Learn how to make this fire cider recipe and survive cold and flu season! This homemade fire cider is an immune-boosting tonic that contains gut-healing, antibacterial ingredients to support your system. Use it daily or double up when you feel a cold coming on.

What Is Fire Cider?

It is a collection of anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredients, mixed with apple cider vinegar and fermented for a few weeks.

Most of the ingredients you’ll have on hand and all of them have their own chart stopping benefits (like the benefits of turmeric and how to use it). The main ingredients are:

• Onion
• Garlic
• Turmeric

Note: I’m no doctor or even an herbalist. This is just a tonic I make for myself and my family. Consult doctors friends.

 

Don’t want to read? JUMP to the recipe!

 

What Is It Good For?

Fire cider is a winter tonic that helps boost the immune system and prevent colds.

Because it uses so many ingredients that are anti-bacterial in nature, it is a great way to stay healthy over cold season.

Likewise, not only does it help prevent colds in the first place but it can also help alleviate cough and cold symptoms faster if you get one.

Basically, its benefits include:

• Boosted immune system
• Fewer colds
• Helps fight bacteria like Candida
• High in antioxidants
• Can reduce inflammation (in the belly, in joints etc)
• Aids in digestion

 

How To Use It

There are a few ways to go about using homemade fire cider. For immune support and digestion, the brave of heart simply take one shot daily to help prevent colds.

If you feel a scratchy throat coming on, you can take 2-3 shots throughout the day to really give your system a hit

However, many people don’t enjoy the taste of fire cider by itself. In which case, you can use the fire cider in a recipe to consume it more frequently. It can be pretty delicious as:

• A salad dressing (whisk in more honey and some Dijon mustard)
• A marinade
• Sauteed onto greens

 

What Does Fire Cider Taste Like

It almost has a spicy tangy combination of flavors. It is vinegar-based but the fire from the horseradish and jalapeno take over.

Almost like taking a shot of spiced pickle juice.

However, it also depends on how much (if any) honey has been added.

 

Does It Need To Be Refrigerated?

Because the base of the fire cider is vinegar, it does not need to be refrigerated. However, it does need to be stored in a cool dark place.

That said, if not stored in the fridge, it will continue to ferment slightly and get more and more potent.

Storing it in the fridge stops the fermentation.

The tonic will last roughly one year.

 

Other Ways To Relieve Cold Symptoms

The truth is, there is no one thing that is going to keep you healthy- it’s a collection of things. Come wintertime, below are a few of the things we do and keep on hand to prevent and relieve any cough or cold symptoms.

• Keeping Homemade Cough Drops On Hand (both in honey lemon flavor and elderberry throat lozenges)
• Homemade elderberry cough syrup
• good old fashioned, super healthy eating
• staying hydrated
• Homemade honey and garlic elixir for coughs and colds

 

Using Bone Broth For Your Immune System

Another way to both fight colds as well as prevent them is to use bone broth! It’s actually one of my most recommended foods for toddlers because it’s so healing. However, making homemade broth takes a lot of time.

However, there is a solution: bone broth powder from perfect supplements (use code mamabear10). This powder works just like any other broth and all you need to do is whisk it into boiling water (or make a crazy, gut-healing chocolate smoothie)

Perfect Supplements uses only the highest quality products and this bone broth powder is free from additives and spices. Plus, it uses grass-fed, organic chickens.

 

Ingredients

• ½ cup pearl onion, peeled
• ½ cup turmeric root, peeled and chopped
• ¼ cup ginger root, peeled and chopped
• ¼ cup horseradish root, peeled and chopped
• ½ jalapeno, seeded and chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced
• 1 lemon (zested and juiced)
• 1 Large Bottle Apple Cider Vinegar (must contain the mother!)

Not feeling up to making your own? You can actually buy it pre-made now! Insanity to me lol

Tools You May Need

• Large jar
• Cheesecloth

How To Make Fire Cider

Divide all ingredients evenly (except apple cider vinegar) into two large mason jars.

Pour apple cider vinegar over the ingredients so that the vinegar is roughly two to three inches above.

Fill a small Ziplock bag ⅓ of the way with water. Place the baggy into the jar and use a spatula to press all the roots/ingredients down as much as possible to make sure everything is submerged.

Tie off the bag or wrap-around the mouth of jar. Place parchment paper over the jar and then tighten on the cap.

Let ferment in a dark area for four weeks. When ready, strain out the roots and whisk in raw, local honey to taste. Use as shots when you feel a cold coming on or use a bit more honey and make it into a salad dressing for prevention.

Don’t forget to pin this fire cider recipe!

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If you want to prevent colds during this winter season, rock this fire cider recipe! The ingredients are all anti-bacterial, help fight inflammation, and most importantly, help you boost your immune system, so you don’t get sick.