Have you heard of fire cider? This traditional folk recipe has been around for decades and was created by the renowned herbalist, Rosemary Gladstar. This recipe is hot, spicy, tangy and sweet. It is not for the faint of heart although I have a feeling the older boys will take it this year. This fiery concoction has had countless variations throughout the years and is known for being a simple remedy to relieve sinus congestion and fight off colds and flus. I mean, have you ever grated horseradish root? Holy Cow! It will clear your sinuses in a heartbeat.
If you have been following me for awhile, you know we are big fans of elderberry syrup. Like elderberry syrup, this tonic is revered by herbalists for its ability to support the immune system during cold and flu season. Seriously, anytime you feel your immune system going down, it is a go to. This would be great for allergy season as well!
What is fire cider?
While you more commonly hear fire cider referred to as an infused vinegar, its actually an oxymel once you add the honey. Oxymels have been used since ancient times ( Hippocrates) for digestive and respiration support. The word oxymel is derived from Latin word oxymeli, which means “acid and honey” Most fire cider recipes include ingredients like fresh horseradish, garlic, onion and peppers. Hot! They are infused in apple cider vinegar due to its ability to draw out the plant properties. It is then strained and sweetened with honey. The instructions below are based off of Rosemary’s recipe but based on several different varieties of this herbal vinegar now out there, I have added several more ingredients in addition to, to help form a potent concoction that is antibacterial, antiviral, immune boosting and trust me, will clear that congestion right up!
When making fire cider I encourage you to just use the ingredients you have and mix it up a little. If you like spicy foods in general you will probably take this with no issue and in fact very much enjoy the taste. I think it’s delicious! If you have a more timid palette, you might need to adjust your pepper choice or honey quantity. If your kiddos don’t gravitate towards it, it would not be surprising. I am confident my older boys are going to love it as their love for spicy is evolving more and more every year but my little ones will be sticking to elderberry syrup, which we all take most days.
Health benefits of Fire Cider
Infusions like fire cider are really good at helping herbs release their beneficial components. Lets talk ingredients.
Horseradish root
Rich in folate and a compound called sinigrin, studies have found that horseradish helps the body break up congestions and calms inflammation.
Ginger root
This has been used for thousands of years in Chinese medicine to soothe tummy aches, along with nausea, morning sickness and indigestion.
Turmeric root
A herb very known for its antioxidant, anti inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Onion
Loaded with vitamin c and other antioxidants, onions are great for supporting immune symptoms.
Garlic
We go through more garlic than any other herb in the house. Modern research is starting to validate garlic use as a folk remedy for immune support. Garlic helps balance immune and inflammatory responses.
Hot pepper
I use a serrano pepper in this recipe but you could easily substitute for a jalapeno or habanero. They are rich in capsaicin, which assists the body in managing inflammation.
Citrus
Lemons and oranges are high in vitamin C which is awesome for the immune system.
Black peppercorns
Rich in antioxidants and helps other nutrients absorb. It also helps the body mange inflammation.
Rosemary or Thyme
I use both! Known to support healthy immune function and a healthy respiratory system.
how to take it
There are several ways to take your fire cider. Rosemary Gladstar recommends taking 1 to 2 tablespoons at the first sign of a cold and then repeating 3-4 hours until symptoms go away. Similar to the wonderful elderberry syrup, you can take as a preventative too! You can also mix with juice. Hot water and extra honey makes for a lovely tea. Use in place of vinegar in salad dressings or drizzle on steamed veggies. There are several ways to take it.
Best way hands down: take a “wellness” shot. In a shot glass, straight up!
Have you tried fire cider? Tell me your favorite way to take it.
Fire Cider
Equipment
- glass jar
Materials
- 1/2 cup fresh horseradish root, grated
- 1/2 cup fresh ginger root, grated
- 1/2 cup turmeric, grated
- 1/2 small onion, chopped
- 1 head garlic, chopped
- 1 whole lemon, sliced in one inch pieces
- 1 whole orange, sliced in one inch pieces
- 2 whole hot peppers ( i use serrano) cut lengthwise
- 1/2 cup parsley chopped optional
- 2 tbsp thyme, chopped optional
- 2-3 springs fresh rosemary optional
- 1 tbsp black peppercorns optional
- 1 tbsp turmeric powder optional, extra love but dont skip the root
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper optional
- 1 stick cinnamon optional
- 2-3 cups organic apple cider vinegar enough to cover all food completely
- 1/4 cup raw organic local honey add after 30 days
Instructions
- prepare all ingredients into jar except raw honey. you can try a quart depending on how small you chop but I have found that a 1.5 liter glass jar (50 oz) was the best size to work for me
- cover with apple cider vinegar – if using 50 oz 3 cups is about right.
- seal with air tight lid and store in dark cool place for one month. TIP: to keep lid from corroding add a piece of parchment paper between glass rim and lid
- shake tonic daily.
- after one month, strain the pulp so you get a clean vinegar in a new clean glass jar.
- add honey to the infused vinegar and stir until mixed well
- store in fridge until ready to use. It can keep for months!
Notes
