As the weather takes a turn for the chillier side of things, it’s nice to have a little something firey to warm things up and ward off germs. When I’m feeling under the weather, I like having natural cold remedies to rely on. All the better if I’ve made them myself. Rosemary Gladstar’s fire cider has been a pantry staple for herbalists for years and I first learned to make it last year when I was still working at the farm. It was a cold-weather savior around this tiny apartment last winter, and we’re hoping for a repeat this year.
The concoction packs an impressive punch and just preparing these hard-working ingredients will do wonders to clear your sinuses. Honestly, prepare yourself for some tears. You can change the exact proportions of ingredients depending on your personal taste, but I used these ingredients and proportions:
1 part chopped onion
1 part grated horseradish root (fresh is better, even if it takes searching a few markets to find it)
1 part peeled and diced ginger
1 part garlic
2 cayenne peppers
Enough apple cider vinegar to cover the herbs (I used about 20 oz of Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar, my favorite)
After a month (or so) of letting everything sit pretty, strain (and discard!) all the herbs and add a few tablespoons of honey–enough to make the cider just a little bit sweet.
Once it’s steeped and strained, you can sip the stuff by the spoonful as a tonic to support immune function and ease winter cold symptoms.* When you need something a little smoother, mix it up with a bit of warm water and extra honey for a spicy tea. If you’re feeling adventurous, throw a dash or two on your braising greens for a spicy treat.
*Suffice to say, I’m no doctor and I’m not making any claims to the contrary, but I do hope you’ll consider making a little remedy of your own!
30 Comments
This is brilliant! I will definitely be making this soon! Especially since I'm coming down with a cold myself. I'll be enjoying a couple cups of spicy tea in December š
Thank you so much for the lovely post!
One of my best friends gave me fire cider a few years ago. I love the stuff! Thanks for the reminder and the recipe, Erin š
This sounds wonderful. My family is constantly kidding me for my "alternative" cold remedies. I will have to add this to my arsenal!
Thank you! This looks delicious! Can't wait to make it!
thanks for sharing this!!! i'm going to make this TODAY!
Mmm what a sweet remedy! My parents make a lot of home remedies for curing colds, too. This one seems perfect for the fall š
Stupid question (?) ..refrigerate while steeping or no?
Not stupid! In theory the vinegar should mean you don't need to refrigerate. I can just never get all my herbs to stay submerged, so I do, just in case.
hmm … total intrigue! must try this.
Must try this! Thank you for sharing!
This sounds fabulous!
Wow! My eyes are watering a little just reading about it here! I think i might try this. I could always use some heat during the damp winter months! š
I am SO excited to try this recipe. I discovered Fire Cider a few weeks back at the Union Square Farmer's Market and absolutely loved it. I think they will make lovely (and useful) winter gifts. Thank you for sharing.
So do you drink the liquid or eat the strained "stuff"? š
drink (sip) the liquid! discard all of the chopped materials after straining!
I probably won't be making this… but I love living vicariously through you! Beautiful photos!
Whipping up a batch of this over the coming weekend. Determined to go an entire winter of subway rides with no cough or sniffles!
Oh my goodness! I love this. How have I never heard of fire cider before? I feel like this is such a great gift for friends and neighbors who live in cold climates like us. I'm totally making a MASSIVE batch on my next day off and will bottle it for gifts. Is that weird? Maybe I'll gift this and a jar of homemade salted caramel to balance things out. Thanks, Erin, for the great idea! Hope you're well. Glad to hear you stayed safe through the storm. Thinking of you.
Swooning now. This is definitely on my holiday giftie list.
I love this idea! I already use cider as a remedy whenever I get a cold but I love the added spice!
I just made a jar up today to get me through this wet San Francisco winter. This was such a lovely reminder- every November I try to stock up on all the necessities for life's sniffles- frozen mirepoix and chicken stock for soup, hot toddy ingredients, elderberry-rose hip-echinacea cough syrup, and a goldenseal-echinacea tincture to hopefully ward off the worst of it. I think this will join these as a annual tradition.
Also for those who have trouble finding horseradish root- I found mine tucked neatly in with the parsnips and fennel at Whole Foods. They might be a good place to check, though you'll most likely have to identify it to your checker.
How long will this keep for once strained?
Hi Marie!
It lasts a really long time in the fridge–6 months or more–but you'll probably finish it long before then!
E.
My English grandmother always made a seasonal tonic with a base of apple cider vinegar. We add lemon, orange and tumeric to ours. The tumeric adds a host of beneficial properties.
That would be turmeric. (more coffee)
ha! Just added turmeric this morning!
Fantastic home remedy! Have shared on FB.
I'm so excited to try this except for one snag: I'm allergic to raw onion. Any advice for a substitution?
We are asking people who believe in our collective herbal heritage and knowledge and who wish to help preserve our herbal traditions, to make a difference by helping to lift the trademark from Fire Cider.
Question when you say one part how much are you talking about and then is it the same amounts for the other ingredients like the horseradish?
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