As our society thankfully trends back towards natural living, once-obscure remedies are fast becoming major trends. For wintertime immune support, this is great news, because Fire Cider seems to be the latest thing on the trend watch. An invigorating tonic, Fire Cider was popularized among the herbal community in the 1980’s by Rosemary Gladstar, a well-known herbalist. Now its benefits are reaching a larger audience. 

Fire Cider is a sweet, spicy, vinegary tonic that has been used traditionally for hundreds of years in Europe to help support the body’s natural immune response and invigorate digestion. It can easily be adapted to individual preferences, but the standard base ingredients are apple cider vinegar, garlic, onions, horseradish root, cayenne, ginger, turmeric, and honey. You can also add lemon, oranges, astragalus, hot peppers, adaptogenic herbs, mushrooms, and more. There are many health claims made surrounding this invigorating blend, and much evidence exists that, individually, the warming components can provide multiple benefits.

Judging by the many spicy ingredients in the recipe, you might not expect it to taste very good, however many people enjoy the spicy-yet-sweet concoction. 

Because it is technically a tincture, you want to make your year’s batch of fire cider at least a month before the cold season starts. Combine all the ingredients (except the honey) in a mason jar, seal, and store, shaking occasionally, for at least a month. Strain and add the honey, then store the liquid in your fridge. One shot a day is the recommended serving.

Fire Cider is made from raw, simple, and powerful ingredients that we use to cook with every day - yet it can help keep your immune system strong during the winter months and support digestion and overall health. Just more proof that we can improve our quality of life through the foods we eat, and that the first step towards good health is powerful nutrition!