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December 4, 2017 By Yang 120 Comments

Honey Fermented Garlic: A Natural Remedy for Cold and Flu

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Honey fermented garlic can be used to combat cold and flu in the winter season or simply as a condiment to add a honey garlic flavour to any dish.

Honey fermented garlic can be used to combat cold and flu in the winter season or simply as a condiment to add a sweet garlicky flavour to any dish.

Honey fermented garlic? Yes, you heard it right!

This recipe is long over due: I first learned about the method to ferment garlic and honey together from the WFU Facebook group (at that time I didn’t have this blog yet), I was immediately intrigued and knew that honey fermented garlic deserves to be known by more people out there.

Most fermenters call it “fermented honey garlic”, but I think “honey fermented garlic” is more technically precise. It’s just my personal preference for naming, essentially “fermented honey garlic” and “honey fermented garlic” are the same thing.

Some call it “honey infused garlic” or “garlic infused honey”, because this recipe works much like an infusion in addition to fermentation. I think these names give you a good idea of what the final product may taste like – both the flavours of honey and garlic will have infused into each other, and you end up with a garlicky honey and sweet mellowed garlics.

Why should you make honey fermented garlic?

If you fall into one of the following situations, you may want to try fermenting honey and garlic:

  • you are new to fermentation and want to start with something super easy – honey fermented garlic is one of the easiest fermentation recipes and one of the firsts you should try
  • you appreciate the medicinal properties of honey and garlic and want to combine their anti-bacterial, anti-viral and immune boosting properties together – honey fermented garlic is a perfect preventative remedy for the cold and flu season 
  • you grow and harvest a lot of garlics at once and you want a way to naturally preserve your garlics for long term storage without refrigeration
  • you want to eat more raw garlics for the health benefits but can’t tolerate the pungent taste – after a period of fermentation and infusion, the garlics will be mellowed and sweetened significantly to be eaten straight 
  • you love honey garlic flavoured foods and want to have a naturally preserved honey garlic condiment on hand to add to your dishes

I should add here that most people I know of who make honey fermented garlic do so to use it as a cold and flu remedy, based on anecdotal evidence that it works for them. We all know how honey and garlic are powerful antimicrobials against infections in the mouth and throat; honey is also a natural cough suppressant. Although I would use honey and garlic fermented or not, it is definitely a lot more palatable to eat a large amount of honey fermented garlic at times you want to pump up your garlic consumption – for example, the first sign of a flu.

Related: More Preventative Remedies for the Flu Season

  • Instant Pot Shiitake Ginger Chicken Bone Broth (All Purpose Asian Stock)
  • Instant Pot Beef Bone Broth
  • Ginger Orange Pickled Daikon + Immune Shot (Paleo, Whole30, Vegan)
  • Honeysuckle, Monk Fruit and Chrysanthemum Tea
  • Sichuan Fritillaria Steamed Pear (川贝雪梨): Natural Cough Remedy of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Fermentation Tips and Trouble-Shooting

This recipe seems very easy from the ingredient list, but getting it done right requires some understanding of how fermentation works. If anything, this section is the most important of the post, explaining the key points of this fermentation.

  1. You want just enough honey to cover the garlic, not too much. The garlic will release moisture into the honey to set stage for fermentation to start. If too much honey is used, the mixture may not reach the moisture content required (18-20%) for the fermentation process to begin. In that case, you may add a couple spoons of water into the mixture when you see no signs of fermentation (bubbles) in a few days.
  2. Like other vegetables you ferment, the garlic should be kept under the liquid to prevent mold growth. Since garlic naturally floats on top of the honey, you can stir with a spoon or chopsticks daily or flip the jar upside down a few times a day (as shown in photo above) to ensure that all garlic cloves are coated in honey. This should be continued until your garlic no longer float.
  3. Once the fermentation begins in a few days, bubbles will be produced varying from a little to a lot. Sometimes, the bubbling can be so active that it overflows the jar. Therefore, leaving plenty of head space in the jar when fermenting honey and garlic is crucial in saving yourself from ending up a sticky mess. It’s also crucial to open the lid of the jar daily to “burp” the jar by releasing the carbon dioxide. The bubbling will subside over the weeks, and eventually you will not see bubbles produced nor will you need to release carbon dioxide from the jar.

As you can see from the photos below, honey fermented garlic changes colour over time. On the left is freshly combined honey and garlic: the garlic cloves float on top of the honey for the first many weeks. On the right is a jar of my honey fermented garlic aged for 1+ year. Over time, the garlic cloves will gradually sink to the bottom of the jar, and the colour of honey will gradually darken. What you can’t see from the photos is the change of the thickness of the honey. The honey will thin out over time due to the moisture released by the garlic.

Related: More Fermentation Recipes to Try

  • Fermented Pickles /w Green Tea and Dill Flowers
  • Pineapple-Turmeric-Ginger Probiotic Sauerkraut
  • Homemade Fermented Sauerkraut /w Caraway Seeds
  • Wild Fermented Salsa
  • 11 Important Things To Know for a Successful Kombucha Brew
  • Kefir Fermented Honey Thyme Sourdough Cornbread
  • Injera (Fermented Ethiopian Teff Flatbread) {Video}
  • Overnight Banana Spelt Pancakes: Fermented for Better Nutrition and Digestion
  • Raspberry Kefir Cream Cheese Spread
Comparision: Left - combined honey and garlic on day 1. Right - aged 1+ year old honey fermented garlic. Photo shows the aged honey fermented garlic in dark brown colour.

