As the name suggests, fire cider is not for the faint-hearted. Pungent, spicy, sour and sweet, this folk herbal remedy certainly packs a punch.
Sound a bit intimidating? Don’t worry – not only does this fiery drink taste great, it’s also unbelievably good for you.
As a folk recipe, there are countless variations, but most fire cider recipes include a good helping of turmeric, garlic, citrus, garlic and onion – all infused in apple cider vinegar.
So why drink it? Well apart from being tasty, the combination of vinegar and circulation-boosting ingredients makes for a naturally invigorating drink with a whole host of health benefits. From the antimicrobial properties of cider vinegar to the immune-boosting benefits of turmeric, here’s a lowdown on fire cider’s top ingredients:
Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
To make fire cider, you’ll have to infuse everything in apple cider vinegar for a month. Long used in herbal medicine, apple cider vinegar has attracted a lot of attention by the modern medical community in recent years. And for good reason. The antimicrobial properties of vinegar have been known for centuries, but recent studies have shown that it could also support weight loss, improve absorption of food and control blood sugar levels.
Hot Peppers
There’s a reason people have eaten hot peppers for at least 9,000 years. Not only do chillies add great flavor to food, but they also boast some impressive health benefits. Studies have shown that capsaicin – the alkaloid responsible for the spicy flavor in hot peppers – may play a role in digestive health, cardiovascular health and even long-term cancer prevention.
In this fire cider recipe, we use cayenne pepper – a powerful compound with anti-irritant, anti-fungal and antibacterial properties.
Turmeric
Used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine, turmeric is now making a name for itself in the western world. Packed full of Curcumin – the compound that gives it its distinctive yellow color – turmeric has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Although nutritionists are still conducting research into the exact health benefits of turmeric, it has been linked to the prevention of diseases such as arthritis, Alzheimer’s, and even some cancers.
It’s not difficult to see why fire cider is such a powerful herbal remedy. Packed full of time-tested superfood ingredients, it’s as versatile as it is healthy. And as a bonus, it’s great fun to make.
Fire Cider Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup fresh grated horseradish root
- 10 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
- 1 red onion, finely chopped
- 2 organic jalapeno peppers, chopped
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- 1 lime, zested and juiced
- 1/2 cup freshly grated ginger root
- 1 tbsp organic turmeric powder
- 1/4 tsp organic cayenne powder
- 4 cinnamon sticks, broken
- 6-7 cups organic apple cider vinegar
- ⅔ cup raw local honey to taste
Directions
Whisk together the honey, lemon and lime juice, and apple cider vinegar until completely blended
Prepare all of your roots, fruits, and herbs and place them in a quart-sized jar, along with the vinegar mixture. Remember to use a piece of natural parchment paper under the lid to keep the vinegar from touching the metal.
Shake well. Store in a dark, cool place for a month. Shake every day and rotate the jar so that it’s standing on its lid one day, and its bottom the next.
When it’s ready, use a cheesecloth to strain the liquid into a clean jar. Make sure you give the cloth a good squeeze to get all of the liquid out. Next, give it a taste and add more honey until you reach the desired sweetness.
Variations
The beauty of fire cider is that it’s so versatile – just mix up the ingredients to suit your tastes and health needs. Here’s a suggestion for some of the other herbs and spices you can include in your next batch.
Star anise, burdock, peppercorns, beetroot powder, grapefruit, thyme, rosemary, parsley, whole chili peppers.
