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Honey for Sore Throat: What the Cough Trials Used
What the cough trials actually tested, which honeys they used, why no variety is proven better for a sore throat, and when to see a doctor.
Quick Answer
No honey variety has been shown to soothe a sore throat better than another. The best-known trial, a 2007 Penn State study (Paul et al., 105 children aged 2 to 18, one night), used buckwheat honey: parents rated it better than no treatment for nighttime cough, and its difference from dextromethorphan was not statistically significant. Manuka honey is graded by its methylglyoxal (MGO) content; no trial has shown that eating it treats a sore throat or a throat infection. Thyme, linden and wildflower honey are good-tasting choices for warm tea, not proven remedies.
What to Look For
Pick a honey you like the taste of in tea or on a spoon. The cough trials used buckwheat (Paul 2007) and eucalyptus, citrus and labiatae honeys (Cohen 2012, 300 children aged 1 to 5); none compared dark honey with light honey for symptom relief, and none tested a UMF or MGO grade. A UMF or MGO number on Manuka tells you the jar is authentic Manuka and how much methylglyoxal it contains; it is not a treatment strength. Thick honey and thin honey both work in tea.
Relevant Honey Varieties
The honey used in the 2007 Penn State trial: 105 children aged 2 to 18 with a cold, one dose before bed, parent-rated. Honey beat no treatment for nighttime cough; its difference from dextromethorphan was not statistically significant. Strong, malty flavor.
View honey varietyEarthy, slightly bitter flavor. Its UMF or MGO grade measures methylglyoxal; no trial has shown that eating Manuka treats a sore throat or a throat infection better than other honey.
View honey varietyHerbal, aromatic flavor that many people find pleasant straight from the spoon. Thyme essential-oil compounds are studied in thyme herb extracts, not in thyme honey, so treat it as a flavor choice.
View honey varietyA traditional European choice for cold-season tea, with a fresh, slightly minty flavor. No clinical trial has tested linden honey for sore throat.
View honey varietyThe easiest honey to find and usually the cheapest. A 2021 BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine review of 14 studies (Abuelgasim et al.) found honey improved cough frequency and severity compared with usual care; the two placebo-controlled studies it pooled were inconclusive, and none of the studies singled out wildflower honey.
View honey varietyGet the Honey Buyer's Cheat Sheet (free PDF)
16 varieties on one page — color, flavor, best use and what a fair price looks like — from the 304 honeys we track.
How to Use
If you like honey, eat it from a spoon or stir it into warm (not boiling) water or tea; lemon, ginger and chamomile are common pairings. No study has set a sore-throat dose. Ask your doctor or pediatrician how much is sensible, especially for a child, and count it as added sugar.
What to Avoid
Never give honey to infants under 12 months old because of the risk of infant botulism. Do not use honey in place of medical care: see a doctor if a sore throat lasts more than a few days or comes with high fever, white patches on the tonsils, a rash, or trouble swallowing or breathing. Strep throat needs a clinician's test and, if confirmed, antibiotics. Honey is a food, not a treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is honey really as effective as cough medicine?
How much honey should I take for a sore throat?
Can I use regular honey or does it have to be special?
Why can babies not have honey?
Can honey help with strep throat?
What is the best honey to mix with tea for a sore throat?
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Edited by Sam French · Raw Honey Guide Editorial Team
Sam French is the founding editor of Raw Honey Guide. This is an editorial guide, not a medical review.
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