1. Prepare the garlic
Separate the garlic bulb into individual cloves.
Peel the cloves carefully and remove any damaged or discolored pieces.
2. Crush the cloves
Lightly crush each garlic clove with the flat side of a knife.
You don’t need to turn the garlic into a paste. A gentle crushing is enough to release its juices and flavor.
3. Place the garlic in the jar
Put the prepared garlic cloves into a clean, completely dry glass jar.
Don’t fill the jar completely—leave some space at the top.
4. Add the honey
Pour honey over the garlic until the cloves are completely covered.
Use a clean spoon to gently move the garlic around so the honey reaches all the pieces.
5. Cover the jar
Close the jar tightly with its lid.
If you’re making a fermented garlic-honey preparation, recipes commonly use a controlled fermentation process, but homemade fermentation can carry food-safety risks if conditions aren’t controlled properly. For a simple preparation, refrigeration is the safer approach.
6. Refrigerate
Place the mixture in the refrigerator and use clean utensils whenever removing any garlic or honey.
The flavor will become stronger as the garlic sits in the honey.
How to Use It
You can use a small amount as a flavorful addition to food or drinks.
For example, mix a small spoonful into:
- Warm water
- Herbal tea
- Salad dressing
- Marinades
- Roasted vegetables
- Toast or crackers
You can also use the honey separately as a sweetener.
Why People Like Garlic and Honey
Garlic and honey have different nutritional properties. Garlic provides sulfur-containing compounds and other plant compounds, while honey provides carbohydrates and various naturally occurring compounds.
Honey is also commonly used to soothe a cough or irritated throat, although it doesn’t eliminate the underlying cause of an infection.
Garlic can be part of a healthy diet, but claims that eating garlic with honey will “cleanse the blood,” kill parasites, cure chronic disease, or replace medication are not established medical facts.
Important Safety Tips
Never give honey to a child under 12 months old because of the risk of infant botulism.
If you have diabetes, remember that honey is still a source of sugar and can raise blood glucose.
Garlic can also interact with some medications, particularly medicines that affect blood clotting. People taking anticoagulants or preparing for surgery should discuss regular high-dose garlic consumption with a healthcare professional.
If you experience persistent cough, fever, breathing difficulties, digestive symptoms, or another concerning symptom, don’t rely on garlic and honey instead of appropriate medical care.
Final Thoughts
Garlic and honey make an easy and flavorful combination that can be incorporated into everyday cooking. Enjoy it as a food rather than a miracle remedy, and keep your regular medical treatment and healthy eating habits in place.
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