DIY Fire Cider

Fire Cider. Just the name itself evokes images of women brewing medicine around the fireduring the crisp days of autumn, laughing and talking and preparing for the winter ahead. A potent medicine for the winter months, this apple cider vinegar brew is jammed packed with herbs, roots, and vegetables to give the immune system a boost and keep illness at bay. It is an easy medicine to make at home once you have gathered your ingredients. This simple act of making your own medicine will leave you feeling empowered and keep you healthy through the long winter ahead.

As an age-old folk medicine fire cider is one of those remedies that lends itself to a healthy amount of interpretation. Over the years it has taken on many personas, usually determined by the area in which it is made, the family making it, and the influences of the season it is made in. It is traditionally put up in fall or early winter with the harvest, though it can be made at any time of year and used as a daily tonic or kept until the cold season when it is needed as a more acute remedy.

No matter when, where, or whom makes it, there are a few ingredients that are steadfast. Create your base using the recipe below, then open the rest of the ingredients up to your whims.

Traditional Fire Cider

1 quart apple cider vinegar (learn how to make your own here)

½ c grated fresh horseradish root

½ c grated raw onion

1/8 c grated fresh ginger root

5-8 cloves garlic, crushed and roughly chopped with skins still on

½-1 tsp cayenne pepper powder or one fresh hot pepper of choice, chopped

Now, get creative. Choose a few additional ingredients to personalize your cider, keeping in mind the synergistic blending of flavors. Below are some groupings of flavors I enjoy to get you started:

1 tbls dried Hawthorn berries

1 tbls dried Hibiscus petals

1 tbls fresh pomegranate seeds

½ cup fresh basil

A twist or two of orange or lemon peel

A few sprigs fresh rosemary, thyme, and/or oregano

A few whole peppercorns

A sundried tomato, chopped

A twist or two of lemon peel

¼ c grated fresh turmeric or 1 tsp dried

¼ tsp cinnamon powder

A couple cardamom pods

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 tsp coriander seeds

A twist or two of orange peel

To Make

1. Place all ingredients except vinegar in a ½ gallon (2 qt) mason jar or similar glass container. You can layer the herbs, roots, fruits, and vegetables or mix them all up, whichever you fancy.

2. Pour the vinegar over your creation, using a chopstick to allow air bubbles to escape from the nooks and crannies. The vinegar should come to about a ½ inch above the top of the ingredients.

3. Cap with a plastic lid as the vinegar will corrode the metal ones over time. Plastic lids for mason jars are easily found at hardware and grocery stores, or online if necessary.

4. Now place your fire cider in a darkish spot where you might see it on a daily basis, such as a cabinet you keep dishes in, this way you will not forget to shake it every once in awhile to agitate the ingredients and release more medicinal magic from within! Let your concoction sit for at least one full moon cycle or 4 weeks before using. If you can leave it for longer the medicine will mature and become even stronger. I leave mine for up to 12 weeks before straining, skimming a bit off the top for use as needed.

To Use

Hot Toddy for the Cold and Flu Season: 2 tbls Fire cider mixed into a mug of warm water with a bit of raw honey and a squeeze of fresh lemon

Salad Dressing/Marinade: Use as you would plain vinegar in your favorite recipes