Deema Al Huqail

Immune Supporting Fire Cider

Cold and flu season is here as we slow down into the coolness and stillness of Autumn, away from the fiery energetics of Summer. Which means it's time for medicine making! I love to kick off the season with a homemade fire cider. Grab your pantry tools and let's get crafting!

What is a Fire Cider?

Fire cider is a folk remedy for supporting the immune system and fighting colds and flus, using a variety of warming and stimulating herbs and spices infused in apple cider vinegar and honey for up to 4 weeks. Incorporating hot, sour, sweet, pungent and spicy flavours, fire ciders may help improve blood circulation, respiration, digestion, lymphatic stagnation, among other properties depending on what you are infusing in the fire cider.

You can take this preparation daily throughout Autumn and Winter to support your immunity, or a shot of fire cider once symptoms of cold or flu come up.

You can also incorporate fire cider into your food recipes, such as soups, salads and stir fried dishes.

Benefits of Fire Cider

  • warms the body during cold and flu season
  • improves blood circulation and lymphatic stagnation
  • supports the immune system, digestive system and respiratory system

What's in a Fire Cider?

There is no rule to creating a fire cider. You can experiment with whatever you have available! Some ingredients (but not limiting to) include:

  • horseradish
  • garlic
  • onion
  • ginger
  • lemon
  • orange
  • hot peppers
  • turmeric
  • cayenne pepper
  • oregano
  • thyme
  • rosemary
  • black pepper
  • rosehips
  • hawthorn berries
  • calendula
  • sage
  • cleavers
  • nettle
  • pine needles

Immune Supporting Fire Cider

Deema Al Huqail

Prep Time

10-15 minutes

Category

folk remedies

a warming and stimulating folk remedy for your Autumn and Winter wellness.

Ingredients

  • 1 litre jar (or larger)
  • apple cider vinegar
  • raw honey
  • 4 ginger roots, sliced or grated
  • 8-10 garlic, sliced or grated
  • 1 large orange, sliced or juiced with peel on
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 4-6 turmeric root, fresh or 1 tbsp turmeric powder
  • 1 tbsp oregano
  • 1 tbsp thyme
  • 1 tbsp sage
  • a handful of calendula flowers
  • a small handful of hawthorn berries
  • 1 tsp chilli pepper powder or cayenne powder
  • a generous amount of black pepper
  • optional: sliced onions, horseradish, hibiscus flowers, rosehips, pine needles, etc.

Directions

  1. Prepare all the ingredients and place them in a storing jar.

  2. Top half the jar with apple cider vinegar and the other half with honey. You can alternate the quantity depending on what flavours you're looking for.

  3. Seal the jar with a lid. If you're using a metallic lid, place parchment paper between the lid and the jar to prevent corrosion.

  4. Shake well and infuse the fire cider for around 4 weeks, or more. Add more vinegar or honey if needed. Shake daily to thoroughly mix the ingredients together.

After Infusion

  1. Strain the fire cider and pour it into a bottle. Label the name and date.

  2. Drink a tablespoon every morning / throughout the day or a shot when symptoms of cold or flu come up. Use for up to 12 months.

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