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Herbs & Cultures

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Thyme syrup

Sweet, sticky syrup of fresh thyme: the cough medicine many Dutch people were given a spoonful of as children.

Traditional use

Time
40 minutes
Makes
About 600 ml
Thyme

Thyme syrup is a familiar household remedy for coughs and colds in the Netherlands, and is still sold at pharmacies and chemists. An advertisement in the Graafschap Bode of 2 March 1932 was already promoting it. It is easy to make at home: fresh thyme, very gently steeped in sugar water.

Ingredients

  • 40 g fresh thyme, rinsed
  • 700 ml water
  • 400 g sugar (or partly honey)
  • Optional: a slice of ginger or a splash of lemon juice

Step by step

  1. Bring the water almost to the boil and stir in the sugar until dissolved.
  2. Add the thyme, put the lid on and steep very gently for 20 minutes, just below boiling.
  3. Strain and pour the syrup into clean, sterilised bottles.
  4. For a cough, take a tablespoon a few times a day.

Tips

  • If you use honey, stir it in only once the syrup has cooled to lukewarm.

Registry

Herbs in this recipe

Read more about effects and safety on each herb’s page.

  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 98

    Thyme

    Thymus vulgaris

    Traditionally used for coughs and bronchitis; thymol from the oil inhibits bacteria and fungi in the laboratory. There are some studies of thyme-based cough syrups.

    Greco-Roman medicine+4Folklore

Cultures and traditions

Where the herbs come from

The herbs in this recipe also appear in these traditions.