Comparision: Left – combined honey and garlic on day 1. Right – aged 1+ year old honey fermented garlic.

Should Botulism be a Concern in Honey Fermented Garlic?

What I learned is that in order for botulism to occur, it has to meet a list of right conditions, which I won’t go into too much details about. One of these conditions is the PH level. The average PH level of honey is too acidic for botulinum spore to produce, therefore the concern for botulism is close to none in acidic environment and fermented foods. The actual risk for botulism is much higher in canned or packaged pre-made food items, or non-acidic foods preserved in oil before they had a chance to be fermented to reach the <4.6 PH level.

Personally I am comfortably not worrying about botulism in honey fermented garlic, while I am someone who would not use oil topper for vegetable ferments due to the risk of non-acidic foods trapped in the oil layer that may lead to botulism. If you are still concerned about honey fermented garlic, I know some add a splash of apple cider vinegar to keep the PH level low. I encourage you to do your own research and decide on your comfort level.

Everything I learned about this topic comes from reading in the WFU Facebook group. I simply summarized what I have learned there with my personal understanding. If you are a member of the group, you already know how awesome it is!

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5 from 26 votes
Honey fermented garlic can be used to combat cold and flu in the winter season or simply as a condiment to add a sweet garlicky flavour to any dish.
Print
Honey Fermented Garlic
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 

Honey fermented garlic can be used to combat cold and flu in the winter season or simply as a condiment to add a honey garlic flavour to any dish.

Course: Condiment
Cuisine: American
Servings: 2 cup
Calories: 1643 kcal
Author: Yang
Ingredients
  • 1 cup garlic cloves, peeled
  • 1 to 1 1/2 cup liquid raw honey (see recipe notes below)
  • water (optional)
Instructions
  1. Combine garlic cloves and just enough liquid raw honey to cover the garlic in a glass jar. The glass jar should be large enough to roughly double the capacity of your ingredients to leave room for expansion. Close the jar with a lid.

  2. Stir the mixture or flip the closed jar upside down daily to ensure all garlic cloves are coated with honey. 

  3. Within a few days, air bubbles should be forming. This is a sign of active fermentation. Open the jar daily to release excess carbon dioxide. If fermentation doesn't begin, then add a spoon or 2 of water into the mixture. Repeat step 2.

  4. Continue the process until fermentation slows down, the honey thins out, the bubbling stops, and the garlic cloves sink to the bottom of the jar. It may take over a month. At this point, you can store the honey fermented garlic in a sealed jar, unrefrigerated, to let it age.

  5. For best taste, the honey fermented garlic can be consumed after 3 months. The finished products can be stored in a dark place in room temperature for years.

Recipe Notes
  1. If you prefer more honey than garlic in your finished product, you may use more honey than indicated in the recipe as you wish. Just note that you will more likely to need to add some water in order to start the process of fermentation.
  2. See "fermentation tips and trouble-shooting" section for more details.

Honey Fermented Garlic: A Natural Remedy for Cold and Flu
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Yang’s Nourishing Kitchen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites. I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. For more information, see the full disclosure.

Filed Under: Autumn, Featured Recipes, Fermentation, Recipe Card, Recipes, Spring, Winter Tagged With: dairy-free, gluten-free, paleo, vegetarian

About Yang

I found cure naturally for my incurable fibromyalgia. I believe you too can heal from ailments by listening to your own body. Let me show you how to use traditional wisdom to heal and use food as medicine. Read More…

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kelly Schroeder says

    November 30, 2020 at 1:50 pm

    Hello! Is it normal for it to stink? I think it smells terrible, but my husband has eaten it and said it tastes great! I’m just wondering if it’s normal for it to smell really bad?

    Reply
  2. Loving Foods says

    July 24, 2020 at 10:28 am

    thank you for sharing such a nice info.

    Reply
  3. Kazi Mohiuddin Ahmad says

    June 24, 2020 at 12:33 am

    Hello,
    Can kids eat? From what age and how much can be given?

    Reply
    • Yang says

      October 27, 2020 at 3:58 pm

      Yes, kids can eat it. Whatever age you are comfortable giving your children both honey and garlic. At least 1 year or older.

      Reply
  4. Dinah says

    June 19, 2020 at 11:07 pm

    Hi there! I’ve started making my own jars. The first jar i made was with pure honey. After about 1 week or 2, the garlic became really coated and chewy. The for my second bottle, i used raw honey. But i noticed that after 3 weeks for fermenting, my garlic still tastes really fresh, crunchy and still very garlicky where on my first go, garlic taste was gone after a week or so.. Is this because i used raw honey this time around? Is this a sign that it didn’t ferment well?

