Jammed full of anti-viral, digestion-stimulating and anti-inflammatory gems, the health benefits of Fire cider are endless.

Not to state the obvious, but looking after our immune health is incredibly important! Our ability to prevent getting coughs and colds, or to help fight them off if they get hold can be helped greatly by the food we eat and how we take care of ourselves, before we even need to think about over-the-counter-medicine.

Fire Cider's history is ambiguous with different names and different stories, but has survived through the ages thanks to wise women and their tales of miraculous healing. It is always based upon the same type of ingredients; herbs and spices infused in apple cider vinegar. The concoction is very simple to create, making use of what you most likely already have in your kitchen, and with the option to sweeten with raw honey.

Some items may be a bit harder to get hold of, depending on where you live, but the great thing about Fire Cider is that its incredibly flexible and really, you can use whatever you have on hand. All that is required is a bit of patience; the infusion time is 2 - 4 weeks. But my advice is the longer the better guys - give those ingredients time to really work their magic.

As you can imagine from the name, Fire Cider packs a punch! Depending on the amount of each ingredient you use, you will end up with a very potent brew. This is a great thing - we want the spicy, pungent goodness this combination of herbs and spices bring. You don’t have to sweeten it…if you’re hardcore you can consume it neat! But sweetening your Fire Cider does make it more palatable and also allows you to enjoy the wonderful benefits of raw honey.

How do you use Fire Cider?

This powerful tonic can be used be used as a fiery start to your day in the form of a shot (not for the faint-hearted!), in sauces and dressings to add a wonderful, potent flavour to your food, and even a gargle for sore throats. My favourite way to use Fire Cider is as a base for salad dressings. If I feel the beginnings of a cold, or generally for a boost during the colder months, I take a tablespoon each morning and let it do its thing.

What’s inside?

Apple Cider Vinegar: made from apple cider that has been fermented by yeast and bacteria. It regulates blood sugar levels, aid in weight loss, lowers cholesterol, improves skin health, reduces blood pressure and relieves symptoms of acid reflux, to name but a few great things!

Lemon: high in vitamin C, which is beneficial to the immune system. The tart acidity of lemon juice is great for cutting through mucus. Lemon peel contains anti-microbial volatile oils which have many uses (very important to buy unwaxed, organic lemons if using them for their skin’s properties).

Horseradish: its antioxidant properties boost the strength of the immune system and stimulate the activity and production of white blood cells. Also high in vitamin C. 

Ginger Root: a deeply heating and permeating herb, it aids the digestive and circulatory systems, in turn aiding the absorption of many herbs and nutrients it is used with. Ginger helps to clear mucus in the chest and throat, making it great for coughs, colds and sore throats.

Turmeric Root: Used in Ayuvedic medicine as a longevity herb, turmeric is one of the most anti-inflammatory and antioxidant herbs that is commonly available. One of the main medicinal and anti-inflammatory compounds in turmeric, curcumin, is particularly well absorbed when combined with black pepper and fats.

Onions: have an anti-microbial effect on the lungs, helping to kill bacteria and cut through mucus in coughs and respiratory infections.

Garlic: has a wide range of anti-microbial compounds. Much of garlic’s anti-microbial compounds are excreted through the lungs, which means they get exactly where they need to be for chest infections, such as bronchitis, colds and flu.

Chilli/Cayenne: the deeply warming action of chilli boosts a sluggish digestive system, helping the body to digest, break down and in turn absorb the nutrients from food more efficiently. It can also stimulate the appetite.

Jalapeños: rich in vitamins A, C, B and K, as well as folate and potassium.

Rosemary: one of the most common culinary herbs, rosemary is anti-microbial, antioxidant and stimulating to the circulatory system.

Black Pepper: warming to the digestive system. It aids the absorption of other herbs and food, particularly turmeric.

Raw Honey: a powerhouse! Naturally anti-microbial and antioxidant, raw honey contains 27 minerals, 22 amino acids and 5,000 live enzymes. It has also been used as a beauty product throughout the ages. the more local you can source your raw honey, the better! To preserve the amazing benefits of raw honey, don’t heat over 118°F/42°C.

If accessible to you, use organic ingredients to make this recipe.

Fire Cider
Makes 1 litre

Ingredients:
The following quantities are suggestions; this recipe can work with as little or as many of ingredients as you have on hand, with the apple cider vinegar as your base

1 litre (1 ¾ pint) raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar
1 medium onion, sliced or diced
1 whole head of garlic, peeled and crushed
4in/10cm chunk of fresh ginger root, finely sliced
2in/5cm piece turmeric, finely sliced
4in/10cm piece of horseradish root, finely sliced
5 red chillies, sliced
3 jalapeño chillies, sliced
a few springs of rosemary (can also use sage or thyme, or a mix of all 3)
1 teaspoon cayenne/chilli powder
1-2 teaspoons black peppercorns, crushed
1 unwaxed lemon, sliced
raw honey, to taste (optional)

Directions:

1. Layer all of the ingredients in a wide mouth, sterilised jar, large enough for the amount of vinegar and number of ingredients you use.

2. Pour over the apple cider vinegar, and seal. Leave to infuse for 2-4 weeks, gently shaking each day. After you’ve left it to infuse, strain, and add raw honey to taste (or leave as is!)

3. Bottle, label and date. Keeps for up to one year in a cool dry place.

You can use the strained ingredients in a sauce, or stir-fry, or in a sauerkraut base - so many options before composting them!

To use:

Take 1 tablespoon as a straight shot. Take 2 teaspoons in a little hot or cold water. For sore throats, mix 2 teaspoons with 4 teaspoons of water, gargle and swallow (if unsweetened, mix 1 teaspoon Fire Cider and 1 teaspoon raw honey).

Keep healthy, friends! x

Please note - this is not a replacement for prescribed medication. Please do the research required for your individual medical needs.