Make this easy fermented garlic and honey preserve (also called “honey garlic”) for flavorful meals and some immunity boosting in one jar.

Ferments can sometimes be fussy bits of preservation. But not with this easy garlic and honey preserve.

This simple recipe goes by many other names, such as “honey fermented garlic”, “fermented honey and garlic”, “garlic infused honey”, or simply “garlic honey.” Don’t let the array of names confuse you, these are all made the same way.

Easy Ferment

This is a perfectly easy and flavorful ferment for beginners. And yet the finished product is wonderfully versatile so that even experienced fermenters will want to keep it on hand.

It is really nothing more than garlic and honey, left to sit alone for a week. There’s no need to watch it, the most active bit of work is peeling the garlic cloves.

To more easily peel garlic cloves, put the side of a chef knife on top of one clove and give it a little wack. Not too hard, you don’t want to crush the garlic clove. This will loosen the skin and make the garlic easier to peel.

When you put the honey and garlic in the jar, be sure to leave an inch or two of headspace. As the honey and garlic ferment, the honey will bubble and might overflow the jar if you don’t leave enough room. You can put the jar on a saucer or bowl, just in case.

The bubbles are a normal part of fermentation. Also you’ll notice that the honey gets runnier, which is also a normal part of fermenting honey garlic. Since the honey thins as it ferments with the honey, it’s a perfect opportunity to use that crystallized honey that’s sitting in the pantry.

You’ll need to stir or shake the jar occasionally to make sure the garlic stays coated in honey, so put it where you’ll remember to check on it occasionally.

What Honey To Use?

If you can find raw, local honey from a local beekeeper, that should be your first choice, especially if you’re going to use fermented garlic and honey for cold and flu season.

Raw honey has beneficial enzymes in it that are destroyed with heated. Here’s a good article on the effects of heat on honey.

If you can’t find a local beekeeper, then look for honey that says “raw or unfiltered” on the label at the store.

Perfect for a Variety of Dishes

While combination of garlic and honey especially in such high concentration may seem a bit odd, it’s perfectly at home in a number of recipes.

Use it in any savory sauce that would benefit from a little sweetness too. Consider using it in stir-fry sauces for example. Mix it into homemade barbecue sauce.

Drizzle the fermented garlic and honey over vegetables like sweet potatoes or turnips before roasting.

Use instead of plain honey in savory baked goods like breads or crackers.

Great for Cold & Flu Season

Garlic and honey are often touted for their natural antibacterial and soothing abilities. Here you get the best of both worlds in one jar. They are the dynamic duo of natural cold and flu remedies.

Stir a Tablespoon of the garlic-infused honey into hot lemon water for a sweet but potent hit of honey and garlic to soothe sore throats and ease cold related symptoms.

For folks who are adventurous enough or simply need the extra hit of natural healing, eating the whole fermented garlic clove is easier than eating raw garlic because of the sweetening.

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