What Is Fermented Garlic Honey and Can It Help During Flu Season?

Fermented garlic honey seems like the latest health craze on TikTok. This popular home remedy is believed to soothe respiratory illnesses like the flu or the common cold.

Fermented garlic honey is made from a combination of garlic cloves and raw honey. As the two ingredients marinate for about five days, they become fermented in the jar.

In addition to some possible health benefits, this type of garlic honey is a tasty treat. Try drizzling it over dinners like pizza and fried chicken or over sides like roasted Brussels sprouts and crusty bread.

What is fermented garlic and honey good for?

Honey and garlic both have known health benefits of their own. It can be challenging to determine how these benefits change when the two ingredients are combined.

Benefits of Honey

Honey is rich in antioxidants, compounds that are known to fight inflammation and lower the risk of chronic disease. Research has found that honey has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. This means that it can protect the body against infections caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi. Studies have found that honey may help to stop the flu virus from growing and spreading. It can also soothe a cough.

Fermented garlic honey requires raw honey, rather than pasteurized honey. That is because pasteurized honey will not cause the mixture to ferment. Raw honey contains more nutrients than pasteurized honey and has been found to lower blood pressure readings and cholesterol levels.

Also, check these best honey options for you; our taste test revealed these favorites.

Benefits of Garlic

Garlic contains allicin, a compound that has antibacterial properties, protects from infection and can protect the brain from disease and improve memory and focus. Garlic may also lower the risk of heart disease by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Benefits of Fermented Garlic Honey

More research is needed to determine if fermented garlic honey has proven health benefits. A 2013 study found that the combination of garlic and honey may stop the growth of certain types of bacteria including Streptococcus pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella.

Is it safe to eat garlic fermented in honey?

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Fermented garlic honey must be stored properly in order to be safe to eat. Stored garlic can cause botulism, a serious type of foodborne illness. Fortunately, raw honey is acidic enough to kill the bacteria that cause botulism. Infants younger than 12 months should never consume honey because of the risk of botulism. Keep your sealed jar of fermented garlic honey in a cool, dry place.

As with any natural remedy, fermented garlic honey is not for everyone. Eating a large amount of garlic may interfere with your blood’s ability to clot. People taking blood thinning medications like aspirin should use caution with garlic. Honey is high in sugar and may raise blood glucose levels in people with diabetes.

When stored properly and consumed in moderation, fermented garlic honey is safe to eat. It has a savory, slightly sweet flavor. It’s a great dip for bread or crackers. It can be drizzled over pizza, grilled pork, fried chicken and burgers. To satisfy your sweet tooth, try a bit of garlic honey with homemade vanilla ice cream.

How long is fermented garlic honey good for?

Most types of honey can be safely stored and remain fresh for 12 months. To determine if your fermented garlic honey is still good, make sure it does not appear cloudy or crystallized. Smell it to make sure you don’t notice a foul odor.

When making fermented garlic honey, it’s best to shake it every day to ensure that all of the garlic bulbs are covered with honey. Be sure to open the jar once a day to release any built-up gas during the fermentation process.