Horehound

White Horehound
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Lamiales Family: Lamiaceae Genus: Marrubium Species: vulgare
Binomial nomenclature
Marrubium vulgare L.

Horehound (Marrubium vulgare, Lamiaceae) is a greyish-leaved herb, somewhat resembling mint in appearance; traditionally used in the manufacture of cough remedies. This species is also called white horehound as opposed to the black horehound , or Marrubium nigrum. The term horehound has been presumed by some to derive from the Egyptian god Horus. The genus Marrubium may be from the Hebrew marrob or bitter juice.

Cough candy recipe

• Cover dried or fresh aboveground parts of horehound with water
• Simmer for 15 minutes
• Strain
• Measure liquid - how much did you get? 5 dl (= 1 pint)? Add 5 dl (=1 pint) sugar. 500 g (= 1 pound)? Add 500 g (= 1 pound) sugar. Or just add 2 cm (= 2/3 inch) sugar to your 2 cm (= 2/3 inch) liquid, while still in the kettle. This is a very mild medicinal herb that's going to get boiled all the way to timbooktoo and back again; it's not all that important to get dot-precise measurements.
• Also add 1 tablespoon oil or butter, that way you won't have to watch your kettle, as it now has to
• Boil for 2-4 hours, or until at least half the volume is gone
• Pour unto cookie sheets
• Let harden
• Break into candy-sized chunks
• Take a "candy" (yech) when you have a cough.

If it didn't harden, don't fret. Pour the mess into a wide-mouthed jar instead, and serve as cough syrup in teaspoon doses. Throw out if it molds, and let boil for longer next time around. It might crystallize in your jar, too, but that's life.

External links

White Horehound