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Where Did Horehound Candy Come From?

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Last updated on 3 min read

L. Marrubium vulgare (white horehound or common horehound) is a flowering plant in the mint family (Lamiaceae), native to

Europe, northern Africa, and southwestern and central Asia

. It is also widely naturalized in many places, including most of North and South America.

Why is it called horehound candy?

Horehound is a perennial herb in the mint family that grows in the Mediterranean region.

The Egyptian god of sky and light

, Horus may have been the inspiration for naming horehound. The Old English name har-hun means “downy plant,” describing its white hair that gives it a hoary appearance.

Where does horehound originate?

horehound, (Marrubium vulgare), also spelled hoarhound, also called white horehound, bitter perennial herb of the mint family (Lamiaceae), native to

Europe, North Africa, and Central Asia

.

What flavor is horehound?

The plant itself is rather unique. A member of the mint family, the leaves have a distinct furry texture and meatiness to them that makes horehound a very hearty herb. It’s known for its

bitter taste

(something between root beer and licorice) which causes the body to regulate breathing and digestion.

What exactly is horehound candy?

Horehound candy is

sugar coated and has a bittersweet taste

. The candies are lozenge-sized and are typically placed in the mouth and sucked on to extract the taste. Horehound candies have traditionally been used as an appetite stimulant, to soothe dry, scratchy and sore throats and to relieve intestinal gas.

Is horehound a candy?

Horehound candy drops are

bittersweet hard candies

like cough drops that are made with sugar and an extract of M. vulgare. They are dark-colored, dissolve in the mouth, and have a flavor that has been compared to menthol and root beer.

What are the benefits of horehound candy?

White horehound is used

for digestion problems including loss of appetite, indigestion, bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, and liver and gallbladder complaints

. It is also used for lung and breathing problems including cough, whooping cough, asthma, tuberculosis, bronchitis, and swollen breathing passages.

Is White horehound edible?

Native to Europe; although somewhat bitter and possessing a unique, pungent flavor,

the fresh or dried leaves are edible

and can be used as a seasoning or flavoring, made into pleasant tasting and medicinal tea. Horehound is often included in herbal cough drops.

What is the main ingredient in horehound candy?

Ingredients:

Sugar, corn syrup, natural horehound herb

, caramel color.

Does horehound raise blood pressure?

Low blood pressure:

White horehound might lower blood pressure

. This could cause blood pressure to go to low. White horehound should be used cautiously in people with low blood pressure or those taking medications that lower blood pressure.

What does horehound smell like?

Growing Horehound

The fresh leaves

smell musky (some say fruit- or thyme-scented)

, but the odor disappears on drying. Horehound is an important bee herb. Common horehound looks rather plain; it’s neither tidy like hyssop nor airy like fennel.

Is horehound candy good for cough?

Soothing dry and scratchy throats

Thankfully, horehound is

a great cough relief

. It even has an ingredient you can find in lozenges (the natural kind). Because it helps get rid of mucus, it reduces coughing by breaking the irritant down.

What does horehound tea taste like?

Horehound tea features

bitter notes wit minty undertones

. The flavor of the tea is often described as a middle ground between root beer and licorice. To balance out the bitter taste of the tea, many people add a dash of lemon juice or a touch of honey.

What herb is in horehound candy?


Marrubium Vulgare

(also referred to as “common horehound”) is a perennial herb in the mint family that is native to Europe, Northern Africa and parts of Asia.

What color is horehound candy?

‘SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, NATURAL HOREHOUND HERB,

CARAMEL COLOR

.

Does Walmart sell horehound candy?

Claeys Horehound Hard Candy, 6 oz (Pack of 3) – Walmart.com – Walmart.com.

Edited and fact-checked by the FixAnswer editorial team.
Jasmine Sibley

Jasmine writes about hobbies and crafts, from DIY projects and art techniques to collecting and creative pursuits.