Homemade Fire Cider

If you’ve never heard of fire cider before, it is a spicy tonic that is used to fight colds and flus and boost the immune system. It’s a mixture of fruits, vegetables, and herbs all topped with vinegar. After steeping for a few weeks, all of these beneficial ingredients are strained out and the liquid is used to add to soups, stews, sauces, marinades – but I most often use it as a tea or as a shot. 

Use a variety of ingredients in your fire cider, whatever you have on hand or prefer. Common additions are ginger, honey, lemon, oranges, red onion, elderberry, garlic, horseradish, turmeric, and cayenne. Other beneficial ingredients that can be used are black pepper, jalapeno, echinacea, cinnamon, rosemary, oregano, thyme, rosehips, pomegranate, and limes. 

A large glass 64-70 ounce jar is best. Apple cider vinegar is going to be the best tasting and beneficial vinegar to use. As always, use high quality ingredients. 

Homemade Fire Cider

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Additional Time: 1 month

Total Time: 1 month 20 minutes

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Ingredients

• 64 oz jar with lid, sterilized
• 2.5 cups of apple cider vinegar
• 1 pomegranate
• 1 orange
• 1 jalapeno
• 1 red onion
• 1/2 cup horseradish
• 1 lime
• 1 lemon
• 2 inch knob of ginger
• 2 inch fresh turmeric root
• 2 TBS rose hips
• 2 TBS elderberries (boil these in water for 10 min and strain, first)
• 1-2 sprigs of thyme
• 1 sprig of rosemary
• 8 cloves of garlic
• 1 pinch black pepper
• 1.5 cups of honey

Instructions

1. Chop onion, jalapeno, garlic into large rough chunks
2. Grate turmeric, horseradish, ginger
3. Slice lemon, lime, and orange
4. Add all ingredients to jar, except apple cider vinegar. While adding, smash ingredients with a muddler.
5. Pour apple cider vinegar over ingredients to cover.
6. Shake well
7. Cover and set on counter for 4-6 weeks.
8. Strain through a cheesecloth lined strainer
9. Store liquid in glass bottle
10. Drink 1-2 tablespoons a day alone, add to tea, soups, stews, etc.