Fire Cider (Easy Homemade Recipe)

This recipe for Fire Cider is really easy to make and is awesome to have on hand to keep your immune system strong!

Winter is here! And while we all love winters because of the holiday season, festivities, hot chocolate, and ooey gooey melt-in-your-mouth cookies; there’s one thing that’s hard to avoid: seasonal sickness!

Every year, during the winter months, it’s officially cold and flu season. But, what if I tell you that I have a special tip up my sleeve to avoid it? I know you’re all ears at the moment because everyone hates getting ill, especially if you have kids.

Therefore, today I’ll be sharing a very special recipe with you: Homemade fire cider, a wellness tonic that boosts your immune system. Traditionally, Fire Cider is known as an herbal remedy that helps keep you and your whole family stay safe from flu, sore throats, and all sorts of illnesses that come with winter! 

I first learned of fire cider when I was looking at our local health food store for some homeopathic remedies when my husband, Tim, was fighting a cold. I came across Fire Cider and was intrigued. I bought a bottle, and guess what?! It worked! It didn’t taste fabulous, but it definitely helped fight whatever Tim was coming down with. I’ve used it every time I’ve felt a tingle in my throat and haven’t gotten sick yet.

The catch? It was quite expensive. I decided it was great to have on hand and I’d like to try to make my own to save money and share it with all of you.

Turns out, Fire Cider is really easy to make!

Recipe Ingredients–What You Need

The recipe for this fire tonic mostly includes common ingredients found in our kitchens; however, you might need to make a quick run to the grocery store to get fresh horseradish root and unpasteurized apple cider vinegar. 

Oranges

For this recipe, we need 2 good quality oranges. We will juice the oranges and use the skin for the zest. Oranges are known as nutritious powerhouses because they contain more than 100% of the total amount of Vitamin C we require in a day. The abundance of Vitamin C protects our skin and produces collagen that gives way to healthy and smooth skin. Other than this, oranges are a good source of fiber, calcium, potassium, iron, and natural folates, which are important for pregnant women as they help prevent birth defects.

Lemons

We also need the juice and zest of 1 lemon for this recipe. Although we’re using just one lemon, it still holds immense medicinal properties. For starters, it has a high amount of Vitamin C, plant compounds, and soluble fibers that aid in regulating blood sugar. Secondly, it is a great way to help with weight loss. Lemons are a good source of potassium and Vitamin B6 that help reduce blood pressure, lower the risk of heart diseases, and prevent kidney stones.

Onions

You will need 1 medium-sized chopped onion for this herbal tonic. While onions add taste and savoriness to this spicy tonic, they hold a lot of medicinal value as well. They are rich in potassium, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, and folate, making them a natural remedy for many health issues.

Plus, onions have a high amount of antioxidants and sulfur-containing compounds that reduce the risk of cancer, improve bone health, and lower blood sugar levels.

Ginger Root 

Ginger root is a spicy root that can be used in dried or powdered form; however, for this recipe, we will be using ½ a cup of sliced ginger root. This spice is quite famous in the herbalist community because it is used in many herbal remedies. It contains gingerol, which is the main bioactive compound behind ginger’s medicinal properties. Not only does it aids digestion, but it also helps fight flu and cold, which is the main reason we’re making this fire cider. Also, ginger root is a great addition to your diet to reduce weight, control nausea due to surgery or pregnancy, and help with osteoarthritis. 

Horseradish Root 

Horseradish root has been around for centuries and has been used as the main ingredient in many natural remedies. For this homemade fire cider recipe, we will need ½ a cup of fresh sliced horseradish root. Although this root is small in size, it is packed with nutrients including calcium, folate, manganese, magnesium, potassium, Vitamin C, and zinc. Its antibacterial properties kill harmful bacteria and treat urinary tract infections. Plus, it is a super food for the flu and the common cold as it clears out mucus and sinus passages. And that’s primarily why we’re adding horseradish root to this herbal medicine.

Turmeric Root 

If you’re looking for a nutrition-packed herb to ease symptoms of flu and cold, fresh turmeric is the answer! You will need ½ a cup of fresh sliced turmeric root for this recipe. Turmeric contains curcumin, which is a strong antioxidant and has robust anti-inflammatory effects. It has bioactive compounds with several medicinal properties including lowering the risk of heart diseases, metabolic syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, and other degenerative conditions. 

Garlic 

Ginger is well-known to enhance the taste of food, especially soups and tea. However, it is also used as a traditional folk remedy to treat the symptoms of flu and common colds. Using it in sliced, chopped, or crushed form releases Allicin, which is a power food that boosts your immune system. Therefore, we will add 10 crushed garlic cloves to this fire cider recipe. Apart from treating the flu, it also helps reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Plus, garlic’s antibiotic properties are the main reason it is used in traditional recipes to cure viral infections. 

Habanero Pepper 

Habanero pepper is a part of the capsicum family and is packed with nutrition and health benefits. We will add one chopped habanero pepper to our recipe. These chili peppers lower LDL cholesterol, aid in weight loss, prevent cancer, control blood pressure, and help manage diabetes. However, if you can’t find habanero pepper, you can use cayenne pepper, black pepper, chile pepper, hot sauce, or any available hot peppers as an alternative. Peppers of all kinds help clear sinus passages, making them quite effective for flu and cold. 