    Reply
    • Yang says

      October 27, 2020 at 4:07 pm

      Honestly I am not sure why the difference. It could be the garlic you used as well. But 3 weeks isn’t a very long time. You can continue letting it ferment/infuse.

      Reply
    • juanita Boyd says

      December 4, 2020 at 7:39 pm

      I am using this and its ex eptionally excellent

      Reply
  5. Bryan Crigger says

    June 11, 2020 at 12:57 pm

    Hi, I tried your recipe about a month ago. I was a bit worried about Botulinum growing so I bought some pH strips and tested my honey. It read at about 5. I added apple cider vinegar and brought it down to about 3. My main concern now is whether botulinum may have been present and if it’s still there even after the vinegar was added. Should I throw it out and start over or am I being paranoid? I’ve done some research online but nothing touches on this.

    Reply
    • Yang says

      October 27, 2020 at 4:10 pm

      I don’t have a scientific answer for you, except saying this is a common remedy that had been made by many people and no one that I know of has died from it.

      Reply
  6. David says

    June 7, 2020 at 11:13 am

    Hello. I mince 3 heads of garlic and pour over raw honey and put into a jar. I stir , and after a week, I take a tsp of the mixture each day. I store in a cupboard. Kind regards Dave

    Reply
  7. Rebecca says

    April 29, 2020 at 1:31 pm

    LOVE THIS! It is so tasty. Question….if you have used up the garlic and have excess honey, can you add fresh garlic and start a new fermentation cycle with the old honey? Or is this a “one and done” type of thing.

    Reply
    • Yang says

      April 29, 2020 at 2:20 pm

      Thanks, Rebecca! You can add more garlic to your honey. Personally I will start a new batch, only because I love the honey portion. 🙂

      Reply
  8. Cindy says

    April 9, 2020 at 2:55 pm

    Hi
    Made this about two months ago. It’s great but wondering….the honey is being used faster than the garlic and now alot of garlic is not submerged. Can I add more honey? Or what can I do with garlic in meantime so it can be used later? Any help appreciated. Ty

    Reply
    • Yang says

      April 9, 2020 at 3:41 pm

      Hi Cindy, you can add more honey right now. Next time, you can just use a higher honey to garlic ratio.

      Reply
      • Lynette says

        June 3, 2020 at 6:13 pm

        I have a question some pictures that I want to attach. I made About 24 jars of this honey garlic April 14.The honey is very thin but some of the garlic still seems to be floating near the top. Is this normal for A 6 week Product. Also Some of them had some kind of fungus on top unfortunately I’ve found this side after I can way. It look like a solid white phone but not phone like the white part of mail do without the green but it was shaped weirdly so I just talked those so I just wanna show you my jar Some of them are bubbling some are not.I’m not too computer savvy how do I send you some photos?

        Reply
        • Lynette Howlett says

          June 3, 2020 at 6:16 pm

          Ok vox typos Unfortunately I found your sight after I had thrown away the jars that look like they had fungus on them It looked like foam But solid like the white part of Fungus that did Have the green. It look like it would have been Liquidity if I had touched it but I did not.I want to show you some of my jars some are bubbling some are not

          Reply
          • Jake says

            December 9, 2020 at 4:49 pm

            HI Lynette. I’m curious if you ever got an answer or figured out the fungus issue?

  9. Lacie says

    April 6, 2020 at 11:14 am

    Hi there! Thank you for the recipe – I started my batch on March 12th. I never had a crazy bubbler, but did see fermentation (especially when I released the lid.) Anyway, it seems the bubbling has slowed…has my batch reached the point of time where that should be happening? Or is this too soon? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Yang says

      April 7, 2020 at 12:02 am

      Lacie, it’s hard to predict how things progress when it comes to fermenting wild. Some batches are more active than others, for longer. From the sound of it, I think yours is fine.

      Reply
    • Lorraine McIntosh says

      April 9, 2020 at 12:19 am

      I MADE A JAR OF HONEY GARLIC MIX 3 WEEKS AGO, THEE WAS NO BUBBLING AT ALL, THE GARLIC HAS SHRUNK IN SIZE. a FEW DAYS AGO i MADE UP ANOTHER JAR BUT ADDED SOME APPLE CIDER VINEGAR TO THE HONEY. STILL NO BUBBLING. THE HONEY IS PURE UNPROCESSED FROM MY FARMERS MARKET AND SO IS THE GARLIC. i AM NOT SURE IF i AM GAME TO EAT THIS NOW AS I DONT KNOW IF FERMENTATION HAS TAKEN PLACE. COULD YOU GIVE ME ANY ADVICE PLEASE

      Reply
      • d says

        August 31, 2020 at 2:20 pm

        the garlic will almost look transparent – no longer white – and that’s how you’ll know it’s fully fermented. my 1st batch bubbled but my 2nd batch didn’t. not a big deal.

        Reply
  10. Jay says

    March 31, 2020 at 10:25 pm

    Thanks for the recipe! I made this about 2 weeks ago and noticed that some of the Garlic has turned green. It doesn’t look like mold, more like a bruise. I was just wondering if this is common or not.

    Reply
    • Yang says

      April 1, 2020 at 11:45 am

      It’s not very common to have garlic in honey turn green; this usually happens when exposed to acid. But garlic turned green should be perfectly safe to eat.

