Fire Cider

This is Fire Cider.  Not to be confused with Fireball, another warming beverage, but probably not as healthy.

Fire Cider is a folk remedy made from infusing herbs in vinegar.  This energizing concoction warms the body during the chilly winter months, stimulates digestion, and acts as an antimicrobial towards the common cold.  I always have forgotten to make it early enough in the cold weather season.  It takes four weeks to sit and “brew.”  By February, I was always cold enough to remember–“I should have made some Fire Cider in December!”  Guess I’ll be desperate and have some Fireball.  I wear a vest over my sweater and a hat on my head while in the house.  Currently I am wearing two pairs of socks.

There are many recipes circulating for fire cider.    One of my favorite books is Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health by Rosemary Gladstar who is the pioneer in promoting fire cider a few decades ago.  I also found inspiration from the Mountain Rose Herbs and Wintergreen Botanicals websites.  (I’ll share the links below). The base is made of macerated onions, horseradish root, ginger root, hot peppers, and garlic which then soak in apple cider vinegar for a few weeks.  The mixture is then strained and honey is added.  I used red onions and added thyme, lemon, and turmeric.  This recipe is open to personalization depending on your health needs and what ingredients you have available.

A tablespoon of this robust remedy each morning warms the body.  Fire Cider’s health benefits can also be acquired when it is used to flavor foods such as salads, stir fries, or steamed grains.  If you feel a cold creeping up, I read you can take 2-3 spoonfuls of it throughout the day to help ease symptoms.

Cheers!  Here’s hoping Fire Cider provides the zest I need to propel me through winter.

Here’s my recipe:

• Red Onion:  1/2 of one
• Horseradish root:  1/2 cup
• Ginger root:  1/2 cup
• Garlic:  3 cloves
• Jalapenos:  2
• Lemon: 1
• Thyme springs
• Tumeric:  2 tablespoons (I used powdered because it is what I had)
• Apple cider vinegar:  raw and organic

I chopped all the ingredients and added them to a large mason jar.

I covered them with the apple cider vinegar.

I let it sit on my counter for about 4 weeks.  Then I strained the mixture and added the honey.  I store it in my refrigerator where it should last me through the next couple of months.

Resources:

Mountain Rose Herbs Fire Cider

Wintergreen Botanicals Winter Remedies

Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health by Rosemary Gladstar