DIY: Fire Cider

I just made another batch of this tonic for my family and our winter immune health.  Rosemary Gladstar is the woman who made this herbal remedy famous and named it appropriately.  Just this year the herbal community had a huge victory overturning a company's trademark and exclusivity to use the words "fire cider".  So make a batch and toast to people having access to our plant medicine traditions!  

You can take this cider as a warming tonic to help keep colds at bay, or use it to literally blast your system for those who like to take a stronger approach to their wellness.  Just thinking about this stuff warms me up!

Directions:

Combine 1 head chopped garlic, 1 sliced lemon, and equal parts rosemary, horseradish, ginger, and burdock or dandelion root.  All of the above should be fresh if possible.  Chop herbs, garlic and roots finely and grate ginger, horseradish and combine in a mason jar.  If you like it spicy-add a hot pepper or two to your jar. I also like to add a handful of fresh or dried elderberries if I have them.  

Add raw honey if you would like to sweeten this tonic.  My daughter prefers it sweetened and so do I.  I add about a cup of raw honey if using a half gallon jar.  Pour raw apple cider vinegar over the herbs in your jar - leaving about an inch of vinegar on top of the plant material.  Use a spoon or a chopstick to release any air bubbles.  Cover with the lid and shake gently.  Keep your fire cider somewhere that is easily accessible like your kitchen counter or pantry and shake every day or two.  If the plant material sticks above the vinegar, use a spoon to tuck it back under the surface of the vinegar.

After about 2 weeks you can strain the plant material from the vinegar using cheese cloth or flour sack cloth towel.  Squeeze as much cider as you can out of this cloth.  Store your vinegar in dark glass or out of light if in clear glass.  

To your vibrant health!