      Reply
  11. Ruth says

    March 31, 2020 at 9:21 pm

    Hi, thanks for this recipe will try out !
    Is there any worries about BOTULISM with this?

    Reply
    • Yang says

      March 31, 2020 at 9:46 pm

      Please see section “SHOULD BOTULISM BE A CONCERN IN HONEY FERMENTED GARLIC?” above.

      Reply
  12. Mackenzie McAlpin says

    March 12, 2020 at 9:06 am

    Hello,
    Thank you for your recipe. I have just started a batch and am wondering… do I need to keep it in a dark place through the whole process?
    Thank you.

    Reply
    • Yang says

      March 15, 2020 at 12:04 pm

      It’s best to keep in a dark place. But countertop is fine, if your kitchen is kind of dim and not in direct sunlight.

      Reply
      • corna says

        May 23, 2020 at 5:31 pm

        why should I leave it away from sunlight ?

        Reply
    • Travis says

      March 22, 2020 at 5:46 pm

      Even a brown paper bag on the counter helps

      Reply
  13. Devendra Saini says

    February 29, 2020 at 8:19 pm

    Wow… Thanks a lot. I was searching this answer on Google for last one month. I need to make this combo but I was not aware about the shelf life of this combo. Well you gave me the answer that I can store it for a very long time. Thanks
    Devendra saini

    Reply
    • Yang says

      March 3, 2020 at 10:20 am

      You are welcome, Devendra! So glad I could help.

      Reply
  14. Tayler says

    January 30, 2020 at 5:12 pm

    When it’s finished fermenting do I leave it all together in the jar or separate them?

    Reply
    • Yang says

      March 3, 2020 at 10:14 am

      Tayler, you can leave them all together. Enjoy!!

      Reply
      • Raj says

        March 30, 2020 at 11:29 am

        Is it good if the garlic is dried

        Reply
  15. Jasmine says

    January 4, 2020 at 7:29 pm

    Can I add sliced ginger to the mixture?

    Reply
    • Yang says

      January 4, 2020 at 9:39 pm

      Yes, you can!

      Reply
  16. Jill says

    December 8, 2019 at 11:10 pm

    I made two batches of this yesterday. I can’t wait to see the results in a months time. What kind of recipes can this be used in for cooking? I’m doing some research now but it’s all recipes on how to make this lol
    Good post!

    Reply
    • Yang says

      January 4, 2020 at 9:41 pm

      Mostly, people eat the honey fermented garlic as-is. But you could use in any recipe that works with a sweet garlic flavour.

      Reply
  17. Jordan says

    December 6, 2019 at 11:04 pm

    I make lacto-fermented veggies, and often give each batch a jump start with probiotic-rich brine from a previous batch. Could I use just a splash of kraut brine to get things rolling with the honey?

    Reply
    • Yang says

      March 3, 2020 at 10:26 am

      Jordan, I wouldn’t. Don’t quote me on it, but I think these are different type of ferments. Besides, the kraut brine may ruin the flavour of the honey and garlic.

      Reply
    • Chelo says

      April 13, 2020 at 9:12 pm

      Hi. When can I start taking/eating the honey garlic? 🙂

      Reply
  18. ashley hedges says

    October 19, 2019 at 9:30 pm

    I STARTED THE HONEY GARLIC MIXTURE OVER A WEEK AGO, AND STILL NO BUBBLING INDICATING FERMENTATION, ADDED 1 1/2 TABLESPOONS OF WATER 2 DAYS AGO, STILL NOT BUBBLING…???? I WONDERED, HOW CAN GARLIC FERMENT, IF GARLIC IS ANTIBACTERIAL IN THE FIRST PLACE, DUE TO INHERENT ENZYMES. PLEASE… WHAT HAVE I DONE WRONG, IF ANY?

    Reply
    • Yang says

      October 22, 2019 at 11:16 pm

      What I believe is this recipe is mainly a yeast ferment. Besides there is naturally bacteria on the surface of the garlic. The anti-bacterial properties of the garlic is only unleashed when you crush the garlic. I honestly don’t know if this property of the garlic affects the bacteria in the recipe at all. But I do know many people has made the recipe work. Have you checked to see if you are using a good quality raw honey or pasteurized honey?

      Reply
    • Gerald Stanton says

      December 2, 2019 at 11:47 pm

      Can I grind my garlic up in a food processor before I start the processor that’s how I’ve been doing it is that wrong?

      Reply
  19. Laurie W says

    October 13, 2019 at 8:58 pm

    How often do you eat the garlic clove? One per day per week, only when feeling sick?
    Thank you for your information and recipe.

    Reply
    • Yang says

      October 22, 2019 at 11:18 pm

      I only eat them when I feel sick. Some people eat them daily or weekly.

