Fire Cider!

Have you heard of it? Do you already enjoy it?

Fire Cider is a timeless folk remedy gaining in popularity- a warming herbal tonic, jam-packed with wellness supporting powerhouse ingredients like raw apple cider vinegar, garlic, horseradish, onion, peppers, and turmeric. And we could all use a little more of that these days, right?  So I figured I would give it a try.

I made the classic version of Fire Cider, the famed recipe from herbalist Rosemary Gladstar herself, taken from her book "Fire Cider" by Rosemary Gladstar and friends.  Other herbs can be added as one chooses to customize the flavor, but I started with the classic version to get the flavors down first. 

Fire cider can be enjoyed straight-up (as a quick shot, no need to drink a big glass), mixed with seltzer or even as a salad dressing. ⁠I am excited to get this elixir in our rotation soon!

I started with a large chunk of ginger, turmeric and horseradish, and grated it all into my half gallon mason jar.  The turmeric smells SO AMAZING! I have never used fresh turmeric before and I was so surprised by this.  I also added in some chopped onions and lemons, and filled the jar to the top with raw apple cider vinegar.   The jar should sit in a cool dark place for 3-4 weeks, but lightly shaken every few days to keep the ingredients blended.  After 3-4 weeks I will strain out the mixture and bottle the liquid up for storage.  Honey is often added at the end to sweeten the flavor and tame the heat, but also has added benefits for overall health.  If you can locate local, raw honey that is best, but any honey will work.

"Fire Cider" by Rosemary Gladstar and friends has a lot of different recipes for fire cider, homemade apple scrap vinegar, shrubs, dressings, and other ways to prepare herbal tonics as well.  If you would to see more about this book or other reference materials we carry in our shop, visit our Book Collection.