Ryan brought a jar of homemade Fire Cider to the store the other day, that he’d made with the last harvest of his Cheyenne Cayenne Peppers. Brilliant orange-red spicy liquid on a cold gray day, it made us wish that we had made a batch of our own last month, so that we could be drinking our own, now. Luckily, he was generous enough to share his. We set to making our own, the very next day.
Ideally, we might have made this elixir months ago, when the peppers were still in their full glory. The Cheyenne Cayenne variety, particularly, did so well this year, and it has such a vibrant red color, that it seems perfect for this use. Now, though, all of those peppers have been set to fermenting, or are hanging to dry in a cool dark place. Although many fire cider recipes call for either fresh or dried ground pepper, we wanted to use whole peppers that came from somewhere dear to us; Amanda gifted some of her home-grown Cheyennes to the cause.
Fire cider is an idea more than a recipe; it can be customized to suit individual tastes, preferences, and seasons. But to get an idea of what would be needed, we went looking for recipes. We found more than we bargained for!
Search online for a Fire Cider recipe, and half the hits will refer instead to the Fire Cider Controversy. It seems that the name Fire Cider has been trademarked, perhaps with the best of intentions, but much to the ire of the herbal medicine community, who regard both the name and the practice of making Fire Cider as part of a communal herbal legacy that stretches back for generations. While it is beyond the scope of this article to outline the rash of suits and counter suits in this ongoing legal battle, it is worth noting that Fire Cider has long been made by and for the people; only recently has it become available for sale in a premade form. And to be clear, this personal use is still entirely protected from a legal standpoint; it is only if an individual begins to sell a product labeled as Fire Cider that the legal wrangling begins.
So what is Fire Cider, exactly? It is a powerful example of food as medicine, a concept that is gaining traction in the thoughts not only of crunchy granola-eaters, but in the halls of medicine. It is a simple infusion of roots, herbs, and vegetables in vinegar, that is used as an immune stimulant, expectorant, and general health tonic. The exact medicinal properties vary depending on the particular combination of herbs and other ingredients used; by its very nature, Fire Cider is meant to be tailored to the tastes and requirements of those who make it for their own benefit. It is intended to be taken in small doses, as a single shot as a daily tonic, or several times a day when fighting colds or flu. Being composed largely of vinegar and herbs, it is also a useful ingredient in salad dressings, soups and savory baked dishes; use it without cooking to preserve the optimum benefit of the raw apple cider vinegar that it is based on.
Without further ado, then, here is the recipe we made on this late winter day. Feel free to tailor it as you see fit.
Directions
1) Layer the ingredients in your jar
Prepare all ingredients as directed, layering them into the bottom of a clean half-gallon glass jar. Omit the honey at this stage.
2) Pour the vinegar over the top of the ingredients and seal
Depending on the volume of herbs used, the total amount of vinegar may very. Just cover the herbs by several inches, and fill up the jar to near the top.
Place a layer of parchment or waxed paper between the metal lid and the top of the jar, so that the acidic vinegar solution does not erode the metal lid.
3) Infuse, shake daily
Place the jar in a warm location, and allow it to infuse for 3 or 4 weeks. Shake the jar daily, for best results. Some traditional recipes call for the Fire Cider to buried in the earth between new moons—no shaking, less warmth, but the power of ritual has its own energies to add. Do what seems right.
4) Strain
When the allotted time has passed, strain the solids from the vinegar. Pour the solution through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer into the jar you wish to store the Fire Cider in. Use a canning funnel to make this less messy.
Press the cheesecloth bag to extract all of the vinegar solution from the herbs. (You might want to use the strained solids in chutneys, soups and stir-fries, or as a filling for egg rolls…get creative!)
5) Add honey and taste
Taste your potion! Add warm honey to the strained vinegar solution, if desired, one tablespoon at a time.
5) Store
Fire Cider will keep unrefrigerated at cool room temperature for several months, or indefinitely in the refrigerator.
Over to You
It’s part of our mission here at Mountain Feedto help you make delicious, sustainable, homemade food more often.Stop by and say hello on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram orPinterest. Or, as always, you can do it the old fashioned way and come by the store to speak with one of our in-house experts.
FAQs
Fire cider is an herbal tonic that's used to boost immunity, help with digestion, and warm you up on a cold day. The basic recipe combines horseradish with root vegetables, like ginger, garlic, and onions, which are then dissolved in apple cider vinegar. Hot peppers are added to make it fiery.