      Reply
  20. sara says

    September 28, 2019 at 3:21 am

    Thanks for your article. It helped me a lot. I use a lot of garlic and honey myself, it has many benefits for lean though it’s a strange combination of garlic and honey. Of course, in this article I read that it is boring
    http://shimbal.org/garlic-and-honey-for-slimming/

    Reply
  21. Traci says

    September 14, 2019 at 12:44 pm

    Thank you for such a informative recipe. I had a Korean acquaintance tell me about this. She showed me a video in Korean before she left town for the next month. Her method called for steaming the garlic for 10 minutes and then letting it cool before putting in the jars. I have not found any recipes that call for steaming the garlic first. Can you tell me why that would help or hurt to steam the garlic? I really want to get started on this since it takes longer than I had thought.

    Reply
    • Yang says

      October 22, 2019 at 11:08 pm

      What you shared is interesting! I honestly don’t know about the Korean practice and have not heard about steaming garlic before using in the recipe. To your question, here is my guess: the benefits of steaming garlic is #1 killing off potential mold spores and #2 making the garlic taste less pungent; the disadvantage of steaming garlic is killing off the enzymes that produce cancer fighting and anti-inflammatory properties.

      Reply
  22. Mepragoo says

    May 12, 2019 at 3:19 pm

    I made a jar of honey and crushed garlic to ferment two days ago…and on reading up on the topic further- I learnt about botulism. But after doing further research on it, I found out that even though both honey and garlic usually contain the bacteria spores….the danger only exists when the spores become active and release toxins…which it can only do under specific conditions. 1) low oxygen 2) ambient temperatures 3) ph above 4.6, 4) low salt 5) protein source 6) low sugar environment. Honey ferments are definitely high sugar environments and after fermentation begins, it eventually becomes a highly acid (low ph) environment, so no need to worry about botulism….even though the bacteria is most likely present, it cannot release toxins in such a high sugar AND high acid (after fermentation) environment. Pheww…

    Reply
    • Yang says

      May 12, 2019 at 6:41 pm

      Thank you for sharing your thoughts and findings. I think many others will find it helpful!

      Reply
  23. Louise says

    March 25, 2019 at 10:28 am

    I started a batch a little over a week ago, but a couple of days later I turned the containter upside down to cover all the cloves and forgot to turn it back right side up. When I arrived home later that day, a lot of honey spilled from the container. I tried to fix the batch by adding more honey, but I’m not sure if it’s still fermenting. The honey seems a lot more liquidy than before, but it’s not really bubbling and the garlic is still floating.

    I’ll leave it as it is for a little longer, but I was wondering, are there any other ways I can tell if the process is still happening?
    Thanks in advance!

    Reply
  24. JENNIFER says

    March 18, 2019 at 7:41 am

    You mentioned it’s most effective after 3 months. I’m so impatient! Wanting to help my littles with cold and allergy issues. They already eat minced garlic in a spoon of honey, so hoping they will tolerate this even better! Do I have to wait the 3 months or will it be fermented and beneficial (more than unfermenetsd honey and garlic already are) any sooner?

    Reply
    • Yang says

      March 19, 2019 at 10:22 pm

      Please see instruction #5: “For best taste, the honey fermented garlic can be consumed after 3 months.” I don’t think we have the scientific data on when it’s most effective. If you don’t have issues with how pungent raw garlics are, you don’t have to wait that long for the flavour to infuse.

      Reply
  25. Ferry says

    March 11, 2019 at 11:04 pm

    Hi, i tried to make one batch, and just after one day i saw mold start forming on the garlic. Should i worry about it? Is it possible to salvage it?

    *Sorry didn’t mean to double post. But i accidentally reply on other comment, instead of new comment. So sorry about it.

    Reply
    • Yang says

      March 12, 2019 at 12:12 am

      Oh no, I am so sorry to hear that! This is a tough case too. Both garlic and honey are so expensive! Well, if it’s only 1 garlic affected, maybe I will threw that one away and the honey around it, just because the materials aren’t cheap. If more serious, I will have to let the whole jar go. Mould isn’t good and worth taking the risks for in general. Well, I am wondering how did that happen? It usually takes more than a day for mould to develop. In this case, maybe the mould was already starting to form on the garlic before going into the jar? Also flipping the jar to ensure garlics are fulled covered in honey and not exposed to air is to prevent being affected by mould.

      Reply
      • Ferry says

        March 12, 2019 at 8:27 pm

        myabe, i think i need to start a new batch, luckily i only used only a small amount of honey and garlic to start. thanks.

        Reply
      • LJGreene says

        January 17, 2020 at 2:21 pm

        I’m wondering if it is mold at all. I started some with garlic that I harvested last July and I noticed after I put it in the jar(with the honey) that some of the garlic cloves had actually started to sprout new growth within the bulb. No worries, new green growth of plant will not hurt you or take away from the finished product. Adds a little color in the process. At least until it turns dark, that is. Hope this helps.

        Reply
  26. Jerry Plescia says

    February 28, 2019 at 2:27 pm

    If you wanted to add the apple cider vinegar at what point would you add it just to be safe. Before or after ofermentation. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Yang says

      March 10, 2019 at 10:35 pm

      You will add it before the fermentation.

      Reply
  27. Dez says

    January 22, 2019 at 8:10 pm

    Hello, I started a batch about a month ago and I opened a jar to try it and tasted metallic? It’s that normal? I asked on a different forum and one person said it was because of using metal lids and that I needed to throw all the batches away. (I used a Kerr glass jars with the lids they come with) Do you know if that’s true? Or what’s going?

