 2007 that nailed down the numbers with the magic of the scientific method.

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