Making Fire Cider November 14, 2018 @goldenoakfarm
Back in the middle of October my helper friend and I made a ½ gallon of Fire Cider.
He had dug his horseradish and given me the jar of pretty peppers. I bought turmeric and was gifted the raw honey. I had my ginger preserved in alcohol, our own vinegar, and our onions and garlic.
He had found the recipe on Edible Pioneer Valley:
http://www.ediblepioneervalley.com/recipes/recipes/beverages/recipe-homemade-turmeric-fire-cider?rq=Fire%20cider
Homemade Turmeric Fire Cider
¼ cup horseradish, freshly grated
¼ cup garlic, chopped
½ cup onion, chopped
¼ cup ginger, freshly grated
¼ cup turmeric, freshly grated
Cayenne, to taste
About 1 cup raw apple cider vinegar (enough to cover all the ingredients)
Honey, to taste
Combine all ingredients, but vinegar and honey, in a pint jar. Cover with apple cider vinegar. Vinegar will corrode metal so, for this recipe or any other vinegar tincture, use a jar with a plastic lid, with a cork or ceramic top, or place a layer of wax paper between the lid and the vinegar mixture. Let the mixture sit for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, strain and sweeten to taste with honey.
Homemade Turmeric Fire Cider is a great winter immune tonic and digestive aid. It’s potent (and I think delicious) taste and smell help to clear up sinus and respiratory congestion. It stimulates circulation, improving the immune response and helping keep you warm!
It can be taken regularly as a dietary supplement or as prevention or treatment for a cold or flu: Take 1 teaspoon every hour at the onset of sickness, then 1 tablespoon 3–5 times per day until symptoms have cleared. It can also be taken as a warming winter digestive aid: Sip 1 tablespoon of fire cider in 4 ounces of warm water before meals. Recipe makes about 1 cup fire cider.
We had a lot more than ¼ cup of horseradish and that determined how much we ended up making. I think he chopped up 2 of the little peppers for this batch. It was just about right, as I don’t tolerate really hot things.
It was one month by yesterday so he brought his tincture press. I had already dipped into it on Sunday as I had a sore throat.
Loading the press
The ½ gallon just fit
Pressing
Filling a quart
Pressed residue
Finished product, 1 quart, 1 pint
I had added a tiny amount of honey to what I had taken out on Sunday. But taste tests after pressing showed it did not need honey at all. The last job was labeling the jars.
I have to say, if just the smell is enough to clear up congestion, I'm a little wary... Haha! I may have to try this out. Sounds like something that would be nice to have on hand.
I did not find the smell at all unpleasant. It would not clear the sinuses at the strength I made it. But it did help the sore throat.
What beautiful liquid gold @goldenoakfarm! I have seen a number of fire cider posts now. I best make some of my own! How often, how much and when do you take it personally?
This is the first year I have made my own. My helper friend says he makes a gallon for him and his wife for the winter season. You take 2 tsps several times a day when you first feel illness coming on. Or you can take 2 - 4 tsps. a day as preventative.
Personally, I take it at the first sign of illness.
Thank you!