I’ve mentioned Richard Proenneke in several other threads. One of the things he mentions in his books is that he likes to drink a hot cup of vinegar and honey mixed with water. Sounds weird, and yet I’ve tried other things that sound weird. Why not?
I was making tea when it occured to me that I’d have some boiling water left over. So I got out a tablespoon and put a spoonful of locally-produced wildflower honey in a cup. Then I opened a bottle of Heinz Apple Cider Vinegar and did a ‘bartender’s pour’ of three spoons of that. Add boiling water.
Considering what it’s made from, it’s no surprise that it tastes just like a mug of hot apple cider. I assume it’s somewhat healthy too, as vinegar is known to reduce serum cholesterol and triglycerides and the glycemic index of carbohydrates. It’s also said to promote a feeling of fullness, so it can be useful in weight loss. I looked up the Wiki article to get the preceding, and the article mentions that some people like to take apple cider vinegar with water and honey.
Now I’ve got to go through Proenneke’s books to see if I can find his sourdough pancake recipe.
I drink this occasionally just because I’ve heard some old wives’ tales that it’s very healthy for you. I have no idea if this is true but I genuinely like the taste and find it refreshing, so yeah…why not?
I usually use apple cider vinegar but sometimes substitute red wine vinegar.
My elderly mother used to drink a glass of this every morning “until honey went through the roof” but I assumed she was drinking it for her arthritis or her blood pressure. She likes to try all the natural remedies (as long as they don’t cost much) that are written about in a column in our local newspaper. She did the gin-soaked raisins for a while, too.
The local honey costs almost a penny a gram ($5.99/22oz). I haven’t checked the national brands. Healthy or no, I like the taste and will probably drink it frequently. (I’m having a cup now while I’m waiting for the coffee.) So I should check the prices.
Other than taste, is there any difference between honeys? Or is honey honey?
There are probably hundreds of different types of honey. Maybe thousands, based on what kind(s) of flowers from which the bees harvested nectar. Some honeys are a wild mix of seasonal nectars. Some are derived from a single type of flower. These are known as monofloral honeys, and are generally prized much more than the mixed flower honeys. Sourwood, white tupelo, kiawe, lavender, and orange blossom honeys are examples of highly sought-after monoflorals.
Now, true, these are all basically seperated based on taste, but they do vary wildly in other properties as well. Colors are different between honeys, ranging from the creamy white of alfalfa honey to the molasses darkness of sourwood honey. Some honeys crystallize immediately, and form a “honey paste.” Some are prized for this tendency. Some, such as tupelo honey, because of their sugar makeup, NEVER crystallize, and are sought out because of it.
So no, honey isn’t all the same. There are vast differences between varieties.
My mother usually has a small drink of apple cider vinegar right before dinner to control flatulence - the extra acid in her stomach aids digestion, or at least that’s the theory.
Vinegar+sweetener+flavouring is a sekanjabin or oxymel - a medieval medicinal drink. We make and sell it as a cordial for our annual SCA market stall. Try adding mint.
Sounds a lot like Shrub, a colonial-era (and later_ fruirt concentrate made of vinegar, honey, and fruit. It acted like modern fruit drink concentrates – you add water (and maybe a sweetener). I learned about these at Sturdbridsge Village in Massachusetts (where they sell bottles of shrub).
At the risk of losing my Doper Membership, I will state that I have made an herbal curative or two that I read in one of my many Granola Crunching Tree Hugging Magazines. I’m far too lazy to ever become a True Hippie
I did this recipe for Fire Cider.
When we get a cold that is spreading like the Bird Flu around here, I do a shot of Fire Cider in luke warm water and I haven’t had a cold since I started doing this in two years. I swear to the Flying Spagetti Monster and the Magical Pink Unicorn.
One of my bowling friends, who is an RN and thus gives full credence to it all, dontchaknow. started doing a spice/garlic/onion/black pepper cocktail whenever she has felt a cold coming on or her defenses low and has dodged the cold bullet for years. (Long before I met her.)
If you are someone who has a problem with ulcers or heartburn, it is not for you.