DIY Fire Cider
See Laura's article on Fire Cider for a full rundown of this folk remedy.
Ingredients
1 cup chopped yellow onion
1/4 cup grated fresh ginger
1/4 cup grated fresh horseradish root
8-10 cloves garlic, minced
2 hot peppers, such as jalapeno or habanero, diced
2 Tbsp fresh turmeric, grated, or 1 Tbsp dried turmeric
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
Zest and juice of 1 orange
2 to 3 cups raw apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup raw honey or to taste (omit completely if on a low-sugar diet)
Optional additions:
2 to 3 Tbsp rosehips, fresh rosemary, thyme, and/or oregano
Directions
Pack the prepared vegetables, citrus, and herbs into a clean quart-sized glass jar. Using food-safe gloves will help you avoid getting hot pepper juice where you don’t want it, and prevent your hands from getting stained with turmeric.
Add in the apple cider vinegar to cover the herbs, filling to the band of the jar.
Cover the jar with a non-reactive plastic lid, or a metal lid with a piece of parchment between the lid and jar to prevent the lid from rusting. Seal tightly and shake for several minutes.
Label and date the jar with the day you made it. Set aside for 4 to 6 weeks, shaking for a minute or two every few days to fully infuse the vinegar with the herbal goodness.
After 4 to 6 weeks, pour through a mesh strainer over a bowl to strain out all solids, reserving the liquid. Squeeze solids with gloved hands to extract as much vinegar as possible. Return the liquid to the jar.
Add raw honey to the jar and whisk thoroughly to dissolve. Cover and store in the refrigerator, where it will keep for about one year.
Suggestions
As a tonic, take ½ to 1 Tablespoon one to two times per day. If you are new to using apple cider vinegar medicinally, start with 1 teaspoon and work up to this amount. For those with sensitive stomachs or teeth, be cautious and use smaller quantities, as it is quite acidic. I recommend diluting it in a bit of water to help mitigate the acidity.
My favorite optional addition is rose hips, but rosemary, thyme, and oregano also make great add-ins for their flavor and medicinal properties. It’s fine to add more or less honey to your taste or omit it completely If you require a low-sugar diet.
Try a sip of Fire Cider before or after meals as an aid to digestion. Fire Cider can also be added to salad dressings, sauces, dips, and marinades. Heck, I’ll even take it in a cocktail, such as a paloma, greyhound, or Bloody Mary. You can also make a flavorful alcohol-free mocktail using Fire Cider, some sparkling water, a dash of cocktail bitters, and a touch of extra honey.
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