Fire Cider Immune Tonic
A potent, spicy, warming tonic made with apple cider vinegar, ginger, horseradish, and more.
Fire cider is a traditional herbal remedy that has been made in folk medicine traditions for centuries. The modern version was formalized by Rosemary Gladstar, a respected herbalist, and has become popular in natural health circles for good reason — it is a genuinely potent combination of immune-supporting ingredients.
This is not a gentle remedy. Fire cider earns its name — it is fiery, pungent, sour, and warming, with a heat that moves through your sinuses and into your chest. Many people who take it regularly swear by its ability to prevent illness and shorten the duration when they do get sick.
This recipe requires four to six weeks of infusing before it's ready, which is why I make a new batch in September or October to have it ready for cold and flu season. It keeps for months at room temperature once strained.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup fresh horseradish, grated
- 1/2 cup fresh ginger root, grated
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 8 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jalapeño or habanero pepper, chopped
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon and 1 orange
- 2 tablespoons fresh or dried rosemary
- 2 tablespoons fresh or dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- Raw apple cider vinegar to cover (about 2 cups)
- Raw honey to taste (added after straining)
How to Use
- 1Combine all ingredients except honey in a clean quart jar.
- 2Cover completely with apple cider vinegar and seal tightly.
- 3Store in a cool, dark place for four to six weeks, shaking daily.
- 4Strain through cheesecloth, pressing solids to extract all liquid.
- 5Stir in honey to taste until sweetness balances the heat.
- 6Take 1 to 2 tablespoons daily as a preventive tonic, or up to 4 tablespoons at the first sign of illness. Can be mixed into dressings or taken as a shot.