Fire cider is an old folk remedy said to promote good health and help prevent colds. It’s hot, spicy, and sweet. The tangy infusion is made with apple cider vinegar, chili, garlic, onion, herbs, citrus fruits, and a little sweetener to take the edge off. It's a spicy tonic that's perfect for winter, whether you're drinking it to cure a cold or to spice up your cocktail.
You can take fire cider as a shot (or dilute in warm water), add to soups and chilli, use as a dressing or a marinade for tofu. It requires a little patience as there’s several weeks of waiting for it to achieve maximum potency but it’s worth it. All the ingredients in fire cider are said to have health benefits. I don’t know if that's true or not but it's deliciously punchy tasting nonetheless.
There’s different variations of how to make fire cider. I skipped the horseradish because it’s not something I usually keep at home. It tastes just fine without it and it’s safe to say you can adjust this recipe as you see fit. More citrus, less garlic, heavy on the maple - whatever you prefer. If you’d like to try making your own fire cider, follow my recipe below and you can find more natural health remedies here.
Fire Cider Ingredients
2-4 cloves garlic, peeled and diced
1/2 onion, peeled and diced
3-inch piece of ginger, peeled and diced
3-inch piece fresh turmeric (or 2 tsp dried), peeled and diced
1 chili, sliced
1 orange, squeezed and quartered
1 lemon, squeezed and quartered
2-4 sprigs (or 2 tbsp dried) of rosemary
2-4 sprigs (or 2 tbsp dried) of thyme
1 tsp black peppercorns
1 tsp coriander seeds
1-3 cups raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar
1/4 to 1/2 cup maple or agave syrup, or more to taste
Fire Cider Recipe
Add all ingredients to a wide neck bottle or a jar
Pour in the apple cider vinegar until it covers the ingredients
Stir well
Leave in a cool, dark place for 3-6 weeks, shaking daily
Strain into a clean bottle or jar
Add maple or agave to taste
Refrigerate
