Combat those pesky colds and that frigid winter air by learning how to make a traditional fire cider tonic!
School has started up again, the leaves are turning various shades of red and orange, and pumpkins are taking over every store. It’s fall once again, the favorite season here at the Glover Cottage Farm. But the coming of fall also means there’s another season just around the corner: flu season. The second summer ends, I start prepping for flu season by making fire cider, my favorite cold combatant.
A basic fire cider doesn’t only fight of colds and the flu; it can also improve your overall health. However, while we have found success using it to mitigate some flu and cold symptoms, it’s important to remember that fire cider is a supplemental remedy, not a magical cure-all. Consult your doctor if you are experiencing flu and/or cold symptoms, drink plenty of fluids, and get enough rest.
Originally, if I started feeling a cold coming on, I would drink a vitamin C mix, orange juice, or just overcompensate by eating a lot more fruit. These processes never really seemed to make a noticeable difference, so I went searching for a new approach. That’s how I discovered fire cider. Since making it, I have found fire cider to be much more effective than more modern supplements like Emergen-C® or Airborne®. I always try to make the cider right at the end of summer so it has enough time to ferment and be ready to go for the beginning of flu season.
What is fire cider?
Fire cider is a deliciously tangy, spicy, sweet, and sour tonic. It can sound, smell, and look pretty intimidating. However, once you’ve had your first sip, you’ll be going back for more! Fire cider was first created by Rosemary Gladstar around 1980 and has stuck around since. It has many benefits but has been used primarily as an immune booster and cold preventative.
What are the benefits of fire cider?
The benefits of fire cider can include:
- Improved digestion.
- Aids in the recovery process of colds or flus.
- Boosts the immune system.
- Provides energy.
- Helps maintain a better blood sugar balance.
Fire cider’s nutritionally dense ingredients allow it to be used as an immune system booster. It’s important to note, however, that there have been no proven studies showing that fire cider has any health benefits. That being said, its individual ingredients have impressive benefits that are further increased by the fermentation process.
What are the main ingredients?
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar is high in antioxidants and various minerals and vitamins, such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus. It may also help improve digestion, aid in weight loss, and lower your blood sugar and cholesterol. To learn more about the benefits of apple cider vinegar, visit Alexandra Benisek’s article, Apple Cider Vinegar, on WebMD.
Garlic
Garlic is a fantastic immune booster that also aids in weight loss and lowering your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. It can also help clear up your skin and helps keep bad bacteria out of your ferments!
Horseradish
Horseradish is a popular herb for minimizing cold symptoms thanks to spicy heat and its high levels of nutrients, such as vitamin C and zinc. It can also be used as an analgesic that reduces inflammation and helps regulate your cells and blood circulation.
Onions
Onions are one of my favorite super foods. Research has shown that onions are chock full of antioxidants that, according to the Cleveland Clinic’s article, Stop the Tears: Why Onions Are Good for You, reduce symptoms like inflammation. Along with this, onions can also help lower the risk of various diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Along with disease prevention, onions are shown to aid with daily bodily processes, such as disrupting bacterial growth, strengthening bones, and using its fiber to help your digestive tract. Plus, onions taste great in just about anything!
Hot Peppers
Just saying “hot peppers” feels general. There are literal thousands of hot peppers. With how many different hot peppers there are, you could probably spend fifty years using a different pepper for every batch of fire cider and still have more to try. But that is also part of the magic. Since most hot peppers affect your body similarly, you can use whatever pepper you like the most. We like jalapeños, but we also encourage you to use the peppers that are to your taste, whether that means something more mild or something wicked spicy. Like most items on this list, chili peppers have antioxidants and have been reported to reduce heart disease and helps combat colds and flus.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is another ingredient with antioxidant properties that can help with inflammation. According to the Cleveland Clinic’s article, The Benefits of Cinnamon, cinnamon has been shown to also help with cholesterol and high blood sugar levels. Now, the article specifically says that some of the studies around cinnamon’s direct effect on cholesterol and blood sugar are not definitive. That being said, their studies also showed that cinnamon could help if taken in the right dosage, and if nothing else, using cinnamon will give your recipes some sensational flavor and can help reduce sugar cravings.
Honey
Honey is a versatile product used in a lot of the food in our house. However, it’s not just for sweetening things. The Mayo Clinic and the National Library of Medicine both report that honey can help lessen the symptoms of coughs or other asthma-related issues, reduce the risk of heart disease, and even assist with the healing of external wounds.
What are the side effects?
Like I said earlier, there is, unfortunately, no cure-all and taking fire cider does come with some potential risks. The drink’s acidity is the biggest cause for concern, since it can damage tooth enamel if you’re not careful. The best way to combat this is to dilute it with water, use a straw, and/or drink it in moderation.
Fire Cider also tends to emphasize the “fire” part of its name and can get pretty spicy. This can cause some stomach discomfort, especially if you drink too much of it. Fire cider is best in small amounts, and if it’s too spicy on its own, you can always dilute it.
Talk to your healthcare provider before taking fire cider to ensure that it won’t interfere with any current medications or conditions.
How do I use fire cider?
I generally take fire cider as a shot in the mornings whenever I start to feel under the weather. However, taking a shot can be a little extreme for some people, so there are other alternatives to taking fire cider. One way is to dilute it with water or add more honey. Another one of my favorite ways to drink it is to add the fire cider to tea for an extra boost in flavor. You can also use fire cider in cooking as a marinade or even in salad dressings. The possibilities are virtually endless when it comes to consuming your fire cider.
Basic Fire Cider Tonic
Learn how to make a basic fire cider recipe for combat those pesky cold and flu symptoms. Feel free to make adjustments to the recipe to play around with the taste to make your very own fire cider tonic!
Ingredients
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Whole Peppercorns
- 1 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- 10 Garlic Cloves
- 1/2 cup Ginger Root (grated)
- 1 cup Horseradish Root (grated)
- 1 White Onion
- 3 Jalapeños (or any other spicy pepper)
- 1 Lemon (cut into slices)
- 1 Orange (cut into slices)
- 3 Sprigs of Rosemary
- 9 sprigs of Thyme
- 4 Cinnamon Sticks
- 1 teaspoon Cloves
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 cup honey (optional)
- Gallon Glass Jar
Instructions
- Combine all of the solid ingredients into a glass jar
- Pour apple cider vinegar over all of the solid ingredients until they are fully emerged. If you have trouble keeping everything down, you may have to use a fermentation weight.
- Mix and loosely cover with a cap.
- Store in a cool, dark place for at least 4 weeks.
- Strain once fermented and add honey until you have reached your desired sweetness.
- Continue to store in a cool, dark place with an airtight lid. This mixture should last anywhere from 6 to 12 months depending on how it is stored.
Notes
Before using, always check to make sure that your fire cider hasn’t developed a different appearance or a strange smell, texture, or taste. If any of these occur, discard your batch and start a new one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What if I don’t have one of the ingredients to make fire cider?
A: You can easily adapt this recipe to fit with what ingredients you have on hand, or any personal tastes. Feel free to leave out (or add) whatever fruits, herbs, and vegetables you desire.
Q: What kind of apple cider vinegar should I use?
A: You will want apple cider vinegar with mother in it. I also highly recommend getting organic apple cider vinegar that’s in a glass bottle if available.
Q: How often should you take fire cider?
A: I recommend taking a shot a day once you start to experience cold symptoms until those symptoms dissipate. However, always listen to your body if this is too much or too little. Be wary of taking too much since it can cause damage to your teeth enamel or cause stomach discomfort if you drink it undiluted.
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