Horehound
Horehound is a bitter herb used in Appalachian and Southern folk medicine, most often made into cough drops or old-fashioned candy. Many folks remember horehound candy as one of the few sweets found in country stores.
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Hillbilly Dude Says...
We had 'horehound candy growin' up - and I still get it sometimes. Hillbilly Dude Says...
We had 'horehound candy growin' up - and I still get it sometimes. Pronunciation
[HOR-hound] or [HOAR-hound]
Meaning & Usage
- A medicinal herb (noun)
Mae:
What’s that bag for?
What’s that bag for?
Earl:
Dried horehound - folks use it for coughs.
Dried horehound - folks use it for coughs.- An old-fashioned candy (noun, cultural sense)
Mae:
Ain’t much candy left?
Ain’t much candy left?
Earl:
Just them horehound sticks.
Just them horehound sticks.variations: horehound candy, horehound drops
★ Horehound candy was often bought at general stores when nothing sweeter was around. Kids didn’t always like the taste, but it was candy - and that was enough. ★
Origin and Etymology
Horehound is a bitter mint-family herb (Marrubium vulgare) used since ancient times. Appalachian and Southern families boiled it into syrups, drops, or candy as both a treat and a remedy.
Usage Notes
Strong in Appalachian and Southern memory - tied to both medicine and old-time country stores. Today, horehound candy is sold as a nostalgic sweet in some specialty shops.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "hor-hound."