What is Fire Cider and how does it Help Fight Colds and Flu?

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Have you ever heard of fire cider? It is a concoction that is all natural and organic, and is often used during allergy season and flu and cold season. Why is it called fire cider you may ask? It is called fire cider, both for the spicy taste and the bright orange hue. What exactly is it and what is it for? Keep reading to learn more about this healing drink.

What Does Fire Cider Consist of?

As with many other natural concoctions, the recipe changes based on the person, their preferences, where they got the recipe, and what they have on hand. But in general, it tends to include:

Apple cider vinegar

Ginger root or ground ginger

Garlic

Onion

Horseradish

Hot peppers or other hot ingredients

Additional herbs and spices

We looked through multiple recipes, and found that these were similar ingredients used very often. As you can see, the fire comes from the spices and herbs, while the cider comes mainly from the apple cider vinegar. The good news is you likely have many of these ingredients already in your home.

Simple Recipes for Fire Cider

You can look online and find a wide range of recipes, but here are a few options that we really love:

From Homestead and Chill

Deanna’s recipe includes citrus, fresh turmeric, fresh herbs, fresh hot chilis, black pepper, and dried homegrown calendula blossoms for extra vitamin C and anti-inflammatory ingredients for an extra boost of healthy ingredients. I’ve also made her homemade elderberry syrup recipe and it is fantastic as well!

From Eating Bird Food:

This recipe uses ginger root, horseradish root, onion, garlic, jalapeno, lemon, rosemary, turmeric, and cayenne, along with your apple cider vinegar and raw honey. It is as simple as combining all the recipes into a large glass jar, such as a mason jar, then pouring the apple cider vinegar in, and shaking it.

From Foodie With Family:

Jessica uses very similar ingredients, though she added an orange that is not peeled, and switched up the spice with some habanero peppers. As with the previous recipe, you want to store it in the refrigerator for about 4 weeks, strain it, then it can be used.

Here is a video from Jess at Roots and Refuge Farm on Youtube of her and her friend making a fire cider recipe.

How to Use Fire Cider

Not sure how and when to use fire cider? It is super simple. When you make it yourself, you want to give it a good amount of time in the fridge first, before straining it. At this point, you can drink it at your own discretion. Many people just take little shots of the fire cider as needed when they feel a cold or flu coming on, while others do this every day as more of a preventative measure.

It can also be added to other drinks and foods if you prefer not to drink it straight due to how spicy and strong it can be.

Related posts:

• Getting to Know Your Peppers
• The Many Health Benefits of Gardening
• 9 Tips for Eating Healthy Through the Holidays
• Do Essential Oils really work and What are some of their health Risks?
• What it means to live Holistically

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