Cold Comfort

Interesting to read that new research has shown that tea's antioxidant properties are at their most potent when the tea is brewed for five minutes in a pot — as opposed to dunking a teabag in a mug of water briefly. This according to Scotland's Rowett Research Institute. It wasn't antioxidants I was looking for though just now, when I dunked an Earl Grey teabag in boiling water briefly and added honey and lemon. ... Have woken with a scratchy sore throat ... bugger ... too much to do this week for a cold to hit me. Next folk cure: my mother's cold remedy of equal parts honey, lemon and olive oil, heated briefly. I'm open to any other witchcraft you can suggest.