Name: Conifer Hot Toddy with Rose Hips and Ginger
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 conifer sprigs (pine, fir, Douglas fir, or spruce); 1 Tbsp dried whole rose hips (lightly crushed); 1 Tbsp sliced ginger; 1 cinnamon stick; 8 ounces hot water; 1-2 ounces bourbon or whiskey; honey or maple syrup (to taste); orange slices

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This conifer hot toddy is the perfect foraged cocktail to make on a chilly day. It will warm you up and might even make you feel better if you are under the weather. Any edible conifer needles will work in this recipe — pine, fir, and spruce are all great options!

a hot toddy with a conifer sprig, an orange slice, and a cinnamon stick

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Herbal Hot Toddy with Foraged Ingredients

This conifer hot toddy is a warm and delicious drink that is made with foraged ingredients.

A traditional hot toddy is made with hot water, honey, lemon juice, whiskey or bourbon, and garnished with a cinnamon stick.

When making a hot toddy, I always love the idea of making a tea with the hot water first, then adding the rest of the ingredients. This makes it more flavorful and potent.

Hot toddies are sometimes used to help relieve cold or flu symptoms, so the addition of beneficial herbs is never a bad idea!

a hand harvesting conifer needles with scissors

Here is what I use in this foraged hot toddy recipe:

Conifer needles such as pine, fir, Douglas fir, and spruce are helpful for easing a sore throat or cough. I have a pine needle cough syrup recipe for this reason.

Rose hips are high in vitamin C and can support the immune system during illness. I also have a rose hip syrup recipe that is helpful.

I also add ginger to this herbal hot toddy to give it even more benefits and flavor!

Honey gives it some sweetness and is also good for a sore throat. Maple syrup can be subbed if you prefer.

Oranges go nicely with the conifer needles and rose hips, but lemons can be used instead if that’s what you have.

Cinnamon sticks make a nice garnish. They are also warming and taste delicious!

Whiskey or bourbon is the preferred liquor to use in a hot toddy.

sliced oranges, conifer sprigs, rose hips, ginger, and honey on a table

Wow your guests with these fun botanical drink recipes that use plenty of herbs, spices, and other botanicals from my ebook Botanical Holiday Cocktails for a Healthy Holiday Happy Hour!

Conifer Hot Toddy Recipe

This conifer hot toddy is very easy to make and doesn’t take long!

You will first need to have foraged conifer needles and rose hips on hand.

Note that while most conifer needles are edible, there are a few to stay away from and one that is highly toxic – Yew. See my post on conifer tree identification for more information.

Make the Tea

First, place conifer sprigs, rose hips, cinnamon stick, and ginger in a french press or teapot and cover with boiling water.

pouring the hot water into a frech press to make conifer tea

Let steep for 15-20 minutes.

a french press with the conifer tea mixture steeping

Make the Hot Toddy

In a large mug, add 1-2 ounces of whiskey and an orange slice. Strain the tea out into the mug using a fine mesh strainer.

Add the desired amount of honey or maple syrup and stir well.

a conifer hot toddy with an orange slice and cinnamon stick garnish

Serve and Enjoy

Garnish the hot toddy with more orange slices, a cinnamon stick, rose hips, or a conifer needle sprig.

Serve hot and enjoy!

It has a wonderful flavor from the conifer needles, a bit of spice from the ginger and cinnamon, with just a touch of acidity from the rose hips and orange.

The honey rounds it out with some sweetness, and the whiskey or bourbon is the best part of course!

This foraged hot toddy is a delicious way to spice up the holidays or warm up on a cold winter day. It’s the perfect thing to make when coming in from a snowy adventure!

Conifer Hot Toddy with Rose Hips and Ginger