Preparing for Fall - Fire Cider™

I'm always looking for ways to add an extra boost of nutrients to my life.  I am a terrible pill/supplement taker, so if I can incorporate herbs throughout my day I feel better about not taking my vitamins.  While completing my Herbal Medicine Making Course from Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine, I came across the infamous home brewed Fire Cider™.  

Fire Cider™ is a vinegar that is infused with herbs and sweetened with a touch of honey.  There are a lot of health benefits with Fire Cider™ and you can learn more HERE and HERE.  I use Fire Cider™ as a daily shot of goodness to help keep colds and flu away, and some herbalists use Fire Cider™ to help shorten the duration of a cold or flu.  The recipe I created below, is a combination of of recipes I've learned in class and resources online.  This golden baby poop looking awesomeness takes about 6 weeks until its ready... so when one batch is ready, I start another one right away.  

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FIRE CIDER™

Before you start, you'll need to sterilize a half-gallon mason jar.  
​INGREDIENTS

• 3/4 C grated Horseradish
• 1/2 C grated Ginger
• 2 bulbs or more of peeled and chopped Garlic
• 2 Jalapeños chopped (with seeds)
  
• 1 tablespoon of Tumeric
  
• 1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper
  
• a couple sprigs of Rosemary
  
• a couple sprigs of Thyme
  
• 32oz of Apple Cider Vinegar (I used Raw Apple Cider Vinegar) 

DIRECTIONS:

1. Place all ingredients in half-gallon mason jar.  
2. Place wax paper under the lid to help prevent corrosion.  
3. Label your Fire Cider with the name, date created, medium used (brand of vinegar).  
4. Place your jar in the back of a cabinet or a dark room temperature location and wait 6 weeks before straining.  
5. Try to shake your jar daily.  I'm bad about this and may end up only shaking it once a week.  
6. At your six weeks marker, strain your Fire Cider™ and compost the strained herbs.  
7. Add 2oz or more of honey to Fire Cider™ to help with taste.
8. Keep your Fire Cider™ in the fridge and take about 1 teaspoon daily or when needed.  Remove label from original jar and place on strained Fire Cider™ jar so you know when it expires.  Keeps about 6 months.

A couple of notes.... I personally end up taking about 1 tablespoon of Fire Cider™ daily.  I pour some in a shot glass, add a little honey and drink it down!  If you have a sensitive stomach, you may not want to take this.  Meaning... if you have heartburn, an ulcer or an acidic stomach, this might aggravate your gut.  

And lastly, if you read through this and know you won't drink this... but feel like you "should".... don't do it.  Seriously, there are other ways to give your body good stuff.  I like vinegar, I like spicy foods, so for me this is a win win!  How we fuel our bodies is our own business, and I'd rather fuel it from a place of joy than "shoulding" all over it.

Cheers *clinks glass*

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