How To Make Fire Cider (all natural cold and flu remedy)

Monday, November 5, 2012












My step mom first introduced fire cider to me last fall when I was pregnant with Ronin and coming down with a horrible cold.  She brought me in her kitchen, told me to plug my nose and take a big spoonful of this beet colored "cider." I am super weird and I love the taste of pickled anything so I thought it was delicious.  My husband, who also tasted it thought I was nuts.  She gave me a whole jar and within a few days I was feeling normal again.  My cold was completely gone.  She recently brought over a brand new batch and was awesome enough to share her recipe with me.  So today I will be passing it on to you.   
Fire cider is an all natural herbal remedy that can be taken daily or at the onset of a cold or flu.  It helps to break up congestion and ward off yucky flu and cold like symptoms.  The combination of ingredients help naturally boost your immune system.  Fire cider is nothing new.  It has been used for centuries by people all over the world.  We have just become so accustomed to calling the doctor or running to the store to get cold meds the moment we feel sick, it has become less common to hear about natural remedies.  

The ingredients used in this recipe are:
Raw organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar- read all about the benefits of here.
Horseradish-contains natural antibiotic properties. 
Garlic-natural antibiotic.  Promotes sweating, which is important if you are experiencing flu like symptoms. Garlic also helps regulate blood sugar levels.
Ginger- a natural circulatory stimulant and helps ease nausea.
Onion- helps naturally detoxify your body.
Beets- super rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory benefits.
Parsley- it is very high in iron and vitamin C.  It is also a blood purifier and helps kill bacteria in the body.  Read a little more about it here.

What you need:
A large mason jar
Raw organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar
3 tbs of grated horseradish root or pure horseradish 
3 tbs of grated ginger root (find this at a health food store)
A small onion
One head of garlic
3 tbs of fresh parsley
1 cup of organic beets

Directions:
  1. Chop up all the ingredients into tiny pieces (the horseradish and ginger will need to be grated).
  2. Place everything in the bottom of the mason jar.  
  3. Pour the apple cider vinegar in over the herbs.  Fill the mason jar with it until it reaches the very top.  Make sure you see no air bubbles and secure the lid tightly.
  4. Place this is the fridge. 
  5. Allow the herbs to steep for 2-4 weeks (the longer the better).  Do NOT open the jar at all until you are ready to strain everything out.  
  6. At the end of the 2-4 weeks strain everything out of the jar.
  7. You can use the leftover herbs to saute up fresh veggies if you want so nothing goes to waste.  This is SO yummy.  
Keep this tonic in the fridge and use daily (1-2 Tbs) or whenever you feel a cold or flu coming on.  

To answer your questions ahead of time about whether or not you can substitute ingredients or leave something that, that is up to you.  This is the only recipe that I have personally used and I have not yet experimented with other ingredients or leaving ingredients out. 

37 comments:

Alexa said...

I love having the mental image of Ian thinking you're crazy for liking the taste. That's how Matt is with me sometimes! Ha! I've missed you, friend! It's good to be back in the blog world! :)

Rachel (Two Healthy Plates) said...

Wow - I can't imagine what this must taste like but I too like almost anything pickled. I'd love to give this a try!

Jackie said...

OK...so you take the liquid? And drain off the solids?

Anonymous said...

How long will it last in the fridge?

Lindsay @ Delighted Momma said...

Jackie- Yes you just take the liquids once everything has been steeped for 2-4 weeks. If you look at the date on my batch above it still needs to steep for another week or so. That is why my picture still has everything inside :)

Lindsay @ Delighted Momma said...

Anonymous- up to 6 months.

Jennifer @ Delightfully Noted said...

Have never heard of such a thing but I must be weird too bc I love pickled taste as well!

Mindy said...

Oh dear lord. Something about this is familiar. Although, I can't imagine I've had it and NOT remember. Unless I've blocked it out. :)

Kale and Coriander said...

