Also try: Christmas Cappuccino Powder, Thermomix®.
Homemade cough syrup made in the Thermomix® with onion, thyme, fennel seeds and 100 g of honey. Cook for 10 minutes at 100°C, strain into a bottle and it is ready. Keeps for 2 weeks in the fridge and helps with coughs and a scratchy throat.
Homemade Cough Syrup with the Thermomix®
Ingredients 0 / 5 ✓
- 1 onion
- 250 g water
- 2 tbsp dried thyme
- 1 tbsp fennel seeds
- 100 g honey
Instructions 0 / 4
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1
Chop the onion.
Peel the onion, halve it and place it in the mixing bowl. Chop for 5 sec / speed 5, then scrape down with the spatula.
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2
Cook the ingredients.
Add the water, thyme and fennel seeds. Cook for 10 min / 100°C / speed 1, then leave to cool to 40°C.
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3
Sterilise the bottle.
Meanwhile sterilise a bottle with boiling water.
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4
Fill the bottle.
Add the honey, mix for 5 sec / speed 4, then strain through a fine sieve into the sterilised bottle.
Tip: This cough syrup is entirely plant-based, calming and gentle. As a dosage guide we recommend 3 x 2 tsp daily for adults and children over 12 years, and 3 x 1 tsp daily for children aged 3 to 12 years.
If the cough does not improve, please consult a doctor.
Video
Nutrition per serving
Chop the onion, add the herbs, cook for 10 minutes: the syrup really is that simple
Halve 1 onion and chop for 5 seconds at speed 5. Then add 250 g water, 2 tbsp of dried thyme and 1 tbsp of fennel seeds to the mixing bowl and cook for 10 minutes at 100°C at speed 1. As the onion cooks it releases essential oils, the thyme helps to loosen mucus and the fennel seeds soothe the throat.
After cooking, leave the mixing bowl to cool to around 40°C before we add 100 g of honey and stir it in for 5 seconds at speed 4. Why wait until it has cooled? Heat above 40°C destroys the enzymes in the honey that are responsible for its soothing effect. Then strain the syrup through a fine sieve into a sterilised bottle.

Why onion, thyme and fennel work so well together
The combination is no coincidence. Onions contain sulphides that help to reduce swelling in the mucous membranes. Thyme contains thymol, which has antibacterial properties and eases the urge to cough. Fennel seeds help to loosen stubborn mucus. Together with honey as a natural cough soother, the result is a syrup that gives noticeable relief for mild to moderate coughs.
3 x 2 teaspoons a day: the right dosage
For adults and children over 12 years we recommend 3 x 2 teaspoons a day. Children between 4 and 12 years take 3 x 1 teaspoon. The syrup is not suitable for children under 1 year because honey is not recommended for infants. For a persistent cough, fever or difficulty breathing, always consult a doctor.
Ginger, sage, agave syrup: 3 variations
- With ginger: Chop a thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger together with the onion. The ginger warms from the inside and boosts the mucus-loosening effect.
- Sage instead of thyme: Use 2 tbsp of dried sage. Sage works especially well for sore throats and throat inflammation.
- Vegan with agave syrup: Replace the honey with 100 g of agave syrup. The herbs keep all their properties; only the honey effect is lost.
Sterilised bottle, fridge, keeps for 2 weeks
Before filling, sterilise the bottle with boiling water. Store the finished cough syrup in the fridge and use it within 2 weeks. As it contains no preservatives, it does not keep as long as products bought from a pharmacy. We therefore always make just one batch at a time and prepare a fresh one when needed.
More on the topic: You can find operating tips and basics for every mixing bowl model in our Thermomix® hub. Or browse the complete guides overview.