Over the years, Nanny has dispensed many pearls of wisdom, as people her age often do. Recently she noticed that I was sick, AGAIN.

“You’re not getting enough sleep,” she observed. I agreed that was definitely true.

“Maybe you have unshed tears.” Possibly true.

“You haven’t had tea with lemon and honey?” No, I had not.

“Well, you have to have tea with lemon and honey! And probably some rum.” (Nanny was born and raised on the island of Barbados, which happens to list rum as one of its main exports. Rum is, therefore, the cure for many ailments).

Here is Nanny’s recipe for hot tea with lemon and honey, guaranteed to cure the common cold:

Pour boiling water over one teabag. Rinse teabag up and down in water until water turns brown (do not steep for two minutes as the directions on the box tell you). This step is necessary because if it is brown you call it “tea,” instead of “rum with honey and lemon juice,” which is closer to the truth. Add one teaspoon honey, one teaspoon lemon juice, and one shot of rum. Drink quickly while it’s hot.

Or, if you prefer, you can buy it ready made. It’s best purchased at your nearest Mexican restaurant, except there they serve it cold. Also, they substitute lime for the lemon, salt for the honey, and tequila for the rum. This is sometimes known as a “margarita.” Nanny swears by either version.