Fire Cider: call it a folk remedy, health tonic, or homeopathic remedy, but one thing is certain, and that is that it’s delicious.
Raw apple cider vinegar is infused with the health promoting ingredients ginger, garlic, onions, citrus fruit, horseradish, turmeric, and hot pepper, then mixed with raw honey to balance the tart spiciness of the vinegar.
Fire Cider
This Fire Cider Health Tonic and Homeopathic Remedy recipe stands as one of the most popular on my blog. The beauty of this, beyond its all-star cast of healthy ingredients, is that it just plain tastes wonderful.
Well, okay, we MAINLY drink it because we like it, but the health benefits are nice.
Important Note: I am NOT under any circumstances claiming this will cure anything. I’m laying out a recipe that is both delicious and nutritious. I am also explaining some of the purported health benefits of the ingredients that go INTO the recipe.
This post is no substitute for professional medical advice, but is a classic folk tonic/remedy. I trust you all to use your own best judgment in the manner.
What is fire cider?
I have a little true story to explain to you how a girl who makes Kielbasa in Air Fryer and Dubai Chocolate Brownies also makes Fire Cider Health Tonic.
It all began with me hopping in my car and driving eight and a half hours to Maine to spend four days with my friends. We spent our days wandering Portland, Maine eating donuts, duck fat french fries, ice cream, bubble tea, cookies, more duck fat fries, fried cheese curds, fried chicken skin banh mi, bacon dusted french fries, and washing it down with beer.
It was great stuff, but oy. We were overstuffed.
We wandered into the a shop where the clerk enthusiastically offered a sample of something called Fire Cider to us. Given that I have been known to drink pickle juice and/or a shot of raw apple cider vinegar each morning (more on the health benefits of that in a moment), it didn’t take much to convince me to try it.
It was a SHAZAAM moment. It was exactly what we all needed to de-sluggify all of us after our rich food benders. One of my girlfriends gasped and exclaimed that it instantly cured her heartburn.
My friends each grabbed a bottle. I grabbed two.
When I got home, my husband looked at me sideways when I told him what it was, but he drank the sip I gave him and his eyes grew huge as he declared, “THIS IS GREAT! We’re going to need to keep this around!”
Fire Cider Controversy
I went online to order a larger quantity and discovered that the manufacturer had a bit of fire cider controversy surrounding them because fire cider was an old folk remedy and health tonic made by many herbalists and the company had trademarked the name. Okay, well, knowing me, you’ll probably have realized at this point that when I read I could make my own, that was a foregone conclusion.
The controversy has since been settled and the courts have decided that the company can no longer own the trademark for Fire Cider. And you may have noticed fire cider is sold just about everywhere now. But you can make a gallon or so for the same price you’d pay for a tiny bottle in stores.
Fire Cider Benefits
How is fire cider good for you? It’s full of vitamins and minerals, is anti-fungal and anti-viral. And it makes a great, non-narcotic cough suppressant and throat soother!
What is this magic? It’s all about the ingredients.
Fresh horseradish is known to be effective against the flu and common cold, tonsilitis, respiratory disorders, urinary tract infections, and pathenogenic fungus.
Ginger is used to treat arthritis, muscle pain, upset stomach (motion and morning sickness and general nausea), gas, upper respiratory tract infections, and cough.
Onions are used to boost cardiovascular health, bone and connective tissue benefits, and as an anti-inflammatory agent.
Garlic is used to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, coronary heart disease, heart attack, atherosclerosis, asthma, building the immune system, help level blood sugar, and is used topically to treat fungal infections.
Habanero peppers boost your metabolism, and offer headache, sinus, and arthritis relief as well as releasing endorphins.
Benefits of Fire Cider
Oranges are great for heart health. A part of a best-case-scenario-anti-cancer-diet, fighting cholesterol, to help in weight loss, and to break up or prevent kidney stones, oranges are invaluable.
Lemons are known to aid in digestion, alleviate Meniere’s Disease, kidney stones, and ringing of the ears. They’re also a cure for scurvy (chronic lack of Vitamin C) and treat colds and flu. Lemons also improve the function of blood vessels, and reduce inflammation and retention of water.
Turmeric is pretty much a cancer fighting beast. It’s known to delay liver damage and reduce carcinogenic compounds in other foods. It’s been shown to make cancer cells more vulnerable to chemo and radiation and inhibit the growth of malignant melanoma and breast cancer. As a bonus, it can alleviate arthritis symptoms and skin conditions.
