Homemade Fire Cider Recipe

What is Fire Cider?

Fire cider has been long touted as an herbal remedy for generations, said to combat the flu and even the common cold among other things, including aiding digestion and boosting the immune system.

We became interested in Fire Cider tonic because Patty had developed some stomach ailments related to digestive problems and we were looking for something more natural to help her.

It is typically made with raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar containing "The Mother", which is a collection of  proteins and friendly bacteria that assists with digestion.

The vineger is infused with onion, ginger, horseradish, peppers, garlic and fruits, though you'll find that some recipes vary in the specific ingredients and ratios.

Fire Cider Ingredients

• Fresh Horseradish Root.
• Ginger Root.
• Turmeric Root.
• Garlic.
• Pepper Mash. You can use fresh peppers for making fire cider, but we enjoy the additional benefits of fermented peppers, or pepper mash. Use any hot peppers you like, or omit for a milder version. Cayenne pepper is a nice addition for extra heat.
• Citrus. Orange and lemon, though you can use others.
• Black Peppercorns.
• Raw Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar. With "The Mother".
• Honey. If you desire a touch of sweetness, use 1-2 tablespoons raw honey.

How to Make Fire Cider - The Recipe Method

Making homemade fire cider is quite simple. In a nutshell, you'll scrub and peel all of your root vegetables, and scrub all of the fruits.

Everything gets chopped or diced, then set into a couple of large sealable jars.

Pour raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar over the ingredients and give them a solid shake.

Set it into a cool, dark place and let the vinegar become infused with the ingredients for about a month or so.

As mentioned, ingredients can vary, as long as they are healthy and natural, such as fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices.

With fire cider, you have a natural drink that helps boost the immune system during cold and flu season.

You can easily adjust the sweet-sour balance - just add honey as desired.

Using Fire Cider

I can tell you, it's great stuff on a cold winter day. Take a shot of it and feel the warmth from the spicy chili peppers.

If you feel it will be too spicy, you can easily cut back on or omit the peppers, though I would encourage you to keep them for the great Health Benefits of Chili Peppers.

You can also incorporate it into other foods and drinks, like tea or with your salad dressing.

Fire Cider Variations

You can use different fresh herbs, spices and root vegetables in your fire cider recipe. If a particular ingredient doesn't agree with you, such as onions or horseradish, omit them and replace them with something more palatable.

Consider the world of herbs available to you, other spice powders, berries, fruits, and of course, the entire world of chili pepper types out there.

How Long does Fire Cider Keep and Should it Be Refrigerated?

Fire cider will last many, many months, as it is basically infused vinegar or herbal vinegar.

I keep ours in the fridge where it will last almost indefinitely, though it really only lasts a few months TOPS for me.

Patty's Perspective

"The biggest reason I wanted to make this is because of my recent digestive issues. I wasn't sure how well it would work for me, but was pleasantly surprised (if not ecstatic) at how well it is working for me.

Now I have little to no symptoms and have been able to cut back on other pills I was taking. It's a big relief. Highly recommended. We plan to keep experimenting mainly with flavors.

I even took it with us on vacation, it's that good for me."