Fire cider is one of my favorite traditional herbal tonics.
It’s spicy, tangy, a little bit sweet, and has a big kick to it!
This traditional recipe is beloved by many people and has made a powerful legacy for itself that has impacted the entire herbal community forever.
The popular recipe was created by the inspiring herbalist Rosemary Gladstar over 40 years ago, and many variations have been made by fans of the remedy for decades.
However, fire cider created controversy a few years ago when a small herbal business that was selling the bottled tonic decided to trademark the name “fire cider”.
Unfortunately, this created a situation in which trademark holders must legally defend their trademark by suing other businesses who use the name, and suddenly community herbalists who had been selling fire cider for years at farmer’s markets and coops got served with massive lawsuits.
A trio of fire cider makers and Rosemary Gladstar all came together to defend the right for herbalists and businesses to make and sell fire cider.
After 5 years, the courts finally agreed that fire cider is officially a “generic” term and cannot be trademarked, because it is a traditional remedy with long-standing proof of use by many people.
This is a landmark case that protects the ability of people to make traditional herbal remedies and to sell them.
Making fire cider is a fantastic way to support your wellness, especially during winter and seasonal changes.
Plus, it’s a radical act of preserving the legacy of independent herbal recipe making!
Fire cider can be sipped, taken in a shot glass, or used in salad dressings and many other recipes.
It’s a classic apple cider vinegar remedy made by infusing chopped up herbs, roots, veggies, and even fruits, straining after a few weeks, and adding honey.
Rosemary Gladstar’s original recipe calls for onions, garlic, ginger, horseradish, cayenne, apple cider vinegar, and honey.
In this fire cider, I also added fresh grated turmeric to boost the health benefits of the recipe, plus black peppercorns, which work synergistically with the turmeric.
I’ve also used a fresh jalepeno pepper instead of cayenne, and added slices of organic lemon and orange for additional flavor and support.
One of the things I love about fire cider is that it’s an easily adaptable recipe.
You can add different things to it, such as fresh herbs, and often it’s a slightly different elixir each time depending on how one chooses to vary the ratio of ingredients.
Have fun with it and don’t worry about measuring too exactly.
I just try to get as much awesome ingredients into the jar as I can while still having the vinegar cover it all.
Fire Cider Recipe with Turmeric
This spicy vinegar tonic will fire up your spirit!
Use organic ingredients when possible.
Ingredients
1 red onion
10 cloves of garlic
1 jalepeno pepper
Ginger root, 3-5 inches
Horseradish root, 3-5 inches
Turmeric root, 3-5 inches
1/2 tsp. black peppercorns
1 small lemon
1 half orange
Apple cider vinegar
1/2 c. raw honey
Instructions
In a wide-mouth quart glass jar, layer your ingredients.
Chopped the onion, mince the garlic, and wash and slice the jalepeno pepper.
Peel and grate the horseradish root, ginger root, and turmeric root.
Wash and slice the lemon and orange.
Add 1/2 tsp. black peppercorns.
Fill the jar with apple cider vinegar, make sure it covers all the ingredients.
Cover with a lid, if using a metal jar lid, place a piece of parchment paper in between the vinegar and the lid before closing tight.
Store in a dark cupboard for 4 to 6 weeks.
Strain and add honey, stir well.
Tip: if your honey is solid, warm it gently by placing the container in a bath of warm water to help it liquify before adding it to the vinegar, so as to help it dissolve.
Recommended Supplies
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You can take a sip or shot of Fire Cider straight anytime you want to enjoy it’s benefits.
It can also be adding to a cup of hot water and more honey to taste, to sip and drink.
Try it on a salad with extra-virgin olive oil.
There are also lots of ideas for recipes in Rosemary Gladstar and friends’ book Fire Cider!
Herbal Books by Rosemary Gladstar
Have fun making fire cider!
It’s one of the best recipes to have in the cupboard through the winter and year round.
Herbs are an incredible blessing for our nourishment and health!
Many blessings,
Kara Maria
Recipes
Kara Maria Ananda
herbal, recipe, self-care, herbs, fire cider, immune support, herbal healing
