When two drinks collide
A hangover cure that also serves as a delicious cocktail base? I’ll drink to that.
Ihave a riddle for you: What is a drink that’s good for recovering from hangovers but also great for making cocktails? Nope, it’s not magic nor is it a secret potion. Out of guesses? Well, I hope you’re sitting down because it’s made of only two main ingredients: honey and lemon. Shocker, right?
Now that you’ve picked up your jaw from the floor, enter: Honey Lemon. Honey Lemon is actually from Korea, where the honey — 100-percent pure, in case you were wondering — is sourced from the Chiak Mountain.
The drink itself is expectedly sweet (but not too much), with just the right kick of lemon. Honey has this very distinct flavor that hits you right away — sometimes it tastes weird at first contact, but that fades away very quickly. When chilled, it makes for a very refreshing beverage, perfect for when your head is pounding from last night’s sins.
If you’re wondering how this drink actually helps rid of your hangover, well, here’s the tea: the fructose content in honey helps break down alcohol in the body, while lemon juice helps ease headaches by making the body more alkaline. Simple.
Now that you’ve got a surefire way of curing the consequences of one too many cocktails, it’s time to make some more. At the product’s launch last Feb. 7, the brew master and head bartender of Más Tapas and Cocktail Bar in Greenhills, John Benedict de Leon, shared some easy drink recipes that use Honey Lemon as a base (these are pretty good sans alcohol, too, if you’re not ready for another migraine). First was a ginger syrup and mint drink with just the right kick, followed by an Earl Gray tea reduction that was sweetened by the Honey Lemon. Next was a refreshing calamansi and cucumber concoction, followed by a Honey Lemon mojito.
All the mocktails by John were simple enough to make yourself at home, be it for a party with friends or a Party For One. The best part is, you don’t even need any sugar. Honey Lemon’s got it all for you, honey.
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