Maybe I should let the experts describe what the main compound in turmeric -cucurmin- does. Advanced Experimental Medical Biology in 2007 states: “Curcumin has been shown to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer activities and thus has a potential against various malignant diseases, diabetes, allergies, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease and other chronic illnesses.”
Raw apple cider vinegar is known to be a good source of acetic and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), mineral salts, amino acids, and other key components of good nutrition. But it is also a well-loved folk remedy thought to ease digestion, fight obesity and diabetes, kill lice, and reverse some signs of aging.
Does it do all of that? I doubt it. But it surely tastes good and its nutritional value is undisputed.
Raw honey (locally produced) is a fantastic, all-natural fighter of seasonal allergies. It’s best to choose raw, locally produced honey for the benefits listed above. Because bees collect pollen from flowers in your area and then convert it to honey to feed their hives, eating raw, local honey is like a tasty allergy shot.
The second choice is raw honey from anywhere. The third choice would be pasteurized commercial honey.
Fire Cider Recipe
There’s not too much to this, just grate or chop everything up and put it in a jar. But I do want to caution you about a couple of things.
If you cannot or will not use a plastic lid, do lay a piece of parchment paper on the rim of the jar before fixing your lid in place. Raw apple cider vinegar is quite likely to rust or discolour a canning jar lid.
You’d hate to have all your waiting and work ruined by a rusted lid. Replace that parchment sheet every week or so.
I prefer to use Bragg’s Raw Apple Cider Vinegar for my Fire Cider. I always keep it on hand because I love the flavour.
Because it still has the ‘mother’ in it, it packs a higher nutritional punch. Wegmans, Trader Joe’s, and Whole Foods also have in-house brand versions that are great.
I’d advise you to use organic produce if at all possible. This way you won’t be infusing your lovely health tonic with anything you wouldn’t want to have in it.
When you grate your horseradish, make sure you do it in a well-ventilated area or you will regret it. That stuff packs some serious oomph and will empty your sinuses in 30 seconds flat.
You may reserve the solids, dehydrate and grind them to use a spice blend or discard them. Either is fine!
You’ll notice there is not an actual quantity of honey listed in the recipe. You should add this to taste.
We tend to like ours less sweet, you may prefer yours more so. Start with 1/4 cup and whisk it well, then add 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking and tasting after each addition, until you reach your desired sweetness.
Store your finished Fire Cider Health Tonic & Homeopathic Remedy in a sterilized wine bottle or canning jar. It keeps well in a cool, dark cabinet for up to a year.
What Is Fire Cider Good for?
Oh! I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you that the finished Fire Cider is fabulous as a dressing for cooked greens or in salad dressings. Boost your health while enjoying your dinner!
Guys. Gals. Friends, Romans, Countrymen… I have put Fire Cider IN A COCKTAIL. It was magical. Please experiment and report back.
How much Fire Cider to Take Daily?
We drink a tablespoon (or more!) every morning to maintain health. When we feel ill, we take a slightly larger dose of Fire Cider to help boost our immune system. Word has it on the street that it’s an extremely effective hangover cure.
So, I want to know… are you curious enough to try it? What do you think?
Fire Cider: Health Tonic and Homeopathic Remedy
Rate RecipeIngredients
- 1 large horseradish root scrubbed very well, about 7 inches long
- 1 large ginger root about 7 inches long
- 1 large onion root and stem end removed and peeled
- 1 large orange do NOT peel. Use the whole fruit.
- 1 lemon do NOT peel. Use the whole fruit.
- 16 cloves of garlic peeled
- 2-4 habanero peppers stems removed
- 1 tablespoon ground turmeric
- raw apple cider vinegar
- raw honey
Instructions
- Grate the horseradish and ginger roots. Roughly chop the onions, orange, lemon, garlic, and habanero peppers. Stuff them into a half-gallon glass jar with a tight fitting lid or divide evenly between two quart sized canning jars. Sprinkle the turmeric in on top (dividing evenly between the two jars if using quart jars). Pour the raw apple cider vinegar in over the contents, allowing it to settle in through the crevices and adding more so that the contents are submerged. Lay a piece of parchment paper over the rim of the jar, then screw the lid tightly in place. Let the mixture sit in a dark, cool place, allowing it to marry and infuse for 4 weeks, shaking once daily.
- After 4 weeks, pour the contents into a muslin or cheesecloth lined colander positioned over a stable pot. Let it drain for 30 minutes, then gather the corners of the cloth, twisting and squeezing until you cannot release any more liquid. When it’s fully strained, add honey to the liquid to taste and pour into a sterilized wine bottle or canning jar. Store in a cool, dark place for up to a year, shaking well before using.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
did you make this recipe?