    Reply
    • Yang says

      January 22, 2019 at 8:46 pm

      If you used a metal lid and the lid was in contact with the contents, it’s possible the metal reacted to the fermentation and changed the taste of your contents. Only you can decide whether you are comfortable consuming the products, given that it now taste metallic to you.

      Reply
      • Dez says

        January 24, 2019 at 12:00 am

        I used the Kerr lids the bottom looks like it’s coated though, unless it’s from the rings somehow? Which kind of lids do you use?

        Reply
        • Yang says

          March 12, 2019 at 12:05 am

          Sorry about the late response. This is a tough one, I really don’t know about Kerr lids. You can see from one of my photos, I saved a plastic lid from the nut butter jar to reuse for fermenting my garlics. I really don’t like using plastic in general, but in the case of making contact with fermenting garlic and honey, it’s probably better to go with a plastic lid than a metal.

          Reply
  28. Linda says

    January 20, 2019 at 5:32 pm

    Hello, started this about a week ago; had some bubbling (and even some honey dripping through the sealed lid!) – it looks like the garlic is shrinking, is this possible? Alsoi, the bubbling seems to have stopped. Any advice or does this all sound normal?

    Reply
    • Yang says

      January 22, 2019 at 4:28 pm

      Everything you described sound normal. The garlics will release some moisture into the honey, and fermenting / bubbling will gradually slow down and stop too. Sounds like you have a successful batch on the way, exciting!

      Reply
  29. Sam says

    January 8, 2019 at 3:27 am

    Help. I’ve made this and have added some vinegar to lower the pH. But my garlic is browning a bit and has a slight smell to it. Only some of the garlic has sank to the bottom (I made a large jar) is this all too far gone and should be tossed? Or am I being too impatient. Like I said it’s a large jar. But it’s been a month or so.

    Reply
    • Yang says

      January 13, 2019 at 1:18 am

      Everything you described sounds fine, unless there is something specific you are concerned about.

      Reply
  30. Lora L Crumrine says

    November 3, 2018 at 11:55 am

    Can you reuse the leftover honey from fermenting to start another batch along with more fresh honey?

    Reply
    • Jaclyn M Kennedy says

      December 3, 2018 at 1:02 pm

      I’d like to know this, too. I’m assuming if the pH is still high enough?

      Reply
      • Yang says

        December 8, 2018 at 5:20 pm

        I have never heard of anyone re-using the honey, to be honest. My thoughts are: 1) the garlic infused honey is a finished product we want, I would eat it rather than using it again. 2) the leftover honey is also a lot more watery than pure honey due to the moisture content released from the garlics. Adding more garlic will increase the water content further.. at some point it will start to ferment into wine? But I have never tried, so I don’t know what will happen for sure. Does this help?

        Reply
  31. Katie Plaga says

    November 2, 2018 at 9:27 am

    I made this a few weeks ago and my garlic is still floating. Ive added 2 tbs of water and its still floating. Anything else I can do? I hope I didn’t waste it.

    Reply
    • Yang says

      November 4, 2018 at 4:49 pm

      Did your honey bubble up? If so, you are doing things right. Adding water won’t make your garlic sink, it only helps to kick start the fermentation process if there isn’t enough moisture in the honey. The garlic will sink over time.

      Reply
      • Katie Plaga says

        November 5, 2018 at 7:23 am

        It was bubbling a small amount. I can’t wait to try it. Thank you

        Reply
      • Judy A Ypma says

        December 11, 2018 at 1:59 pm

        I’m using raw unfiltered honey and it’s very thick. Will it still work?

        Reply
  32. Lance Hancherow says

    October 19, 2018 at 6:02 am

    Nice going! Good advice on this ferment and good you mentioned the bit about adding vinegar in if the pH of the honey is over 4.6 as some are these days! So good advice and you have a nice site here! 🙂

    Reply
  33. Judy says

    October 13, 2018 at 8:14 pm

    I am thinking about fermenting some honey and garlic for the first time. . My question is: it is OK to have the honey/garlic fermenting jar sitting right next to my Kombucha jar or do they have to be separated? I dont want to cross contaminate, but with the honey jar being sealed I was wondering if that will be a problem. I have a nice open shelving unit that I would like to use where I can keep on eye on both of these fermentation.s. Thanks, Judy

    Reply
  34. Beyond says

    September 22, 2018 at 2:54 pm

    Hello I was wondering if I could swap the honey for maple or agave syrup because I am vegan and I don’t eat consume honey.

    Reply
    • Yang says

      September 22, 2018 at 4:05 pm

      Hi Beyond, please scroll down and you should find a previous discussion on agave and maple syrup. My guess is that you will need to add additional culture to it. I have not done it myself to know if it will work for sure.

      Reply
  35. Kayla says

    August 28, 2018 at 12:04 am

    I plan to use more of the honey than the garlic cloves. Can I continue to add new raw honey as the honey level starts to get low?

    Reply
    • Yang says

      August 28, 2018 at 3:46 pm

      Yes, I would think so!

