What Is Fire Cider? How to Make This Flaming Concoction

Nowadays, more people are interested in holistic health than they have been in recent decades. The pandemic is partly the reason, as many wanted to avoid going to a hospital and risk catching COVID-19. In 2020, nearly half of Americans said they tried a home remedy so they didn’t have to go to the ER. Naturally, people want to avoid getting sick because no one likes feeling ill — luckily, one drink may be able to give the immune system a boost. What is fire cider?

What Is Fire Cider?

Fire cider is an herbal tonic that supposedly helps boost the immune system. Inventor, herbalist and teacher Rosemary Gladstar came created the blend with her students in the late 1970s as a solution to thriving in Northern California’s long winters. The mixture contains onion, horseradish, ginger, garlic, honey and hot peppers, all steeped in apple cider vinegar.

There are many variations of fire cider now, but these were the original ingredients. Gladstar published the recipe in 1981 and it took on a life of its own from there. One company did attempt to trademark fire cider — taking down independent sellers offering their tonic on sites like Etsy — but the case went to trial and was officially unsuccessful in 2019.

How to Make Fire Cider

Once people learn “What is fire cider?”, they will likely be intrigued about trying it. What could this firey concoction taste like? As stated before, everyone has their own favorite way to make it, as that’s what happens in herbal medicine. However, there appears to be a somewhat standard recipe now.

Start by grabbing all the necessary ingredients — apple cider vinegar, garlic, ginger, horseradish, onion, hot peppers of choice, honey, parsley, rosemary, thyme, turmeric, black peppercorns and lemon. Obviously, a lot of those aren’t in the original recipe, but they help with the taste. This recipe also calls for allspice berries, a cinnamon stick and some whole cloves, which should also brighten the flavor.

All that’s left to do is prep the ingredients — such as halfing the hot peppers and chopping and peeling the onion — and adding them to a one-quart jar. Fill the container with raw apple cider vinegar so it covers one or two inches of the vegetables and herbs, and replace the lid. Then, let everything sit for a few weeks. Shake the jar daily and drink up once those flavors incorporate.

The Health Benefits of Fire Cider

Now that the tonic’s ready, new drinkers are probably interested in what it can do. Does fire cider have any health benefits? While there aren’t currently any studies regarding the associated reasons to take fire cider, its ingredients certainly have proven positives.

All the standard herbs and vegetables have benefits such as:

• Anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties
• Congestion relief
• Ability to lower blood pressure, cholesterol and chances of cancer
• Antioxidants
• Digestive aid
• Stomach relief

These benefits will be a boon when cold and flu season comes around. Just be sure to consume it carefully — apple cider vinegar is quite acidic, so many herbalists take just one or two tablespoons a day, potentially in water. Additionally, honey can be bad for young children, so wait until they’re a bit older to introduce them to the illness-defeating properties of fire cider.

Drink This Firey Tonic to Improve Your Health

What is fire cider? It’s a delicious, nutrition-packed tonic that can help the body before and during illness. Consider starting a jar of it today to unlock the benefits in just a month or so.