Apple Cider Vinegar 

Here comes the main ingredient for the fire cider recipe: Apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar has so many health benefits that I could write a book on it! It has antimicrobial and antioxidant effects, plus it is rich in acetic acid and contains a small amount of potassium. Many say that using 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with a cup of hot water daily is highly beneficial for weight loss, and lowering cholesterol, and blood sugar. For this recipe, we need raw apple cider vinegar, enough to cover all the ingredients in the quart jar. You can use ACV of any company; however, make sure that it is unfiltered apple cider vinegar. 

Raw Honey 

Honey is known as the remedy for all illnesses of the body and mind; therefore, we will add ½ a cup of raw honey to this recipe. Honey contains a blend of different minerals and vitamins, including calcium, magnesium, niacin, potassium, riboflavin, and zinc among others. All these nutrients when combined with its antioxidant, antifungal, and antibacterial properties, make it the best food to heal wounds, boost immunity, relieve sore throat, improve gut health, and aid digestion. You can use any local honey for this recipe; however, maple syrup or homemade elderberry syrup is the next best thing. While honey has several health benefits, one reason to use it in this recipe is to balance the bitterness of all other ingredients with its sweetness.

How to Make Fire Cider?

1. Place all of the first eight prepared ingredients, through the habanero pepper, in a quart-sized jar.
2. Pour apple cider vinegar into the jar so that all of the ingredients are totally covered and the vinegar reaches the top of the jar.
3. If you’re using a jar with a metal lid, place a piece of parchment paper under the lid (to keep the vinegar from touching the metal) before tightly closing. Shake well.
4. Store in a cool dark place for a month. Shake your jar daily.
5. After one month, use cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer to strain the fire cider.
6. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to press all of the liquid from the ingredients.
7. Add honey to the liquid and stir until combined. Store your fire cider in the refrigerator or a cool, dark place.
8. Take 1 tablespoon daily for immune boosting benefits, or up to 3 tablespoons when you’re fighting illness.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

This fire cider recipe is quite easy to prepare; however, because you have to place it in a cool dark place for a month before it’s ready to use, there are many queries regarding it. I have answered some of the most common ones to help you with the recipe.

Q. How can we consume fire cider?

You can consume fire cider in so many ways:

• You can take a shot of fire cider by putting 1-2 tablespoons in a shot glass and drinking it straight up. 
• You can dilute it in a small amount of water and take it once a day.
• Some people say it helps make delicious salad dressings. I am not sure about that! 
• Add it to soups, teas, juice, or other alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages.

Q. How to store fire cider?

You can store fire cider in a clean jar with a metal or plastic lid that is airtight in the refrigerator for a year. 

Q. What are the best kinds of jars to place the fire cider in?

You can use quart jars or half-gallon jars to put your fire cider in. However, because you’ll be shaking it, make sure to place a piece of natural parchment paper under the lid to keep the apple cider vinegar from touching the metal lid. 

Q. How to make sure that the fire cider turns out right after a month?

The trick to making the perfect fire cider is to keep the jar in a cool place and give it a good shake every day for a month.

Q. What are the health benefits of fire cider?

Fire cider is folk medicine that boosts our immune system and protects us from flu and colds in colder months. 

If you found this recipe helpful, another powerful immune-system booster* is this Elderberry Syrup. If you have a cough, try my easy Homemade Cough Syrup. You should also check out my anti-inflammatory chicken and rice soup to sip on a cold winter day.

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram to get your hands on my most in-demand healthy recipes! 

Happy winters!

Fire Cider (Easy Homemade Recipe)

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• Author: Maryea Flaherty of Happy Healthy Mama
• Total Time: 720 hours
• Yield: 2 cups 1x

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Description

This Fire Cider is easy to prepare and is a powerful tonic that can boost your immune system.*

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Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 oranges, zest and juice
• 1 lemon, zest and juice
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup sliced ginger root (no need to peel)
• 1/2 cup sliced horseradish root (no need to peel)
• 1/2 cup sliced turmeric root (no need to peel)
• 10 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 habanero pepper, chopped
• Apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup raw honey

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

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Instructions

1. Place all of the first eight prepared ingredients, through the habanero pepper, in a
   quart-sized jar.
2. Pour apple cider vinegar into the jar so that all of the ingredients are totally covered
   and the vinegar reaches the top of the jar.
3. Place a piece of parchment paper under the lid (to keep vinegar from touching the
   metal) before tightly closing. Shake well.
4. Store in a cool dark place for a month. Shake your jar daily.
5. After one month, use cheese cloth or a fine mesh strainer to strain the fire cider.
6. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to press all of the liquid from the ingredients.
7. Add honey to the liquid and stir until combined. Store your fire cider in the
   refrigerator or a cool, dark place.
8. Take 1 tablespoon daily for immune boosting benefits, or up to 3 tablespoons when
   you’re fighting illness. The fire cider will keep stored in the refrigerator for a year.

• Prep Time: 30 days
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Category: home remedies
• Method: ferment
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
• Calories: 29
• Sugar: 5 grams
• Fat: 0.1 grams
• Saturated Fat: 0 grams
• Carbohydrates: 7.7 grams
• Fiber: 0.4 grams
• Protein: 0.3 grams

*Statements in this blog post have not been evaluation by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.