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Originally published August 8, 2014. Updated August 2016 and January 2019.
Reader's Thoughts...
Cathy says
I just strained my first ever batch. Now I have my second batch going. Yes you have to be patient but well worth the wait. School just started a few weeks ago and my daughter gives a tsp to her boys every day and they haven’t gotten sick. When strep throat is running rampant.
It’s also helping my husband with his sciatica.
Raw organic apple cider vinegar with the mother can be kind of spendy so I have a couple gallon jugs of my own homemade going. All it cost me was a little sugar. I was lucky enough to get apples from a few different sources.
BL says
I just tried this remedy at a health food store and enjoyed it greatly. Thank you for the recipe so I can make it myself. I have one question: can I store this in a plastic container to let it ferment and then store it in same container at room temp after?
Rebecca says
Hi, BL. I would not choose to ferment in a plastic container, personally. I’m not sure whether the plastic would hold up to the acidity of the raw apple cider vinegar!
Tina says
Once you start consuming the fire cider, it does not need to be refrigerated?
Rebecca says
Nopers! You can leave it at the same temp you infused it at. 🙂
Mary Hartlett says
Can you make fire cider in a all plastic container? or does it eat up the plastic?
Rebecca says
Hi Mary- I’d hesitate to do this in a plastic container because I’m not sure whether the plastics might have things that would leach into the mixture because of the acidity. Thanks for the great rating!
MsBeachLizard says
This is an awesome, beneficial tonic. Thank you for providing the recipe (I had lost mine). — “…I strongly urge you…” ? <<>> I am absolutely incredulous over the things people will argue about. Because they have to be right. They missed the whole point of this piece. Good for you standing your ground. It is, after all, your blog.
Jenn says
Hey….this tonic sounds wonderful and I plan on trying it myself. I know all these ingredients do have amazing health properties, however, as a novice beekeeper I just wanted to clarify really quick HONEY is made from nectar from the flowers on plants trees ect….the bees use pollen to feed the baby bees when they are born. You can see where they store this pollen on their frames. They are all different colors. Yes there are probably minute amt of pollen on their legs that may or may not get into the honey but its not made from pollen. They bees themselves also eat stored pollen in the wintertime to keep their protein levels up. Thought someone might be interested 🙂 Carry on!
Danielle Goodrich says
Sorry, this is probably a dumb question, but I’m assuming you peeled the orange and lemon? or peel and all? or zest them?
Rebecca says
Hi Danielle- You use the whole thing! Peel and all!
Elizabeth David says
Do you peel the orange and lemon? I drink a veggie drink daily and I don’t peel them.
Rebecca says
Hi Elizabeth- Leave those peels on! There is so much good stuff in them!
Em says
Hi Rebecca! I drink a shot of food and ferments fireside tonic everyday… absolutely stand behind it! It’s getting a little expensive though and since I can other things of my own I am interested in trying out your recipe. Before I do though, I’m curious, how much tonic does this yield once it’s strained? Thanks!!
Rebecca says
Hi there, Em! It’s a little hard to say, since all vegetables/herbs/aromatics give off and/or absorb different amounts of liquid depending on how long they’ve been in storage. That said, if you measure the acv you pour in over the goodies (which again varies from batch to batch), and add 30% (for honey and adjustment), you’ll have a rough idea of what your yield will be!
Kathy says
I had been buying Yoders Recipe tonic. Gotten too expensive to purchase anymore, I cannot wait to try this tonic out.
Thank you so much for the recipe.
Rebecca says
I’ve never tried Yoders Recipe tonic. Is it similar to this? I’m so glad I could help you out!
Lisalynn says
Thank you so much for posting your recipe for fire cider. I’ve been going through different recipes and think I will try yours. I love the addition of the citrus. I just need to run out to get some oranges and the peppers. I plan on doubling this and putting it in a 1/2 gallon jar. Half for my house and half for my stepson’s house. Wish I had made it earlier in the year and gotten ahead of the cold season, but better late than never.
Please ignore all negativity and just try and focus on the constructive comments. I went through several comments to see what people thought about it after they had made it, but stopped reading after the “holistic “ battle started.
Rebecca says
I make it a couple of times a year and always end up running out before I think I will!
Echo Baxter says
Thank you for posting this recipe. It’s great I’ve had it before but I’ve never made it with a lemon and orange your directions simply say to chop up the limited orange and I’m wondering if that means to be peeled first? I assume you should peel the orange and the lemon, but I do know from using essential oils that you might keep the peel in order for those oils to be infused into the remedy.
Rebecca says
You’re right about keeping the peel, Echo! They lend so much goodness and depth to this infusion!
