Do you make your own fire cider? It is an amazing remedy to keep in your apothecary!
I’ve been making it for a few years now and my family loves having it on hand whenever we start to get the sniffles. It’s a great benefit when you are getting a cold, the flu or any other virus.
Each year, I make it a little differently and this year, I made a citrus base that I hope with be a bit more palatable than the herb/spice mix I made last year.
It was a little too onion-y for my taste!
But, fire cider has so many incredible health benefits that I pushed past my distaste for onions and drank it anyway.
So, this year, I was determined to make it a more flavorful drink that would still provide us with the immune boosting support, but wouldn’t be so onion-y.
In fact, I left the onions out all together this time…
The amazing thing about Fire Cider, is you can add pretty much any fruits, spices and herbs you like. I like to stick with those that have their own immune boosting properties. So, this year, my mix includes…
- Lemons
- Oranges
- Limes
- Horseradish
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Spices
- Herbs from my garden
I highly recommend the book Fire Cider by Rosemary Gladstar and Friends! It contains a ton of different recipes to make fire cider, plus there is a bunch of recipes to use fire cider in your everyday cooking, too!
What is Fire Cider Good For?
Lots of things!
Let’s start with the whole of it…
Strengthening your immune system…
Relieves nasal congestion…
Reduces cough…
Promotes digestion…
Warms your body from the inside out on a cold day…
Now, let’s talk ingredients…
Apple Cider Vinegar is antimicrobial and antibacterial…meaning it kills all the things.
Ginger is used to remedy all sorts of digestive ailments, asthma, arthritis, inflammation and more!
Garlic is a wonder medicine! It’s antiviral, antimicrobial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory.
Horseradish has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, plus it is known to “clear the sinuses” from any congestion.
Lemons, Limes and Oranges are packed full of Vitamin C and fiber, plus they contain Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Calcium, Potassium, Folate and more! Citrus fruits are known to reduce inflammation, lower risk of kidney stones, reduce the severity of colds, lower cholesterol and boost the production of collagen in your skin.
Rosemary is antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral. It helps boost the immune system and reduces the risk of infection. Rosemary is also good for sore muscles, headache, stomachache and fatigue.
Lemon Balm is another wonder herb that helps remedy all kinds of ailments. Read my post on Lemon Balm here.
Cinnamon is antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal. It is packed full of antioxidants, reduces inflammation and more.
Cloves contain tons of antioxidants and fiber. They are also anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. Cloves help reduce oral pain, boost the immune system and aid in digestion.
These are the bulk of the medicinal herbs I’ve used in my Fire Cider. However, please know that you can add almost any spices and herbs that you like for flavor or increased medicinal benefits.
In the meantime, here’s my fire cider recipe for this year:
Citrus Fire Cider
Ingredients
- 2 lemons, sliced
- 2 oranges, sliced
- 4 limes, sliced
- 2 to 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 3 tablespoons ginger, chopped
- 1 tablespoon horseradish
- 2 sprigs each; rosemary, lemon balm, cinnamon basil
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon each; cloves, allspice, nutmeg
- 1 quart raw, organic apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients, except vinegar, in a half gallon jar.
- Pour apple cider vinegar over the rest of the ingredients.
- Cover the jar with a tight fitting lid. Shake.
- Leave the jar in a warm, shady area in your kitchen or pantry and let it "brew" for 4 to 6 weeks. Shake daily.
- After the brew time, strain, reserving the liquid.
- Store liquid in a clean, glass jar in the refrigerator.
- Take 1 ounce as needed to boost your immune system.
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Have an Awesome Day!
~Vanessa
Vanessa Hamlin is the owner and founder of Food Life Design and VLHamlinDesign. With her passion for frugal living and homesteading, Vanessa loves to write about easy recipes, making money, gardening, home remedies and everything else that a good life entails! When she’s not writing for Food Life Design or creating products for VLHamlinDesign, you’ll find Vanessa reading, drawing, gardening, cooking or spending time with her family.