Fire Cider & Immune Booster

Start with raw apple cider vinegar

You can add any immune-supporting ingredients to fire cider and the recipe I’m sharing below is just one of many out there. Get creative and change it up to your tastes. Fire cider starts with a base of unpasteurized or raw apple cider vinegar which aids in digestion, fights infection, and clears the sinuses, among other health benefits.

Ingredients and their benefits

Aside from unpasteurized apple cider vinegar and chili peppers, fire cider ingredients are completely flexible! The following list of ingredients is what I used when I photographed the images for this post and is what I most often use when making this herbal tonic, but the beauty of fire cider is that you can add whatever medicinal plants you like or have access to. If you can’t find some of these ingredients, like fresh horseradish root for example, then just leave them out or replace them with something else. Dried herbs and ingredients are fine to use as well.

Raw Apple Cider Vinegar: aids in digestion, fights infection, clears the sinuses.

Hot Peppers: such as cayenne pepper, habanero increase circulation, boost metabolism, immune system support.

Onion and Garlic: antibacterial and antifungal properties, high in antioxidants, detoxifying.

Ginger Root: antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, relieves indigestion.

Turmeric: antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Horseradish: antibacterial and antifungal properties, fights infection.

Rosehips: high in vitamin C, aids digestion.

Thyme: expectorant and antibacterial properties, supports the respiratory system.

Citrus: high in vitamin C, reduces inflammation, aids digestion.

Raw Honey: antibacterial and antifungal properties, soothes sore throats, use local honey if you can source it.

Other common ingredients:

Medicinal Herbs: Rosemary, Sage, Oregano, Lemon Balm, Lemon Verbena, Tulsi, Savory, Catnip, etc. I like to use whatever herbs are growing in my garden at the time.

Cranberries: powerful antioxidant properties, contain high levels of manganese and potassium and Vitamins C and A.

Maple Syrup: used as a vegan-friendly replacement for raw honey.

Nettles: anti-inflammatory and adaptogenic properties, supports adrenals and helps protect bones.

Uva Usri Leaves (aka bearberry): anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and cleansing properties.

Elderberries: antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, contain high levels of potassium, folate, calcium and iron, and Vitamins C and A.

To sweeten or not to sweeten

When I make fire cider at home I usually do not sweeten it and will take a tablespoon straight up or diluted in a small amount of water. It is strong and you will feel it heat you up right away starting from your throat then your abdomen and working out to your outer limbs. It might make your nose run as it clears your sinuses so I like to have a tissue ready to blow my nose right after.

Raw honey is usually used to sweeten fire cider and cut the edge of the heat and spiciness. I would sweeten the fire cider I sold with maple syrup to keep it vegan friendly. The maple didn’t add any medicinal value but it tasted amazing. If you choose to add sweetener to your fire cider then wait until after you’ve strained it once the mixture has infused fully.

How to make your own fire cider

Step 1: Once you have all of your ingredients ready, the process of making fire cider is very easy. Fill a clean jar with the prepared ingredients, aside from a sweetener if using, and pour apple cider vinegar into the jar to fully submerge the ingredients.

Step 2: Seal the jar with a plastic lid and let it sit at room temperature but away from the sun for anywhere from 2-4 weeks. During this time all of the ingredients will infuse into the apple cider vinegar along with all of their health benefits. After this time strain the vinegar through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl.

Step 3: At this point, you can sweeten the fire cider to taste or leave it unsweetened. Transfer the final product to a glass bottle or jar for storage.

How to store fire cider

Store fire cider in a cool dark place away from sunlight. Herbal vinegars like this should last for up to 1 year stored at room temperature.

Fire cider dosage

Take a shot of fire cider or 1-2 tablespoons daily for a potent punch of immune system support and increase that dosage to 3 times a day to use it as a natural remedy to help fight off common cold symptoms. As always remember to please use caution, do your own research, and consult your medical professional before treating yourself or others.

RECIPE FAQ’S

What are the benefits of fire cider?

Fire cider is one of the best herbal remedies to help support the immune system and fight off symptoms of common colds during. Read through the ingredient list as their individual benefits above.

Can I use dried herbs and ingredients?

Use fresh herbs when you can but dried herbs and ingredients like dried ginger, turmeric and horseradish work fine.

How long will fire cider last?

Like all herbal vinegars, fire cider should last for up to one year when stored properly as detailed in this post.

Instructions

1. Layer prepared ingredients into a clean 1/2 gallon glass jar then cover them with the apple cider vinegar.

2. Cover the jar with a lid and let sit at room temperature out of the sun for 2 weeks.

3. Strain liquid into a bowl, pressing the ingredients with the back of a spoon to release as much liquid as possible, and discard everything else.

4. Pour the strained liquid into a clean quart jar.

5. Optionally sweeten the fire cider to taste with raw honey or maple syrup for a vegan-friendly version.

6. Cover the jar with a lid and store at room temperature out of the sun for up to 6 months.

7.  IMMUNE BOOSTER SHOTS recommendations: Best to take 3 Tablespoons a day when sick or 1 tablespoon as your daily immune booster. Mix with fresh or concentrated orange juice (or juice of your choice), to your flavor preference or chase it with juice. ***DOUBLE RECIPE FOR LARGE FAMILIES!***

What to do with leftover Fire Cider ingredients: 

Once the juice is drained, crush everything and refill with more Apple Cider vinegar just add the powdered ingredients OR put everything into a blender with water to make a concentrate to make a juice to add to drinks or freeze for later. Or put everything in a dehydrator for 2 days until it is dry enough to blend into a powder to add to juices or put in pill capsules.

Here are the items that will help make it easy and more convenient especially during sick season. 

Gallon Mason Jar

Canning Funnel With Strainer

Wide Mouth Mason Jar Lids

Electric Mason Cordless Vacuum Sealer Kit

16 oz Reusable Water Bottles

36 Pack Swing Top Glass Bottles

30 Pack 4oz 120ml Plastic Mini Milk Bottles

Size 00 Empty Capsules Vegetarian (100 Count) 

Capsule Filling Machine Kit Size 00 

Magic Mill Food Dehydrator Machine

Notes

• If you can’t source ingredients you can leave them out or use dried/powdered versions of items.

• Feel free to add other ingredients like other medicinal quality herbs (rosemary, sage, oregano, etc.), different chile peppers, or any other immune-supporting ingredients that you are familiar with.

• Use caution when foraging wild plants and be sure to identify plants/mushrooms correctly before ingesting them.

• These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. The information on this site is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.