Jim Muscaglione says
I’m on my 5th batch. I love this stuff!!
Quick question,
This last batch send to be fermenting.
Every time I shake it before opening it fizzes. Any thoughts?
Any thing I uh oh ys
Jim Muscaglione says
*seems, not sends. And disregard the last sentence, no idea where that came from. ?
Rebecca says
Fizziness shouldn’t be an issue, Jim. It just means it’s fermenting a bit. The only time I’d really pitch it is if there’s any mold!
Carter Blackwell says
I used to make my own but then I found barrier islands version. They claim to be able to retain over 95% of the whole root in vegetable in their cider,resulting in a thicker less vinegar tasting product. I tried some and loved it. I cant make mine like they do and they always run a special.
Michelle says
I can’t figure out what we are doing wrong. I have made this for a year now. NO ONE in my home will take this willingly. It had my kids over the flu in 1 day last year. This year, they tell how they would rather be sick. In order to get enough when sick, we have to fill 30 capsules 2 times a day. How in the world do people like this. I can’t figure out how to make it better.
Rebecca says
I’m not sure, Michelle. Are you mixing the strained vinegar with honey to taste? It’s strong flavoured, to be sure, but we all like it. And I’m not quite sure what you mean by filling capsules with it. Are you actually filling gel caps or something?
Rebecca says
I’m not sure, Michelle. Are you mixing the strained vinegar with honey to taste? It’s strong flavoured, to be sure, but we all like it. And I’m not quite sure what you mean by filling capsules with it. Are you actually filling gel caps or something?
Mel says
I am a Herbalist and have been for a while now. My parents are both herbalisst and naturalists, I grew up in it. I’ve known 2 things to be true… Things in the herbal world are not always cut and dry- and in fact, they usually aren’t. The other… so many people with herbal certifications, scientific degrees, and general herbal knowledge claim to be an “authority” or an “expert” on whatever the topic is… like the whole Homeopathic debate… But when it comes down to it… we are all members of this beautiful holistic tribe. We’re on the same side. We should be uplifting each other amd building a solid community instead of tearing each other down over the naming of a free recipe. Continue to do YOU, my friend. And I’m glad you chose to stand by your title. It really doesn’t matter what its called. Some folks just can’t be civil. So anyway, thank you, darling, for posting this recipe. I’ve been making Fire Cider forever but never with these proportions. I can’t wait to make this. Especially with the flu from h*’ll going around lately. Thanks again!
Rebecca says
Oh Mel, thank you! I appreciate the moral support. I hope you enjoy my version of Fire Cider. I know there are almost infinite versions out there!
Chris says
Hi. I’m having real trouble finding horseradish which has surprised me. Is there something I could use instead? I’m imaging it just won’t be the same without it…
Rebecca says
Hey Chris- I’d be inclined to purchase dried horseradish if I couldn’t find fresh. You really do want it present here and I think dehydrating it would preserve many of the same nutrients. Some places I’ve had good luck finding it fresh are local health food markets, ethnic grocers, restaurant supply stores, and asking my gardening friends. 😀
Corwin says
I do not see Tulsi in any of the fire cider recipes I’m finding. Is there a reason for that? It seems like it would be a valued ingredient because it is warming, antiviral, immune boosting, anti-inflammatory etc.
Rebecca says
I am not sure it would taste good in the mix with the other items which I know taste great together. Basil can be very overpowering and I think that having it in with all of those other power ingredients might be a little too much.
Alison says
Just made a batch! Came to the comments to get any tips/feedback from others that also made it but the comment section is saturated with internet crusaders that did not read the post stating to not comment on whether you believe this is “homeopathic” or not. I’m still excited to see how it tastes and can’t wait to try it in a cocktail! 🙂
Rebecca says
HA! Yeah, they did get a little fired up about fire cider, didn’t they? I can’t wait to hear what you think of it when it’s done!
D says
I forgot about my Fire Cider that was lost behind pots and pans in my dark cabinet. It’s been close to a year that it’s been sitting. Is it still usable or should I just start over ?
Rebecca says
I think you should be fine! It’ll be STRONG but it should be excellent. Lucky you!
maria says
Thanks so much for the recipe I cant wait to try it. I was wondering how much ACV this recipe calls for and what size jar to use. If you put this info in write up I apologize. Tx
Rebecca says
Hi Maria- You can use whatever size jar you’d like that you can fit the stuff into. I generally use half gallon or gallon jars, but you can divide it into quart jars, too. As for how much, ACV you need, that will vary. Just keep pouring as long as it perks down through the ingredients. The last time I made it I used 32 ounces.