This is amazing. Hoping not to get a cold anytime soon, but now I have the fix! =)

Unknown said...

Oh I'm so gonna try this. Love your recipes, especially since I've been trying to eat clean. The brownie in a mug is delicous, and I'd love to try this instead of store bought totally unnatural meds. Thanks!

Emily @LABride said...

Just found your site via Pinterest, and I am now a new follower! I love this homeopathic remedy, I try to use as little "medicine" as possible and eat healthy so this is great. Plus I love pickled anything:)

The Coolidges said...

Sorry, but sounds terribly nasty. HOWEVER, now that I'm on some of herbal supplements (and plant based progesterone in hopes it will help us get prego) I need to find a 'remedy' to help with cold issues. Going to find ingredients to make this. Whole Foods in 30 min away :( need to make it though and just have it on hand.

Thanks for the recipe!

Anonymous said...

dang girl. this looks awful and AWESOME. i'm always looking for secrets like this. i mean, i am seriously anti-doctor-going unless it's something serious because all they can do is dish out antibiotics... and that just throws off your whole system! thanks for sharing this recipe. i'll be making some this winter!

Jennifer @ 20 something allergies and counting...down said...

Love this! It's a great variation of Master Tonic. I pinned it to make some next week and so I could share with my readers.

Thanks mama. :)

My-cliffnotes said...

This looks fab! And potent lol

Baking in Couture said...

Wow. I'll have to try this out if need be this winter. Today is the first really cold day in a while I'd I'm already feeling sick lol Xo Inna

www.bakingincouture.com

Anonymous said...

Hi Lindsay, I'm afraid this is a dumb question (I specialize in those) but are the beets raw?

Lindsay @ Delighted Momma said...

blatherbybubbe-haha not a dumb question at all! The beets can be raw or cooked, just make sure you use organic beets.

Katie {katie lately} said...

I am SO impressed you could drink this while pregnant, just reading the ingredients list made me gag a little! I might have to try it though, my husband has a cold which means I will inevitabley catch it & this no cold meds while pregnant thing is just miserable. Thanks for sharing :)

Anonymous said...

How long can you keep it after it has been strained?

Libby said...

Can kids take it, and if so, do you give them a smaller dose?

Anonymous said...

When you say 'head of garlic' do you mean bulb or clove?

Lindsay @ Delighted Momma said...

It means the whole garlic bulb :)

Lindsay @ Delighted Momma said...

Libby- yes kids can drink it, it is completely natural and great for everyone! I would say do half the dose of an adult.

Jesscia said...

I make this and use it all the time! ever used Beets I have some on the garden still so going to make another batch! my kids drink it too!

Anonymous said...

Are the beets raw or cooked?

I need to try this.

Thanks

Lindsay @ Delighted Momma said...

The beets need to be raw.

Anonymous said...

How large is the mason jar that you used. 32oz? I'm in Germany and have to order the mason jars online and didn't realize how many sizes they had.

Susan Bourbin said...

What happens if I don't like beets?

yourpursenality said...

How long is it good for after you strain off the solids?

Moonpie said...

How long does it last storage wise?

Anonymous said...

What size Mason Jar did you use??

Michelle Bradley said...

I made this a month ago and it's been marinating. Strained it all out today and tried it and i guess I'm wierd too because it was so good sour and spicy :) hope it helps this cold and flu season.

Pediatrician Hopewell Junction NY said...

Thanks for sharing this cider recipe. It may help you feel better when you have a cold.

Abbey said...

I made some of this recently for me and my housemates and the unanimous opinion was that it's pickley and horribly delicious! Hopefully it will get us through the rest of cold/flu season with health!

Anonymous said...

This is just like cyclone cider! That stuff is amazing, so happy you can make at home.

tom said...

hey there

what if i cant store it the fridge, would like to take it to my travels...any advice on that? not the best idea or? (warm/humid climates)

thank you in advance
&
happy fire cider times

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