Maura Bailey is an amateur herbologist who writes from Cape May.
Fire cider is an easy and traditional remedy to prepare in anticipation of the cold and flu season! This cider is made with common kitchen herbs and spices. It has a strong herbal flavor with a nice spicy twist.
Herbs – like rosemary and thyme – and spices – like cayenne – are super relaxed plants that will flourish in most zones, including ours. I grow them during the summer season and routinely trim & collect them to be dried and stored away for several batches of fire cider. I used my very last cayenne pepper for this specific batch; next year’s growing season can’t come soon enough! Fire cider, when used on a regular basis, serves as a tonic that stimulates digestion, circulation, and helps keep the immune system perky. Listed below is a basic recipe by herbalist Rosemary Gladstar, but please know fire cider is eternally forgiving so a little freestyle in preparation is totally okay!
Rosemary Gladstar’s Traditional Fire Cider Vinegar Recipe
- 1/2 cup grated horseradish (clears sinus congestion!)
- 1/4 cup chopped garlic (antibacterial activity, stimulates immune system)
- 1/2 cup chopped onions (aids immune and cardiac systems)
- 1/4 cup chopped ginger root (for warming and decongestion)
- Cayenne pepper to taste. Fresh or dry pepper, either is fine! (increases blood flow)
- 1/4 cup each rosemary & thyme (warming, and for helping the gut. Helps you fart less, put simply…)
- Local honey, to taste!
Note: you can also add dried elderberries for potent anti-viral activity as well as other beneficial ingredients such as hibiscus, rose hips, lemon or lime slices, holy basil, and jalapeño, just to name a few!
Layer all solid ingredients (finely chopped) into a jar. Cover all contents with apple cider vinegar and seal with a PLASTIC lid! If a metal lid is used it will begin to rust inspired by the potency of the vinegar content. Place a label with the date on the jar and tuck it away in your pantry to infuse for 4-6 weeks! When ready, strain and decant in a clean jar. Enjoy!
Directions for enjoyment: Add 1-3 tablespoons of fire cider to a mug of steaming water. Add honey and a lemon wedge if desired! Use at the first sign of a sniffle, chill, or sore throat. Don’t drink this stuff straight, it’s super intense!
For more adventurous and ambitious fire cider recipes, check out Rosemary Gladstar’s book, Fire Cider!: 101 Zesty Recipes for Health-Boosting Remedies Made With Apple Cider Vinegar.
I learned a lot of this information from Susan Hess’s “Homestead Herbalism” course up in May’s Landing, which is currently accepting admissions for her 2025 class! You can find her on Instagram @stillroomatpitchpines
