Sweet Brandy Soaked Garlic Cloves Recipe

Why would you want to make brandy soaked garlic cloves?

Many people believe in eating garlic cloves as an immunity booster.  It may even help with reducing the length and severity of a sickness.  But the taste can be just too overwhelming and the lingering breathe might scare friends away!  Soaking garlic cloves in honey and brandy improves the taste and may further add to the immunity boosting effect.  Both garlic and honey have shown in some research to help improve immunity and reduce the severity of colds, flu, and other communicable diseases.  A few research studies are listed below the recipe.

Here is how to make Sweet Brandy Soaked Garlic Cloves.

Recipe Ingredients

• 1 small jar with a screw tight lid (about an 8 ounce capacity)
• about 2 ounce of raw** honey (2 Tbsp)
• 2 ounces of brandy (1/4 cup)
• 2 whole heads of garlic

How to Make Sweet Brandy Soaked Garlic Cloves

• First prepare the garlic.  Divide your heads of garlic into cloves.  Then, peel the skinn off the cloves.  Next, add the cloves to the jar.
• Then, pour the honey and brandy over the cloves.  Next, screw the lid on tight.  Finally, give the jar a shake.
• Place the jar of garlic on the counter at room temperature for one week to infuse.  Shake it about once a day.
• After one week, it is ready to enjoy.  Transfer to refrigerator to keep it fresh.  It should last about a month or two.
• Adults: eat a clove a day.  Not for pregnant or nursing women, or young children.  For those with medical conditions, review possible contraindications with a doctor.

**Note – Choosing raw honey over refined (pasteurized) honey, is much higher in vitamins, minerals, enzymes.  However, pasteurized honey reduces the chance of exposure to unsafe bacteria and toxins.

Possible Contraindications

Raw honey that has not been pasteurized has a chance of including unsafe bacteria and toxins.  Further, any type of honey is not recommended for children under the age of one year as there is a risk of infant botulism.  Garlic eaten in large amounts may be contraindicated with bleeding disorders, and may affect blood pressure and diabetic medications.  Large amounts are also not appropriate for pregnant or lactating women, or small children.  Consult with a Doctor on contraindications of medicinal quantities of garlic and honey beyond normal food amounts.

Some Immunity Boosting Research on Garlic and Honey

Garlic

• In this review of research, aged garlic was shown to be valuable in improving immunity (1).
• Results of this double blind study suggested aged garlic extract in a diet may enhance immunity and reduced the severity of colds and flu (2).
• In a randomized study of 146 volunteers, those taking an allicin-containing garlic supplement were less likely to catch the common cold.  Participants took one capsule daily, over a 12-week period, between November and February (3).
• In this study, a garlic supplement reduced acute respiratory infections in children (4).
• Click here for more about garlic: Garlic Monograph

Honey

• In a study of 138 overwise healthy children who came down with acute hepatitis A, daily intake of honey helped speed the recovery time (5).
• This study of 105 children ages 2-18 years with nighttime cough, showed parents rating honey favorably in reducing the coughs associated with respiratory infections (6).
• In this review of research, the antimicrobial activity of honey is discussed (7).
• This review of research discussed the health benefits of honey (8).
• Click here for more about honey: Honey Monograph

References

1. Kyo, E., Uda, N., Kasuga, S., & Itakura, Y. (2001). Immunomodulatory effects of aged garlic extract. The Journal of nutrition, 131(3), 1075S-1079S.
2. Nantz, M. P., Rowe, C. A., Muller, C. E., Creasy, R. A., Stanilka, J. M., & Percival, S. S. (2012). Supplementation with aged garlic extract improves both NK and γδ-T cell function and reduces the severity of cold and flu symptoms: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled nutrition intervention. Clinical Nutrition, 31(3), 337-344.
3. Josling, P. (2001). Preventing the common cold with a garlic supplement: a double-blind, placebo-controlled survey. Advances in therapy, 18(4), 189-193.
4. Andrianova, I. V., Sobenin, I. A., Sereda, E. V., Borodina, L. I., & Studenikin, M. I. (2002). Effect of long-acting garlic tablets” allicor” on the incidence of acute respiratory viral infections in children. Terapevticheskii arkhiv, 75(3), 53-56.
5. Abdulrahman, M. A., Shatla, R. H., & Mohamed, S. A. (2016). The effects of honey supplementation on Egyptian children with hepatitis A: A randomized double blinded placebo controlled pilot study. Journal of Apitherapy, 1(1), 23-28.
6. Paul, I. M., Beiler, J., McMonagle, A., Shaffer, M. L., Duda, L., & Berlin, C. M. (2007). Effect of honey, dextromethorphan, and no treatment on nocturnal cough and sleep quality for coughing children and their parents. Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine, 161(12), 1140-1146.
7. Molan, P. C. (1997). Honey as an antimicrobial agent. In Bee products (pp. 27-37). Springer, Boston, MA.
8. Yusof, A., Ahmad, N. S., Hamid, A., & Khong, T. K. (2018). Effects of honey on exercise performance and health components: A systematic review. Science & Sports.

Stop and smell the garlic! That’s all you have to do.

– William Shatner

Post By: Kathy Sadowski, MS in Aromatherapy, RA (ARC), Professional NAHA and AIA Member, LMT

Posted: 11/19/18

The listings of research represent a compilation of scientific articles found on the species, with a very brief overview description of each article/study.  Research found is catalogued by therapeutic action.  This categorized compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use. These statements are not meant to diagnose, treat, or cure any diseases. The information at this page has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Consult a Doctor before using herbs and essential oils if you have medical conditions, are taking medications, or have questions.