I have a special treat for you today — a recipe for an herbal remedy that combines gut-supporting apple cider vinegar with powerful herbs to give you a big immunity boost… I’m talking about Fire Cider!
Apple cider vinegar is a jack-of-all-trades that brings your body back into homeostasis by introducing healthy bacteria to your microbiome — which largely controls the health of your immune system.
When you add more healing herbs to the mix – like garlic, ginger, turmeric, horseradish, cayenne, and other goodies, you get a strong (and delicious) wellness shot that prevents illness and shortens your recovery time if you’re already feeling sick.
My dear friend and world-renowned herbalist Rosemary Gladstar created Fire Cider in the early 1980s and then taught it to apprentices and students. Fire Cider eventually became popular across the country and is now a staple in herbalists’ pantries world-wide.
To honor this remedy, the amazing Tara Lanich-LaBrie created the beautiful DIY Fire Cider video below.
*Further down, you’ll also find a list of ingredients and how to whip up this spicy elixir!
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup horseradish, minced
- ¼ cup onion, chopped
- ⅛ – ¼ cup garlic, minced
- ⅛ cup fresh grated turmeric
- ⅛ cup grated ginger
- ¼ cup calendula
- ¼ – ½ cup honey
- Apple cider vinegar
- A couple sprigs of rosemary
- 1 cinnamon stick
- Cayenne to taste
- 1-quart glass jar
Here’s how to make it:
- Chop up all ingredients (the smaller the better, so the vinegar can more easily extract all of the healing properties) and place in a glass jar
- Cover vegetables/herbs with apple cider vinegar
- Cover the jar opening with wax paper, then screw on the top
- Shake it up!
- Place in a cool, dark place for at least 4 weeks
- Strain out the dregs, so that your just left with the liquid
- Mix together, re-fasten the lid and store in your refrigerator
We do 1 TSP per day to prevent illness or 1 TBSP per day if we’re feeling symptoms of the cold/flu.
*If you resonated with Tara’s passion and culinary brilliance, check out more of her amazing videos and recipes on Instagram here – https://www.instagram.com/themedicinecircle
Stay curious,
Nick Polizzi
Host of Healing Kitchen: Let Food Be Thy Medicine
& Founder of The Sacred Science
23 Responses
How long will this keep? Does it need refrigerating? Can it be frozen? It sounds amazing. Thank you!
This is GREAT stuff! I have made the original recipe and am using it still. Once made and strained, how long should it keep, and under what conditions….refrigerated or not?
I am also glad to see that I don’t HAVE to grate fresh horseradish myself. That was a LIFE altering experience last time!!!! Did not know it was THAT potent!
Thank you for Rosemary Gladstars recipe for Fire Cider. I’ve been making Elderberry Tonic and will now add Fire Cider to my pantry
I’ve had a jar of Fire cider in my kitchen for over a year, NOT refrigerated. Vinegar normally keeps on the shelf without refrigeration, so I’m comfortable leaving it out. I’ve also had homemade Elderberry Tonic (also with raw AC vinegar and raw organic honey) ipened and in my refrigerator for 2 years & it’s still good.
IF using raw organic honey, there’s no need to heat it all (heat destroys natural enzymes). It will eventually dissolve into the vinegar. THIS IS PEOPLES MEDICINE and first line of defense to take control of our own health. Thanks for sharing Rosemary’s recipe Nick!
Started making this last year. I take a 1T. a day throughout November – March. It’s my “flu” shot. Haven’t had a cold or flu since I began making and taking it. I also take 1 t. of elderberry syrup daily during the “cold and flu” season.
Hi! While this sounds like an amazing recipe for health, I have to wonder what the acid in the apple cider plus the lemon is doing to the enamel of ones teeth. IMO, even at a ratio of a tbsp a day, I would recommend using a straw to bypass the teeth. I wouldn’t want to sacrifice my teeth for anything…even gut Flora!
Cheers,
Peg
I want to make this. Where can we find Calendula in the winter?
Calendula in a dried form is available from Amazon. If you’re on Amazon Prime, you won’t have to pay postage, since that is included in the Prime subscription.
I make Fire Cider every fall, straight from Rosemary’s book Medicinal Herbs. After about a month of steeping, I transfer it to a dark glass jug and keep it in the kitchen at room temperature. Every time I feel a little run-down, I take a few shots throughout the day, and I swear it prevents almost any illness from taking hold! So versatile too-you can add or subtract herbs and spices if you don’t have them on hand, as long as you have the main ones in there: garlic, ginger, horseradish, and onion.
I have a question. After the 4 weeks is up, the fire cider is strained, and the honey is added, does this have to be refrigerated?
Thank you Nick for making this available to us and arming us to fight naturally against the bad bugs… when we need it and to live well. What a potent concoction! I’m a fan. Btw for those, like myself, who worry about the enamel on their teeth with apple cider vinegar, my solution, take it in capsule forms. It works too.
Hey Nick. Thanks for this tried and true recipe. I will gather these ingredients together and make it. Four weeks to brew, better do this STAT
Great preventative and healing recipe… fantastic information! Thank you!
I’d love to know if a person should peel(scrape) the ginger skin off before grating? Perhaps the ginger skin is healthy and washing it may be enough? I do it both ways since I’m never sure, perhaps you can shed some light. Thank you!
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I used dried dandelions I picked instead🌻 would b tough to find fresh calendula but I pick lots of dandelions every year. Looking forward to trying this cider once its ready!
This is similar to something I made, many years ago, based on a traditional Chinese recipe. My own included dried tangerine peel (available from Chinese stores), but lacked the horseradish, turmeric, and calendula. Two women (my sister-in-law and her friend) tried it, and testified to its efficacy. Each one added that it made them feel horny! “If I wasn’t so ill, your brother would really be getting it!” Go easy on the chilli – its intensity increases over time with steeping.
Thank you Nick. It is refreshing that you include the ingredients and how to make this. No “pills” to buy or commercial that requires a subscription. YOU ROCK!
I have added lemon zest and a lemon. Been making for decades and swear by it. I keep in fridge a year. Sorry if picky but for education in food prep’ good to tie hair back.
I’m confused by the last instruction (#7). What are you mixing together? You just separated the dregs from the liquid. Should we mix the dregs back in with the liquid. This doesn’t seem right but all you have to ‘mix together’ are the liquid and the dregs. Also, I am allergic to honey. What is your suggested replacement?
do you have any books on these remedies books not e books for sale?
Brain health remedies please
I noticed this recipe is different than the one from the Healing Kitchen Series. The amounts are different and lemon and orange slices are eliminated and cinnamon is added. Is there a reason for the differences?