08/30/2026
Fire Cider is a beloved folk remedy developed and popularized by herbalist Rosemary Gladstar. Intended to be as much food as it is medicine, fire cider has long been used as a tonic for its many health benefits, including its antimicrobial qualities, minerals, beneficial bacteria, live enzymes, and B vitamins.
There are many recipes out there, some spicy, some are more kid-friendly. Below is Rosemary Gladstar's original recipe. Save this post to come back to when you're ready to make your kitchen medicine. And, if you'd like a step-by-step approach, check out our video from last year:
https://youtu.be/w83e7N8FgEk
Rosemary Gladstar’s Original Fire Cider Recipe
Ingredients
🍁1/2 cup grated horseradish root
🍁1/2 cup or more chopped onions
🍁1/4 cup or more chopped garlic
🍁1/4 cup or more grated ginger
🍁Chopped fresh or dried cayenne pepper to taste. “To taste” means it should be hot, but not so hot that you can’t tolerate it.
🍁Raw honey
🍁Unpasteurized apple cider vinegar
🍁Optional ingredients: turmeric, echinacea, cinnamon, sage, rosemary, thyme, etc...
Instructions
· Place herbs in a half-gallon canning jar and add enough raw, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar to cover the herbs by at least three to four inches. Cover tightly with a tight-fitting lid.
· Place the jar in a warm location and let it infuse for three to four weeks. It is best to shake every day to help with the maceration process.
· After three to four weeks, strain out the herbs and reserve the liquid.
· Add honey “to taste.” Your Fire Cider should taste hot, spicy, and sweet. “A little bit of honey helps the medicine go down...”
· Rebottle the liquid and enjoy!
· A small shot glass daily serves as an excellent tonic. Or, take teaspoons if you feel a cold coming on. Take it more frequently if necessary to help your immune system.
