Dammit…I woke up with a sore throat this morning … it has to be because of this thread!
Luckily I already had an appointment with my PCP and she confirmed it wasnt strep with that spiffy 5 minute test - I wish they had that fast test when I was growing up and had strep a couple times a year 
To me, sour is a different flavor than tart. Orange juice, in fact all the citrus flavors, are tart. Pickles, on the other hand, are sour. I like both tart and sour flavors, but I don’t want to inflict them on a sore throat.
Some medicine does burn when it’s applied to a wound. I remember getting mercurochrome applied to various cuts and scrapes when I was a little girl. I was told that the burning sensation was proof that the medicine was working. I think that some people internalize that, and feel that if something is burning a wound or sore, that means that it’s killing the germs.
When I’ve got a sore throat, it’s grapefruit juice (actual grapefruit, not that namby-pamby Rio Red stuff) during the day, and sipping whiskey at night.
OJ for me.
But what really helps me with a sore throat is juice popsicles… the kind by Welches. Those do wonders for my sore throat.
Name a problem that gargling with vodka doesn’t help!
I answered yes, but only because my go to juice is another citrus.
I go for grapefruit juice when I get a cold/sore throat. Plain unsweetened, non-ruby/pink/colored grapefruit juice. The hurt is sooooooo good.
I’m definitely in the “cure should hurt” school of though in this one though. Vodka works fine, if you’re looking to reduce the overall pain.
Hal, you forgot “Doesn’t really hurt or help, but the offhand chance that it might boost one’s immune system in the medium term is more than offset by the chance that your sore throat is caused by a bug and the acidic OJ will cause your stomach to be pushed over the edge into vomit territory where it wasn’t before.”
If you like the placebo effect, just drink some “orange drink” that is fortified with vitamin c.
Then you get the taste, (similar not exact :)), the vitamins and everyone’s happy.
Would I drink OJ with a sore throat, no way. I found anything phlem producing is taboo. I drink straight water or 7-Up/Ginger Ale
I mix up a scoop of ascorbic acid powder, couple ounces of orange juice, then fill the pint glass the rest of the way with water. Drink these one after the other until the cold is gone.
I like the burn.
The vitamin C will help but otherwise it does nothing except put a nasty coating on it that will require you to clear your throat. The first irritation that you feel is likely from sinus drainage anyway. You’re better off taking something to dry up your sinuses and some vitamin C.