      Reply
  36. Lauren says

    August 8, 2018 at 7:34 pm

    Can you just continue to add more garlic or honey to the original pot as you eat the older garlic? Or should you start another ferment once the previous one has run out?

    Reply
    • Yang says

      August 8, 2018 at 8:26 pm

      Lauren, I would just start another pot! If you add a small number of garlic to the existing pot, you still have to make sure they are coated in honey by stirring daily, then keep track of which garlic is older vs. newer. Honestly, I think it’s less work and less confusing to start a new ferment.

      Reply
  37. Sondra Jay says

    August 7, 2018 at 4:13 pm

    Can you chop the garlic?

    Reply
    • Yang says

      August 8, 2018 at 8:16 pm

      Yes, you can chop the garlic if you like.

      Reply
  38. Bernadette Uzozie says

    July 6, 2018 at 5:47 am

    I love this recipe and will give it a try. Hopes to see more immune boosting recipes from you. Thanks Yang.

    Reply
  39. Jamie says

    April 20, 2018 at 10:55 am

    Can I use cactus honey(agave nectar) for this recipe?

    Reply
    • Yang says

      April 20, 2018 at 2:38 pm

      Hi, Jamie. To be honest, I have not made it with agave before. The reason this recipe calls for raw honey instead of pasteurized honey is also for the naturally existing microbes in the honey. For example, when people ferment with maple syrup, they may need to add additional culture. If I were to take my best guess, agave will likely behave similar to maple syrup, because it’s cooked already. I do not know if it will work, but if you try, I love for you to report back! 🙂

      Reply
  40. Carol Ballard says

    April 18, 2018 at 10:04 am

    I made this 2 days ago. It did not start to ferment. . I added 2 TBSP boiled cool water. Will this be okay to consume? Thank you.

    Reply
    • Yang says

      April 18, 2018 at 1:13 pm

      Carol, if it doesn’t have mould growing and doesn’t smell or look bad, I would say probably ok to consume. Since it didn’t ferment, I would check the source of honey to verify it’s unpasteurized.

      Reply
  41. Kayla Wheeler says

    March 17, 2018 at 1:36 pm

    Hi there,

    I just made this. Is it ok to put a weight on it to keep the garlic submerged, or will it cause it to ooze everywhere?

    Reply
    • Yang says

      March 17, 2018 at 1:53 pm

      It really depends on how much space you have above the garlic. If there is plenty of room, then yes, put on a weight will be fine. Keep in mind that your garlic ferment will bubble with or without the weight on, so leaving space above is key. My reservations about using weight is the work of cleaning afterwards and possibly wasting some honey.

      Reply
  42. Tasha says

    March 1, 2018 at 9:00 am

    Your photos don’t seem to indicate expansion of the final product and I already filled my jar. If I burp it often, is there any chance it will be OK?

    Reply
    • Yang says

      March 1, 2018 at 12:23 pm

      As we know fermentation is such a natural process that depends on factors in your own home. Some people’s honey garlic ferment doesn’t bubble as much as others, so yes you may have a chance it will be ok. However, if it does bubble over, you will have a big mess to clean up and waste a lot of the expensive honey. If I were you, I would take another glass jar and pour half of the content over, it takes 1 minute to do.

      Reply
  43. Suzanne says

    February 9, 2018 at 4:18 pm

    Should the jar be kept in a warm or cool location?

    Reply
    • Suzanne says

      February 9, 2018 at 4:19 pm

      Sorry, I should clarify I’m referring to during the fermentation process. 🙂

      Reply
    • Yang says

      February 9, 2018 at 4:29 pm

      Hi Suzanne, there is no particular requirements. Within the normal range of room temperature should be ok. I wouldn’t look for an extra cold or warm spot in the house. My indoor temperature is usually somewhere between 20 and 25 degrees.

      Reply
      • Janice Roland Wilke says

        June 12, 2019 at 7:06 am

        20-25 degrees?
        That is colder than it is to snow
        You mean Celsius?

        Reply
        • Yang says

          June 12, 2019 at 9:19 am

          Yes, 20-25 Celsius, which is room temperature. I live in Canada, we use Celsius here. :’)

          Reply
    • Yang says

      February 12, 2018 at 5:40 pm

      With that said above, this is a yeast ferment and yeast ferment works fine in the 20+ degrees, and will get even more active in the high 20s.

      Reply
  44. David the Viking says

    January 29, 2018 at 5:39 am

    Once the garlic has been all eaten up, does the honey have just as much healing properties? Also how much should you eat daily whilst feeling run down etc? I put raw onion and black pepper in mine for an extra boost 👍🏻

    Reply
    • Yang says

      January 29, 2018 at 8:47 am

      Hi David, please note that what I say are based on personal experience. I do think the honey has healing properties. Many people use honey for flu type illness, and honey is a commonly used cough suppressant. The infused honey, especially my aged ones, do taste quite garlicky. Of course, common sense tells us you get more benefits of the garlic from eating the garlic, less from the infused honey portion. My little kids would not eat the garlic at all, but I do give them the garlic-flavoured honey when they have a cough, so that they get some benefits of the garlic as well.

