Winter is fast approaching for people in the Southern hemisphere. Usually a time when we all get the sniffles and start popping cold and flu tablets. This Fire Cider recipe is a healthier alternative that could get you through this season without getting sick.
Fire Cider is a natural remedy for the common cold, flu and sore throat. It’s a potent immune booster that relieves sinus infections and seasonal allergies. The flavour combination is interesting: pungent, sour, sweet and hot, and really warms you up from the inside when you drink it.
This natural remedy is super simple to make. Seriously, anyone can do it. You need some basic ingredients from your local grocery store and just follow the Fire Cider recipe below.
Natural cold and flu medicine
Fire Cider was developed by an herbalist in the 70’s: Rosemary Gladstar. She mixed several ingredients together:
- Garlic and onion (for antibacterial and antioxidant properties)
- Ginger (for warmth and fighting infection)
- Horseradish (for decongestion)
- Cayenne pepper (for warmth and helping the immune system mobilise)
- Apple cider vinegar (for antibacterial properties)
- Honey (to make the drink more palatable)
Extra Ingredients
In my Fire Cider recipe, I’ve added some extra ingredients which can help you combat cold and flu season this year, and come out winning.
- Turmeric (anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidants)
- Black peppercorns (helps with the absorption of the curcumin in turmeric in your body)
- Lemon (antioxidants)
- Star anise (antibacterial, antioxidants), and I also added some
- Rosemary (antibacterial, antioxidants),
- Oregano (antibacterial, antioxidants)
- Parsley (natural flu fighter, antioxidants, detoxifying)
Fresh and organic is always best if you have access to it. Horseradish can sometimes be a bit hard to get, depending on where you live. I couldn’t get my hands on it this time, so I’ve left it out of my recipe. Which is fine, the Fire Cider will still be very potent.
Fire Cider Recipe
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Fire Cider
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Total Time: 10 min
- Yield: 1L 1x
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Fermenting
- Cuisine: Healthy
Description
This Fire Cider Recipe will allow you to make your own natural remedy for the common cold, flu and sore throat. It’s a potent immune booster that relieves sinus infections and seasonal allergies.
Ingredients
- 5 cups Apple Cider Vinegar, raw unpasteurised with the mother in it it needs to be enough to cover the ingredients in the jar
- 1/2 cup Garlic, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup Ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup Turmeric, peeled and roughly chopped or 4 teaspoons ground turmeric if you can’t get fresh
- 1/2 cup Onion, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup Horseradish, peeled and roughly chopped if available
- 1 Lemon, sliced and quartered incl rind
- 1/4 to 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper
Optional Ingredients
- Rosemary to taste
- Oregano to taste
- Star Anise to taste
- Parsley to taste
- Black Peppercorns to taste
- Orange juice and peels fresh, to taste
- Raw Honey to taste, at step 8 in the recipe
Instructions
- Add garlic, ginger, turmeric, onion and horseradish to a 1.8L jar.
- Press down all vegetables and add lemon, and all optional ingredients you’re using.
- Add cayenne pepper.
- Fill the jar with the apple cider vinegar until everything is covered.
- Cover tightly, shake the mixture, and put in a room temperature area for 2-4 weeks.
- It’s best to shake the mixture every day to help break down the ingredients (so their cold and flu-fighting properties are released in the mixture).
- After 2-4 weeks, shake well, strain out all ingredients, save the liquid and transfer into a clean bottle.
- Optional: add honey to taste. Warming the honey first makes it easier to mix.
Fire Cider will keep for several months unrefrigerated if stored in a cool pantry.
How to take your natural remedy for cold and flu?
- Take 1 tablespoon daily as a natural cold and flu prevention.
- Take 1 tablespoon, 5 to 6 times a day when you’re fighting a cold or infection.
- You can also use Fire Cider as a healthy salad dressing!
Your Fire Cider can be quite strong if you didn’t add any honey. It can cause nausea on an empty stomach if you’re not used to it. You might want to start on a teaspoon before you build it up to a tablespoon.
Because all the ingredients are natural and non-toxic, Fire Cider is safe to use for pregnant women and kids. With your little ones, you might want to leave the cayenne pepper out though.
I hope you’ll feel great, all Winter long, with your natural cold and flu medicine!
If you like this recipe, you’ll love this immune-boosting drink recipe as well.
