My Favorite Homemade Fire Cider Recipe

This Homemade Fire Cider Recipe makes a sweet & spicy tonic that boosts your immune system and stimulates digestion. It also helps you fight off colds and flu, improves circulation and acts as a natural decongestant. Learn how to make fire cider and how it benefits you!

Want more natural remedies? Be sure to try my Homemade Elderberry Syrup too!

My Homemade Fire Cider Recipe

Ok. The past year ACV or Apple Cider Vinegar has been all the rage. People take 1 oz. shots of it daily to aid with digestion, support immune health and even help with weight loss. Well, now Fire Cider is the next best thing.

This pungent fiery concoction is a powerhouse of anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory superheroes. Just think of it as apple cider vinegar and kombucha on steroids! Take a daily shot of it or mix it into other drinks for a sweet and spicy flavorful burst.

What is Fire Cider?

Fire Cider is a blend of herbs and spicy vegetables that are fermented with apple cider vinegar, then strained and mixed with honey for a sweet and spicy liquid. It’s an old school natural remedy that has been use for its health-enhancing properties for hundreds of years.

The most common way to make fire cider is with apple cider vinegar that’s infused with warming herbs like horseradish, garlic, onion, ginger, and hot peppers. You can also add other components for health benefits like turmeric, rosemary, cinnamon, citrus or anything else you desire.

What Are the Benefits of Fire Cider?

Fire Cider Tonic is said to restore our immune systems. It’s used to fight colds and the flu. Many people also believe it aids digestion, curbs food cravings, eases sinus congestion and boosts energy levels. It helps with inflammation, fights viruses and bacterial infections, contains an array of antioxidants and supports our immune system.  All in all it’s a lover and a fighter!

Fire Cider Ingredients

Fire Cider packs an immune punch and all the credit goes to each ingredient used in this recipe. Fair warning: it’s a heap of ingredients but each one is essential and has nutritional value.

You can make this fire cider as spicy as you want. That’s the best part about this recipe, it’s curated to your taste buds. Here are the ingredients I chose to use in my fire cider recipe. 

Herbs and Spices

• Horseradish: Fresh horseradish is key. Do not use the prepared horseradish. It is the #1 herb for combating headaches and sinus congestions. You can use grated horseradish or diced horseradish. Just be sure to peel the skin.
• Cinnamon Sticks: Cinnamon has been used for thousands of years to help support immune health. It is loaded with antioxidants, has anti-inflammatory properties and helps fight bacterial and fungal infections.
• Star Anise: This licorice tasting spice was using in traditional Chinese medicine and is used to treat respiratory infections, nausea, constipation and other digestive issues
• Black Peppercorns: Commonly used to flavor food, this spice has multiple health benefits. It helps reduce inflammation, is high in antioxidants, helps control blood sugar and lower cholesterol levels. 
• Ginger: This spicy herb is known to relieve nausea, reduce pain, aid with digestion and inflammation as well as support cardiovascular health. 
• Rosemary: This herb is said to help boost the immune system and improve blood circulation. It is a rich source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds.
• Thyme: One of my favorite fresh herbs to use in cooking! It’s packed with vitamin C and vitamin A. When you feel a little cold coming on, fresh thyme or thyme oil is a great thing to take to boost your immune system. It’s a good source of copper, fiber, iron, manganese and a bacterial fighter.

Vegetables

• Garlic Cloves: Adding garlic to fire cider helps you reap the benefits of stronger bones, reduced blood pressure, lower cholesterol and immune system support especially during cold and flu season.
• Yellow Onion: This vegetable is loaded with nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin B, folate and potassium. It is rich in anti-oxidants and has antibacterial properties.
• Jalapeños: These spicy peppers are rich in vitamins A and C and potassium. They also are known to have antioxidants that may help fight damage to your cells. They also have folate, vitamin K, and B vitamins. They’re not just a spicy bite, they are loaded with goodness. 

Citrus Fruits

• Orange: This flavorful citrus is notorious for Vitamin C, Vitamin A and high levels of Calcium! Oranges make it easier for your body to absorb iron and help fight against anemia. It also boosts your body’s immune system so that it’s easier to fight against sickness. 
• Lemon: Another citrus fruit that has a high amount of vitamin C and fiber. Lemons are also said to aid in weight loss and digestive issues as well as reduce risk of heart disease.

Honey and Vinegar

• Raw Honey: There is a lot to be said about local raw honey. First off it definitely helps with local outdoor allergies. But honey is also high in antioxidants, helps lower blood pressure, improves cholesterol and can help suppress cough.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: This pungent vinegar is known for its healing properties. It’s great for digestion, immunity, anti-bacterial properties, great for weight loss and contains antioxidants. 

How to Make Fire Cider

Fire Cider is something that you will not be able to use immediately. It takes at least 3 weeks to ferment and  let the herbs soak into the apple cider vinegar. It can sit up to 6  weeks.

Follow these instructions to make your own homemade fire cider:

1. To a large sealable jar, add horseradish, ginger, garlic, onion, jalapeno, cinnamon sticks, star anise, peppercorns, orange, lemon, rosemary and thyme. Gently press ingredients down. Cover with apple cider vinegar until everything is completely submerged.
2. Seal the jar (if you’re using a metal lid, place a piece of parchment paper between jar and lid to prevent a corrosive reaction with vinegar).
3. Store in a cool, dark place, shaking for a few seconds every day or two, at least 3 weeks and up to 6 weeks.
4. After 3 weeks, strain through a cheesecloth or a fine-mesh sieve. Throw the solids out. Then stir the honey in.  Fire Cider should be stored in a sealed container in refrigerator up to 1 month.

What does Fire Cider Taste Like?

I know the mixture of all these herbs, roots, vegetables and fresh citrus sounds… interesting to say the least. So what does it taste like? Well, it’s kinda like a mixture of pickle juice and kombucha.  

How to Store Fire Cider

Infuse your fire cider in an air tight container (a mason jar or weck jar) and place it in a dry cool dark place. After a minimum of 3 weeks, strain the larger pieces through a sieve or fine mesh strainer. Keep the finished fire cider in an air tight container in the refrigerator. Homemade fire cider will last up to 24 months if stored properly.

How to Use Fire Cider

Most people drink fire cider in its natural state. That means just a 1 to 2 oz. “shot” once a day is great for immune support. If you don’t want to drink it in “shot” form there are other ways to use this tonic:

• Use as a Marinade. Use this flavorful concoction as a marinade for meats.
• Spice up your Cocktail. Add a shot of this to your next Bloody Mary for a fiery kick.
• Mix it. Stir this nutrient dense tonic to your tea or fruit juice for an extra boost of immunity.
• Salad Dressing. Just mix with a little olive oil and use it as a salad dressing.

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