      I would think you should eat the amount you feel comfortable with using this remedy. Personally I eat 2 to 3 cloves with honey, a few times a day when I feel needed. But I also take a few other natural herbal remedies and supplements too to support the immune system when I feel I have caught something. There are many natural foods that can help us through the winter, here is another example: https://yangsnourishingkitchen.com/ginger-orange-pickled-daikon-immune-shot/

      Make sure you use a good quality raw honey. Hope this helps!

      Reply
  45. Lisa says

    December 22, 2017 at 9:37 am

    After the garlic is aged and you begin using it, do you need to refrigerate the jar? Or does it keep at room temperature after being opened? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Yang says

      December 22, 2017 at 10:47 am

      Hi Lisa! No, you don’t need to refrigerate the jar after you start consuming. It’s stored in room temperature all the way whether you have started eating them or not. Technically they have already been opened, because you have to let out carbon dioxide regularly while you are fermenting it during the early stage.

      Reply
      • kim says

        January 23, 2018 at 7:03 pm

        can i add ginger root to this

        Reply
        • Yang says

          January 23, 2018 at 11:50 pm

          Kim, absolutely! You can even ferment fruits in honey too.

          Reply
  46. Carrie Forrest says

    December 10, 2017 at 5:54 pm

    I love this idea. Thanks for sharing your creativity.

    Reply
  47. Lindsey Dietz says

    December 8, 2017 at 11:24 am

    We love using garlic at the first sign of illness! It’s so effective! I’ve always wanted to make honey fermented garlic!

    Reply
  48. Hope says

    December 8, 2017 at 3:55 am

    I love simple homemade recipes like this that are great for boosting the immune system! Thanks for sharing Yang!

    Reply
  49. Megan Stevens says

    December 6, 2017 at 1:24 pm

    I love what you said about the flavors infusing into each other, and the garlic mellowing. So yummy and healing! Thank you.

    Reply
  50. Monique says

    December 6, 2017 at 12:21 am

    This is such a cool idea, I’ve never heard of it before (and I’m keen to check out that Facebook group!). Would love to try a honey based ferment!

    Reply
  51. Raia Todd says

    December 5, 2017 at 11:24 am

    I made some ferments garlic once and never used it because I had no idea what to do with it. Haha. Glad to see it last for a few years, I’m going to go dig it out of my cupboard and take some!

    Reply
    • Yang says

      January 9, 2018 at 8:11 pm

      Isn’t it cool we can keep fermented garlic for so long? Now it would be the perfect time to use them.

      Reply
      • Ferry says

        March 11, 2019 at 11:01 pm

        Hi, i tried to make one batch, and just after one day i saw mold start forming on the garlic. Should i worry about it? Is it possible to salvage it?

        Reply
  52. Joni Gomes says

    December 5, 2017 at 10:34 am

    I have never heard of such a genius idea!! Will definitely give this a try!

    Reply
  53. Jean says

    December 4, 2017 at 9:20 pm

    What a great idea! This is a good one to keep around for the cold season.

    Reply
  54. linda spiker says

    December 4, 2017 at 8:43 pm

    Amazing! I have never heard of this before. But will be trying!

    Reply
  55. Renee says

    December 4, 2017 at 7:21 pm

    Super cool! I’m going to make some! Thanks!

    Reply
  56. Emily @ Recipes to Nourish says

    December 4, 2017 at 5:44 pm

    Oh my goodness this is so awesome! Such a wonderful natural remedy to have on hand to boost the immune system. Love this!!!

    Reply
    • Yang says

      January 9, 2018 at 8:13 pm

      Thank you Emily! They so come in handy, especially with little kids around. It’s one of those natural remedies that taste good enough the kids are actually willing to take.

      Reply

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Here you will find many nourishing recipes and natural remedies at Yang's Nourishing Kitchen.

Born and raised in China, now living in Canada for the past 20+ years, Yang shares time-tested traditional wisdom from the east to the west, through nutrient-dense real food recipes.

Having healed herself successfully from illness labeled incurable, Yang uses her knowledge and experience to help others to achieve balance and well-being. Read More…

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Chinese medicinal soup formula (Si Shen Tang, 四神汤) consisting of poria, Chinese wild yam, white lotus seeds, and euryale seeds makes one of the classic soup remedies served on the dinner table in many Chinese families and sold by street food vendors. This rendition focuses on easing anxiety and stress by supporting the adrenal glands, as well as resolving stress-induced digestive dysfunctions by supporting the digestive system. Pig stomach was used in this soup recipe to honour the original formula. Like other organ meats, pig stomachs are nutritious and have long been used for medicinal purpose in cooking in the East. Pig stomach soup is rich in gelatine and glutamine that are important components for leaky gut healing.
Purple cabbage and jicama slaw picked up with a folk.
Instant Pot shiitake ginger chicken bone broth in a jar.
Lamb and spinach curry served over brown rice, and garnished with fresh lime.

This site is for information only. I share what worked for me in my nourishing kitchen and journey of healing. I am not a trained medical professional or nutritionist. Check with your healthcare provider before changing your diet or adopting new medical treatments.

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