What Is Horehound?
White horehound (Marrubium vulgare) is a gray-green perennial herb of the mint family, native to the Mediterranean, Europe and western Asia and now naturalized in North America and Australia. It has square stems, wrinkled, woolly leaves and small white flowers clustered around the stems, and a musky, sage-like aroma.
Horehound is famous for its bitterness. It is one of the classic bitter herbs of European herbal history, and in America it became best known as the flavor of horehound candy, a hard, old-fashioned candy made by boiling a strong horehound infusion with sugar. The candy was a general store staple in the 19th century and is still made today.
In the past, horehound was also used to flavor ale and liqueurs, and it remains an ingredient in some traditional bitters and herbal syrups. Its English name comes from the Old English har hune, meaning downy plant, after its soft, hairy leaves.
Our horehound is finely ground, so it is easy to measure, infuse and blend. Use it to make your own horehound candy or syrup, or add small amounts to herbal blends and bitters.
Our horehound herb powder contains only ground Marrubium vulgare with nothing added. It is sold by weight, from small packs to bulk.
How to Use Horehound Herb Powder
- Horehound candy: Steep 1 tablespoon of powder in 1 1/2 cups of boiling water for 20 minutes and strain well through cloth. Boil the liquid with 2 cups of sugar and a little honey to the hard crack stage (300 F / 150 C), then pour and cut.
- Herbal infusion: Steep 1/2 teaspoon (about 1 g) in a cup of hot water for 5 minutes in a fine filter. Sweeten with honey.
- Bitters: Add a small amount to homemade bitters with citrus peel and spices.
Safety
Do not use during pregnancy or while nursing. If you take diabetes, heart or blood pressure medication, consult a qualified healthcare professional before use. Keep out of reach of children.
Read our full guide: How to make horehound tea: our guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What does horehound taste like?
Horehound is strongly bitter, with a musky, sage-like and slightly sweet aroma.
What is horehound candy?
It is an old-fashioned hard candy made from a horehound infusion boiled with sugar.
Is this white horehound or black horehound?
This is white horehound, Marrubium vulgare. Black horehound is Ballota nigra, a different plant.
Is horehound powder an extract?
No. It is the whole dried herb ground into powder.
How should I store horehound powder?
Keep it in an airtight container in a cool, dry and dark place.
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