The Power Tonic: Grated Ginger, Onion, Garlic, Lemon, and Honey

Making this tonic at home ensures that you are using high-quality, fresh ingredients without any artificial additives or hidden preservatives.

Prep time: 15 minutes | Steep time: 7 days | Yield: 1 Pint Jar

Ingredients

• 1/2 Cup Fresh ginger root, grated
• 1/2 Small red or yellow onion, finely sliced or grated
• 4–5 Cloves of fresh garlic, crushed or finely minced
• Juice of 2 large fresh lemons
• Raw, unpasteurized honey (enough to fill your jar)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prep and Activate your Aromatics

Wash your ginger root thoroughly (you can leave the skin on if it’s organic) and grate it finely. Grate or thinly slice your onion. Crush your garlic cloves and let them rest on your cutting board for 10 minutes to ensure maximum allicin production.

2. Layer the Jar

Pack the grated ginger, onion, and garlic loosely into a clean, sterilized 1-pint glass mason jar. Pour the fresh lemon juice over the top of the ingredients.

3. Cover with Honey

Slowly pour the raw honey into the jar, allowing it to seep down through the spaces between the grated ingredients. Fill the jar until all the solids are completely submerged under a layer of honey. Stir gently with a wooden or plastic spoon to release any trapped air bubbles.

4. The 7-Day Infusion Period

Seal the jar tightly with a lid. Place it in a cool, dark place—like a kitchen pantry or cupboard—for 7 days. Over the week, you will notice the honey becoming much thinner and turning into a clear, runny syrup as it draws out the vegetable juices.

5. Strain and Store

On the seventh day, you can choose to strain the liquid syrup into a clean jar using a fine sieve, or you can leave the grated bits in the jar if you prefer a textured tonic. Move the finished jar to the refrigerator, where it will keep beautifully for up to 2 to 3 months.

How to Use

Enjoy one teaspoon a day as a preventative wellness routine, or increase to 2 to 3 teaspoons a day if you are actively fighting off a scratchy throat or seasonal congestion. You can take it straight from the spoon, or stir your teaspoon into a warm cup of water to create an instant, comforting herbal tea!