Let’s face it we love our kids but they are small little petri dishes and usually patient zero when it comes to an illness breach into the home. So let’s fortify their little systems. And yes I know the trick of saying food is spicy so that we don’t have to share our snacks, but this fire cider really is yummy. It is made especially for them to be more sweet than bitter and tangy not spicy…and the best part it’s chocked full of healthy nutrients.
So what is fire cider?
It is a vinegar based herbal health tonic and folk remedy that helps support your immune system, improve digestion, and prevent a cold or flu.
It can be a mixture different herbs and foods such as horseradish, turmeric, garlic, oranges, ginger, herbs, and peppers all infused and in apple cider vinegar. It was first popularized in the 1970s by herbalist Rosemary Gladstar but has been around for generations!
How do you make fire cider?
- Wash, slice/chop your ingredients and layer them into a clean glass jar .
- Cover with the apple cider vinegar.
- Cover the jar with a lid and let sit at room temperature out of the sun for 2 weeks.
- Strain liquid into a bowl, pressing the ingredients with the back of a spoon to release as much liquid as possible, and discard everything else.
- Pour the strained liquid into a clean quart jar.
- Optionally sweeten the fire cider to taste with raw honey or maple syrup for a vegan-friendly version.
- Cover the jar with a lid and store at room temperature out of the sun for up to 6 months.
The most popular recipes do include spicy herbs like horseradish, habanero or jalapeño peppers, but for the littles we took out super hot stuff and focused on the peppery essence of nutritious Moringa, and the warming power of ginger. The other elements are high in antioxidant and micronutrients:
Purple Onion : Vitamin C, Biotin, Chromium, Calcium, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Sulfur and Fiber
Purple Cabbage: Sulfur, Iron, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Copper, and Zinc.
Gold and Purple Beets: Fiber, Folate (Vitamin B9), Manganese, Potassium, Iron, and Vitamin C.
Blueberries: Iron, Phosphorous, Calcium, Magnesium, Manganese, Zinc, and Vitamin K.
Strawberries: Antioxidants, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin K
Oranges: Vitamin C, Folate, Calcium, Potassium, and Thiamine (Vitamin B1)
Lemons: Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin C
Tumeric: Curcumin, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, and Other Antioxidants
Ginger: Antimicrobial, Potassium, Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Selenium
Black pepper: Digestive Magnesium, Pepperine to assist with absorbing Curcumin
Honey: Antioxidant
Herbs:
Lemon Balm: Soothes anxiety and antiviral
Catnip: Soothes anxiety and fever, antimicrobial
Leaf of Life: Respiratory support
Thyme : Antimicrobial
Clove: Antimicrobial
Moringa: Nutrient dense tonic
Other ingredients to consider:
Elderberries, Strawberry Leaf, Cinnamon, Pineapple, or Kiwi
Tip: You’ll want to measure with your heart on this one depending on the container being used.
So love your kids but not their cooties? Make a yummy Kid's Fire Cider to help keep them away! The cooties… not the kids…we can’t help you there xoxo
Tag us when you make some and let us know what YOU put in it!