Throat Soothers
A hard candy built around slippery elm and licorice root, with a cool menthol finish. Old-fashioned herbal comfort in a piece you can carry in your pocket.
What It Is
Throat Soothers sit at the edge of candy and folk remedy, which is exactly what makes them interesting. The base is molasses, giving them a dark, slightly bitter sweetness. Slippery elm and licorice root have been used for centuries in herbal traditions to soothe scratchy, irritated throats. Eucalyptus and menthol add a cooling note you will feel on every breath. Echinacea, oshá, and capsicum round out a recipe that reads more like an old apothecary formula than a modern candy counter.
They are organic, vegan, and gluten free, and the flavor is assertive. Not everyone loves licorice; if you do, these are your candy.
What To Do
There is no real kitchen prep here. Let one dissolve slowly in your mouth rather than chewing through it, and the cooling effect lasts longer. They are especially good when the air is dry or your throat feels rough after a long day of talking.
Keep them in a small tin or zip bag so they do not pick up humidity and stick together. A cool, dry spot is all they need. Because the flavor is strong, one or two at a time is usually plenty.
