Charlotte’s Fire Cider Tonic Recipe

Charlotte's Fire Cider Tonic Recipe

Fire cider is a spicy vinegar herbal tonic that extracts the medicinal qualities of the ingredients you use to make it.  You take it by the spoonful or you can add mellow it by combining it with food or drink. Fire cider helps to clear out the sinuses and wake up the immune system. It can be taken to ward off a colds or other respiratory infections. You can take it daily for preventative measures or turn to it when you feel something coming on. Best of all, you won’t believe how delicious the flavours are.

This is a folk preparation and there are hundreds of variations on the original recipe.  The ingredients can change from year to year depending on when you make it and what’s growing around you. The base ingredients include, apple cider vinegar, garlic, onion, ginger & horseradish but there are many other herbs, flowers and fruits that can be added.

We decided to honour the ingredients that grow on the homestead in the creation of our fire cider recipe.  I suggest you do the same. Gathering the ingredients to create your own healing tonics from your own land is a really meaningful practice. As you gather a basket of ingredients to make this recipe, you will see what I mean.

Easy to Make

Charlotte's Fire Cider Tonic Recipe

Fire cider tonic is simple to make. Grab a basket and gather your ingredients from the garden, pasture & woodlands. Wash and place the ingredients in a glass jar. Cover the ingredients with vinegar. Cover the jar and allow the ingredients to steep for 6-8 weeks. Strain out the solids and bottle.

Fire Cider Tonic History

Fire Cider tonic was formulated by herbalist Rosemary Gladstar. It is a recipe that anyone can make in his or her own kitchen. She encourages people to adapt the fire cider tonic to their own tastes, and share recipes. You can learn more about the origins of Fire Cider here.

How To Use Fire Cider Tonic

Medicinal – A small shot glass daily serves as an excellent tonic or start taking  a teaspoon 2-3 times a day if you feel a cold coming on

Heartburn relief – For quick heartburn relief take a shot of fire cider (without honey).

Morning wake up – If you are feeling groggy in the morning take a short of fire cider and you’ll be energized and raring to go!

Vinaigrette salad dressing  simply replace the vinegar component of your recipe with fire cider

Hot Toddy – Add some fire cider tonic to a glass of bourbon soothing, boozy, one of a kind drink

Apple Cider Vinegar

If you would like to make your own raw apple cider vinegar here is a recipe.

Charlotte's Fire Cider Recipe

Fire cider is a spicy vinegar herbal tonic that extracts the medicinal qualities of the ingredients you use to make it.  You take it by the spoonful or you can add mellow it by combining it with food or drink. Fire cider helps to clear out the sinuses and wake up the immune system. It [...] The Kitchen Charlotte’s Fire Cider Tonic Recipe European Print This
Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat
Rating: 5.0/5
( 1 voted )

Ingredients

  • ½ cup chopped fresh horseradish root
  • ¼ cup garlic cloves
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh ginger
  • 1 small onion
  • Handful of rose hips (whole)
  • Handful of rose petals
  • 2 small crab-apples
  • Small handful of nasturtium seeds
  • Assorted ingredients; turmeric, cayenne, elder berries, hawthorn, rosemary, nasturtium leaves, berries etc.
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Raw unpasteurized honey (to taste)

Instructions

Place ingredients in a large glass jar and cover with enough raw apple cider vinegar to cover everything by at least three to four inches.  Cover with a non reactive lid.

Place the jar in a warm, dark cupboard for four weeks.  Shake the jar daily.

After four weeks, strain out the solids, and reserve the liquid.

Optional: Warm some honey in a pot gently until softened and mix it into your strained fire cider mixture. Add enough honey to sweeten it to your taste. two table spoons to 1/4 cup.  You can also skip this and add the honey on a "per use" basis instead.

Store your fire cider in sterilized glass jars.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Rose hips have irritating hairs inside. Keep fresh rose hips whole.

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