Fresh Ginger Honey Syrup

I recently saw a recipe for a ginger syrup, and thought I’d give it a go.  Like always, I had to change things up a bit to suit my own tastes  and purposes.  

This syrup is great for mixing with soda water, starting a sauce, or putting in hot water or tea. 

Ginger is a great remedy for upset stomach, fevers, and sore throat.  On top of all that good stuff, it's delicious!  Yummy!

 Fresh Ginger Honey Syrup

8 oz fresh ginger root. (I always hate when recipes call for a weight, cuz who has time for that?  Just get a big ginger root)
6 cups water
1 cup local honey

Cut the ginger root into large pieces and roughly peel them.  Some recipes say you can leave them unpeeled, but unless know where that roots been grown, I’d go ahead and peel it.  It doesn’t have to be perfect, but get the majority of peel off.
Cut the peeled root into small cubes.
Put the root and the water in sauce pan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to mediumlow, and simmer for about 45 min - 1 hour.
You want the water to reduce to two cups of liquid.
Remove from heat, and allow to cool a little to a temperature that is safe to handle. 
Strain it through cheesecloth into a pyrex measuring cup.  You want about 2 cups of liquid.
The ratio is 2 parts of liquid to 1 part of honey, so if you have more or less liquid, just adjust the honey amount.
For example, if you only have 1 1/2 cup liquid, use 3/4 cups of honey.
Wipe out the pan, and return the liquid to the cleaned pan.  Put the pan back on the stovetop on low heat.
Add the honey, and allow to melt and incorporate fully into the infusion. 
Use local honey, if possible.  Local honey will contain pollen from your local environment, and this is believed to help reduce the immune response to pollen that people with allergies suffer.
Put the finished syrup into a mason jar and cover.  Keep refrigerated – and it should last about 12 weeks.

What can you do with it?-       
- Add about a tablespoon to sparkling water with a squeeze of lime for a natural lime ginger ale.     
- Use it with a bit of fresh garlic and tamari for a delectable Asian sauce.       
- Use a tablespoon in hot water with the juice of half a lemon for an excellent cold remedy.