Hot Toddy’s have always had a special place in my heart. Perhaps because I’m married to a Todd or perhaps because I love ginger, I love hot drinks on a crisp winter day and I love filling my home with the scent of citrus and spice. I adapted this recipe from PCC Natural Markets.

Ingredients

• 2 inch chunk of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced thin (for extra ginger taste, grate some too)
• 2 star anise pods
• 3 cardamom pods
• 6 cups water
• 2 tablespoons honey (we use raw honey in our house, but since we are heating any will do)
• 6-9 broad strips of orange zest
• 1 lemon wedge
• Optional: rum, whiskey or brandy (we like to use 1 oz of rum with a tsp of grand marnier).

Preparation

Pour water into medium size pot with lid and bring to a boil, reduce heat and add ginger, star anise, cardamom, honey and orange zest. Let simmer for 10 minutes. Squeeze juice from lemon wedge into pot. Add alcohol to warm mugs (or enjoy without alcohol). Pour the Toddy into the mug through a strainer. Spoon out a strip of ginger for each cup. Enjoy!