Skip to Content
I may earn a commission if you click on links in this post and make a purchase.

How to Make Honeysuckle Glycerite

Honeysuckle glycerite is a wonderfully easy herbal remedy to make in the early summer with benefits that will serve you well for the entire year.

A jar of honeysuckle flowers submerged in vegetable glycerin sitting on a table surrounded by fresh honeysuckle flowers.

That honeysuckle flower many of us picked and pulled apart to drink the droplet of sweet nectar from is full of edible and medicinal uses. So while out hiking and snacking on those sweet, beautiful blossoms bring some back for medicine making for this super easy method.

What is a Glycerite?

Essentially, a glycerite is a tincture made with glycerin instead of the traditional alcohol.

[mailerlite_form form_id=14]

There are many reasons for skipping alcohol tinctures – giving them to children or adults who avoid alcohol for a variety of reasons being the two most popular.

In this particular case, it’s more soothing to the throat which is one of the main reasons to ingest honeysuckle.

Making a glycerite is an easy process, there is time involved but it’s not hands on time. It’s just letting the herbs infuse in the glycerin.

It truly is that simple and yet almost magical.

Make a honeysuckle glycerite to treat sore throats, hot flashes and more.

How to Use Honeysuckle Glycerite

My favorite use for this glycerite is as a soothing and healing treatment for sore throats. It has become my go-to the instant my throat gets that inflamed, sore tingle. To use it for sore throats, take 1 teaspoon up to 3 times a day.

A jar of honeysuckle flowers submerged in vegetable glycerin sitting on a table surrounded by fresh honeysuckle flowers.

It is also said that honeysuckle can help cool hot flashes and ease respiratory infections. While those are indeed traditional uses, I’ll be honest in that I prefer other treatments to honeysuckle for these conditions. In my experience, honeysuckle glycerite works best for sore throat relief.

Yield: 1 Cup

Honeysuckle Glycerite

Honeysuckle glycerite infusing in the sun.

Honeysuckle glycerite is a simple and sweet way to soothe sore throats and more.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Infusing Time 30 days
Total Time 30 days 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup Fresh Honeysuckle Blossoms
  • 1 Cup Edible, Vegetable Glycerin

Instructions

  1. Put the honeysuckle blossoms in a half pint jar and pack them in so that there is about 1/2" of headspace at the top.
  2. Pour the glycerin over the honeysuckle, making sure to submerge the blossoms and remove any air bubbles. Again, leave 1/2" headspace at the top of the jar.
  3. Put a lid on the jar.
  4. Set the jar in a sunny window and let it infuse for one month. Shake the jar every once in a while to keep the leaves from floating above the glycerin.
  5. At the end of the month strain the flowers from the glycerin. Bottle and label the honeysuckle glycerite for storage.

Notes

Scale the recipe up or down by simply packing any size jar with honeysuckle blossoms and covering them completely with the vegetable glycerin.

Take 1 teaspoon up to 3 times a day for sore throats.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

16 Tablespoons

Serving Size:

1 Tablespoon

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 3Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 3mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g

We try our best but cannot guarantee that nutrition information is 100% accurate.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Sharing is caring!

Kim

Wednesday 15th of June 2022

I have it growing in my front yard here in the Puget Sound region of WA state. Quick question, the humming birds have been enjoying the flowers as well. Because of that how do you best recommend that they are clean? Can I wash them gently?

Kathie Lapcevic

Friday 17th of June 2022

I definitely clean any foraged herbs. https://homespunseasonalliving.com/clean-foraged-plants/

Corinne

Thursday 8th of October 2020

Ah - thanks for that info - makes sense. BTW, I am doing a book on Louisiana medicinal plants (Louisiana Herb Journal, to be published by LSU Press) and would love to include this recipe, with your permission. Can you let me know if that's possible? And if so, what credits you would like me to use for you? Thanks, and grateful for your good work. C

Corinne

Tuesday 6th of October 2020

Thanks for this information - I do have one question - In making glycerites, I've heard that since all plant parts might not be glycerine soluble, one should add a certain percentage of water to the glycerine - up to 40% water, 60% glycerine. Any thoughts on this? Thanks again -

Kathie Lapcevic

Tuesday 6th of October 2020

I think that's definitely true for using dried herbs but not for fresh.

Paris H

Wednesday 25th of March 2020

Hi, I was wondering what the shelf life is? Thank you!

Kathie Lapcevic

Thursday 26th of March 2020

I would use it up within a year.

Tori

Sunday 15th of September 2019

Does it make any difference if you use first blooms or any other time of blooming season? I’ve noticed that the wild honeysuckle that blooms here in TN smells heavenly the first round of blooms. After that the scent is much less pronounced. Just wondered if it would have any bearing on the medicinal properties......now to hunt down some blooms!! Also, about how many cups of blossoms would you say you use in the jar?

Kathie Lapcevic

Sunday 15th of September 2019

I'm not sure it would matter 100%, here in northwest Montana we only get blooms once so color me jealous of your multiple blooms.

Skip to Recipe