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.
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)
In folk medicine
Mae:
What’s that bag for?
Earl:
Dried horehound - folks use it for coughs.
- An old-fashioned candy (noun, cultural sense)
At the store
Mae:
Ain’t much candy left?
Earl:
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.
Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...
We had 'horehound candy growin' up - and I still get it sometimes.