Honey and garlic have medicinal benefits. Put them together in a honey garlic ferment and you will get a powerhouse of nutrition and natural benefits.
This page may contain affiliate links. To view my full affiliate link disclosure, click here.
I want to be honest and disclose that I did not come up with this recipe myself! I saw it and knew I had to try it myself. The recipe has been tweaked slightly to make it fit in a quart-sized jar. Fermented garlic honey is an excellent immune-boosting home remedy.
We have been gobbling this concoction up over the last few weeks and have truly noticed a difference in how our bodies are fighting illness. Winters in Minnesota can get brutal and with the 'feels like' -33 F temperatures that we have been having lately are proof of that! Plus the interruption in our routines due to the holiday season has caused illness to strike our family.
We have been enjoying ample amounts of Wassail and Elderberry syrup, this honey garlic fermentation levels it up even more!
Jump to:
Ingredients
There are only two simple ingredients that you need for this concoction. However, a word to the wise, you will get more potency if you use high-quality ingredients. Using locally sourced honey is going provide you with better results and more immune-boosting benefits.
- garlic
- honey
See the recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Peel garlic into individual cloves.
This is the most time-consuming part of the process.
Fill the quart jar until it is filled with approximately 1 inch of head space.
Cover with raw honey.
Place the lid on the jar loosely and set it in a dark place.
Roughly every other day tighten the lid and flip it upside down.
Do this for about 30 days. Store in a cool place for up to a year.
Hint: Remember to put a plate under your jar otherwise you will end up with a mess!
Benefits of Honey Garlic
There are many immune-boosting benefits to fermented honey garlic. The top one is that it is antibacterial. A study found that garlic and tazma honey was able to stop certain bacteria from growing! The study even found that the combination of honey and garlic slows bacteria that cause illnesses like pneumonia and food poisoning!
Some types of honey have antiviral properties as well which means it can aid in helping with the common cold or flu.
Remember, do not give honey to babies under the age of one-year-old!
Botulism in Honey Garlic
Is botulism in honey a concern? In this case botulism, it is very unlikely in a ferment.
Raw honey can carry botulism spores, but it does not reproduce them due to the acidity, therefore botulism is not a significant concern.
Please use your best judgment when deciding to incorporate something new into a diet or lifestyle.
If you are concerned about it the World Health Organization says this:
C. botulinum will not grow in acidic conditions (pH less than 4.6), and therefore the toxin will not be formed in acidic foods (however, a low pH will not degrade any pre-formed toxin). Combinations of low storage temperature and salt contents and/or pH are also used to prevent the growth of the bacteria or the formation of the toxin.
If you are concerned about botulism you can buy a pH testing strip to make sure the ferment is under 4.6.
How to use a Honey Ferment
The nice thing about using a honey garlic ferment is that you can use it in a variety of ways. Use it medicinally for immune support, or use it in regular cooking and recipes.
My husband and I just pop garlic when we feel a cold coming on but for our sons, we more discretely use honey in recipes. I often slip a bit of the honey in their oatmeal in the morning.
Equipment
There is not much equipment that you will need to produce this recipe.
Mason Jar - Quart Sized
Plate for catching honey
Mason Jar lids- we have discovered these plastic lids that make storing fermentation a breeze! They come in regular mouth and wide mouth.
Extras - I discovered this nifty little garlic peeler after I had completed this recipe. It still takes a while to peel garlic, but this takes the edge off a bit.
Storage
I recommend storing this in the refrigerator after the initial 30 days of fermentation. This is where I feel the most comfortable with fermented food being stored. I do know of other bloggers and content creators who store fermented food in 'cool' areas.
Top tip
Remember to place a plate or dish under the honey. I had an unfortunate situation with turning the honey over when I first started making this and the honey dripped onto a light switch. That light switch has never been the same!
FAQ
Can fermented honey be given to children?
It's important to know that any type of honey should not be given to children under one year of age. Regarding other ages, please do your own research and draw your own conclusions. I give fermented garlic honey to our three and four-year-old.
Why is my honey runny?
That is exactly what is supposed to happen. As time goes on the garlic will become more mellow in flavor and the honey will become runny.
Honey Garlic Ferment
Honey and garlic have medicinal benefits. Put them together in a honey garlic ferment and you will get a powerhouse of nutrition and natural benefits.
Ingredients
- Garlic Cloves (roughly 2-3 cups of peeled cloves)
- Raw Honey to cover garlic (roughly 3 cups)
Instructions
- Peel garlic into individual cloves. This is the most time-consuming part of the process.
- Fill the quart jar until it is filled with approximately 1 inch of head space.
- Cover with raw honey.
- Place the lid on the jar loosely and set it in a dark place.
- Roughly every other day tighten the lid and flip it upside down.
- Then flip the jar back upright and loosen the lid.
- Do this for about 30 days.
- Store in a cool place for up to a year.
Notes
- Do not give honey to babies under one year of age.
- You should be using raw honey because it has the bacteria necessary for fermentation.
- Put a plate under the jar when turning upside down.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 64 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g
Online nutritional calculators are estimates only. Use your best judgement when consuming.