Who sued over fire cider? ›
The next year, Shire City fired back with a trademark infringement lawsuit against Blue, Langlier, and Wildflower School of Botanical Medicine director Nicole Telkes and sought a declaratory judgment to validate its ownership of the Fire Cider name.
Why is it called fire cider? ›
Although the preparation has been used for hundreds of years, the name Fire Cider can be credited to Rosemary Gladstar , a well-known herbalist and educator. Gladstar coined the term back in the late 1970's because of the pungent plants in the recipe.
What is the shelf life of homemade fire cider? ›
Shelf life: Keeps up to one year in a cool, dry place.
Who should not take fire cider? ›
“If you have health issues like acid reflux or indigestion, this combination of ingredients is likely going to make it worse.” The possible side effects of drinking fire cider include: Indigestion: Spicy foods can wreak havoc on your stomach, particularly if you've got a sensitive digestive system.
Should fire cider be refrigerated? ›
Does Fire Cider Need to Be Refrigerated? The short answer is no. Your fire cider is well preserved in apple cider vinegar, and shelf stable. If you prefer to take the shots cold, refrigeration is an option, but not at all necessary.
Can you drink too much fire cider? ›
BUT, be careful. "The spices and herbs are fine, but the apple cider vinegar can cause problems if too much is consumed. Apple cider vinegar is very acidic, which can be bad for your teeth, your GI tract, and your throat if you have too much of it," Dr. Ian warns.
Does fire cider go bad? ›
Immune Booster — It's packed with ingredients known for their immune-boosting properties so it's perfect for cold and flu season! Long Shelf Life — When properly stored, fire cider can last up to 12 months, making it a convenient health boost any time you need it.
What happened to fire cider? ›
After a five year battle, “fire cider” is free from trademark restrictions and is officially considered a generic term, which means no one can own it — it belongs to all of us, and all are free to make and sell fire cider as they chose.
Is fire cider good for diabetics? ›
The health and healing properties of apple cider vinegar are no secret. Studies have shown that it helps the body balance sugar levels for those with diabetes or insulin resistance and it's effective in helping fight infections.
When I first leaned over a shot of Fire Cider, I instinctively reared back. The pungent aroma of vinegar, raw onion, and spicy horseradish has the sinus-clearing effect of a Neti Pot.
Why is my fire cider turning green? ›
It may feel alarming if you notice your fire cider turning rainbow colors like green and blue. Rest assured, this is totally normal!
Does fire cider need to be burped? ›
Fire cider is not a true fermentation recipe (it's more of an infusion), so you can seal your jar and you don't need to burp the cider as it steeps.
What is a substitute for horseradish in fire cider? ›
Let's dive into some of these here ⬇️ 🔥 HORSERADISH: Some horseradish-like options include wasabi or mustard seeds or nasturtium pods (just use a smaller amount than horseradish). Or, just leave out the horseradish. 🌶️ CAYENNE: A variety of different peppers can be substituted for cayenne.
Why is my fire cider cloudy? ›
That is because the building blocks of apples include pectin, a polysaccharide that makes up the cell walls of the fruit and holds the plant together. During milling, pressing and subsequently fermentation, pectin becomes suspended in the juice and can thus create a haze — unless treated with pectinase.
Does fire cider help with mucus? ›
With potent ingredients, Fire Cider helps move mucus in both the upper and lower respiratory tract. It can also be used as a gargle to soothe a sore throat. Fire Cider can be mixed with hot water for a morning or afternoon pick-me-up.
What are the benefits of drinking cider? ›
Apple cider contains polyphenols, which are compounds in plants that act as antioxidants. They can help the body to fight against free radicals and cell damage, lowering your risk of certain types of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Polyphenols also help to ease inflammation in the body.
What does cider do to your insides? ›
The little heroes we spoke about earlier, a.k.a. Polyphenols, help in delivering probiotics, too. That means better digestion and improved gastrointestinal (read: tummy) health. The carbonation of sparkling cider can also help you relieve stomach upsets.
Can fire cider cure a cold? ›
THE BENEFITS
It's also antibacterial, antifungal, decongesting, and contains powerful antioxidants. Traditionally, many folks would take shots of their homemade Fire Cider throughout winter to stay warm and ward off colds, flus, and other illnesses.
