06/03/2026
Come see Hill Folk Herbal Farms at the Sip N Sprout Social in Morehead!!
Last night we made a batch of horehound cough drops, and the experience reminded us that some of the best herbal traditions are also some of the most enjoyable.
Using horehound, wild cherry bark, and mullein leaf from our herbal apothecary, we prepared a strong herbal infusion and combined it with brown sugar, sorghum, and a touch of cream of tartar. As the mixture slowly transformed into a rich amber syrup, the kitchen filled with the aroma of old-fashioned herbal candy making.
What surprised us most was how much fun the final step became.
Instead of pouring the candy into molds, we spooned small portions onto wax paper laid across baking sheets. As the candy cooled and began to harden, we rolled each piece into small balls by hand and gently flattened them with a butter knife. Every cough drop became slightly different from the next, just the way handmade herbal remedies have been made for generations.
The result was something neither store-bought nor copied from a commercial recipe. The bitterness of the horehound was softened by the sweetness of the sorghum, while the wild cherry bark added depth and the mullein leaf brought its traditional place in respiratory herbalism. The finished drops were firm, flavorful, and carried the unmistakable character of a handcrafted remedy.
Perhaps the greatest lesson of the evening was that herbalism is more than reading about plants. It is growing them, harvesting them, preparing them, and sharing them with others. It is learning through experience.
Our recipe may have started with traditional horehound candy, but by the end of the evening it had become our own, born from experimentation, laughter, and a willingness to learn by doing.
In a world filled with information, there is still something special about gathering around a stove, stirring a kettle, and turning herbs from the garden into something useful with your own hands.
The cough drops turned out beautifully, but the experience was even better.
