Homemade Fire Cider |
| 2 c | |
| 1/4 c | |
| 10 clove | |
| 3 tbsp | |
| 1/2 c | |
| 3 inch | |
| 1 tbsp | |
| 3 inch | |
| 1 whole | |
| 1 tsp | |
| 1/4 tsp |
1. Shred the fresh ginger, horseradish, and turmeric.
2. Coarsely chop the onion, jalapenos, and cloves of garlic.
3. Juice the lemon and grate zest.
4. Combine with all other ingredients (except honey) in a large mason jar.
5. Place a piece of parchment paper between the fire cider and the lid of the mason jar to prevent the vinegar from eating away the lid.
6. Cover tightly and place in a dark place for 2-4 weeks.
7. When it is ready, shake vigorously and strain liquid into a clean jar.
8. Add honey to taste.
With searing hot jalapenos, piquant ginger, and tart apple cider vinegar, this bold tonic revs up all your senses at once. Its distinctive tangy taste will add some much needed zest and pizzazz to your day. Be warned, this powerful ferment is quite intense. You don't need much of this potent tonic to gain the benefits. Make sure to wash your hands after making this one - it is the last thing you want to get near your eyes!
Its diaphoretic qualities increase sweating, and can help the body "sweat out" a cold or flu. It opens the pores which can help reduce a low grade fever. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, this is known as "opening the exterior" for the pathogen to be expelled. This tonic, based off an old folk remedy, is antibacterial and antiviral, helping kill certain harmful pathogens in the gut without disrupting the balance of healthy bacteria. It is also known to maintain the balance of bacteria around the throat too, warding off painful, scratchy throats. To enhance the throat soothing effects, add 10 whole cloves to the recipe.
You can say goodbye to seasonal allergies and congestion when you introduce fire cider to your home remedy reserve. The pungent taste liquefies and decongests excess mucus in both the digestive system (kledaka kapha) and upper respiratory tract (avalambaka kapha), meaning you feel less congested and can breathe easier.
The pungency of this tonic is particularly beneficial for Kapha types, increasing their sluggish digestion and metabolism (mandagni). The sourness of this tonic strongly stimulates the flow of bile, helping you digest fat more efficiently and aid weight loss. Bile has a laxative effect, and regulating bile flow will help ensure regular elimination. This fire cider is a fermented tonic. Ferments are pre-digested by bacteria and are easily absorbed in the digestive tract. This, combined with its sour and pungent taste, revs up metabolism of all the tissues (dhatu agni).
Fresh ginger and turmeric stimulate digestion without aggravating acidity. Turmeric is a rich source of curcumin, a bright yellow compound produced by some plants that has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect. Apple cider vinegar contains malic acid, a known liver tonic that also helps drain bile, cleanse the liver, and in turn, cool Pitta inflammation. Pittas should omit the jalapenos, horseradish, and cayenne from this recipe, and can substitute with 1 tbsp of both coriander and fennel seeds instead.
If you want something with a little more sweetness, add it to a glass of pineapple juice. Pineapple juice has the added benefit of further increasing enzyme production as it contains bromelain which supports protein digestion. For those with a Pitta constitution, add splash to a glass of coconut water or carrot juice. Get creative with your batch of fire cider! Add a couple of tablespoons to salad dressings for a fiery kick or pour a dash on top of seltzer water for a refreshing "mocktail."
Constitutional nutrition is tailored to the individual. In the kitchen, especially during your family’s formative years, you shape your family's lifelong health.
Understanding your child's constitution is key to raising resilience, instead of wiring in disease. Study constitutional medicine to discover the keys to personalized nourishment.
Rooted in the insights curated from Ayurveda and Greek medicine, constitutional medicine teaches you which foods match your body, so you and your family have true vitality, strength, and balance. See How it Works.
Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Homemade Fire Cider' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.
Active Ingredients: Apple Cider Vinegar, Jalapenos, Turmeric Root (Fresh), Ginger (Fresh), Horseradish, Lemon, Cayenne Pepper, Honey
Active Ingredients: Jalapenos, Apple Cider Vinegar, Turmeric Root (Fresh), Garlic (raw), Ginger (Fresh), Horseradish, Cayenne Pepper, Lemon Zest, Honey
Active Ingredients: Jalapenos, Apple Cider Vinegar, Garlic (raw), Turmeric Root (Fresh), Horseradish, Lemon, Cayenne Pepper, Honey
Active Ingredients: Apple Cider Vinegar, Turmeric Root (Fresh), Garlic (raw), Horseradish, Lemon, Lemon Zest, Honey
Active Ingredients: Apple Cider Vinegar, Jalapenos, Garlic (raw), Turmeric Root (Fresh), Ginger (Fresh), Horseradish, Lemon Zest, Honey, Cayenne Pepper, Lemon
Active Ingredients: Jalapenos, Apple Cider Vinegar, Ginger (Fresh), Horseradish, Yellow Onion, Lemon, Cayenne Pepper
Active Ingredients: Apple Cider Vinegar, Lemon
Active Ingredients: Jalapenos, Garlic (raw), Ginger (Fresh), Horseradish, Cayenne Pepper
Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.
Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.
Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.
The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).
Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.
Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.
Active Ingredients: Garlic (raw), Ginger (Fresh), Horseradish, Lemon Zest
Active Ingredients: Garlic (raw), Horseradish
Active Ingredients: Garlic (raw)
Active Ingredients: Apple Cider Vinegar, Garlic (raw), Horseradish, Cayenne Pepper, Lemon
Active Ingredients: Apple Cider Vinegar, Turmeric Root (Fresh), Garlic (raw), Lemon
STRONG APPETITE-SUPPRESSANT Suppresses hunger without causing weight gain.
Active Ingredients: Apple Cider Vinegar
Active Ingredients: Garlic (raw), Horseradish
STRONG SIALOGOGUE A sialogogue increases saliva. Sour foods are often great sialogogues, and increase output of all exocrine glands. Salty taste is very moistening as well. Bitter, pungent and sweettastes also increase salivary output but to a lesser degree. Astringents.
Active Ingredients: Apple Cider Vinegar, Ginger (Fresh), Lemon, Cayenne Pepper
STRONG GENERAL-LAXATIVE Promotes a bowel movement. General laxative is an umbrella term that refers to several different types of laxatives.
Active Ingredients: Apple Cider Vinegar, Garlic (raw), Horseradish, Lemon, Honey
STRONG INTERNAL-DETOXICANT Liquefies, dissolves, decongests or dislodges internal stagnant toxins. Decongests the lymphatic system.
Active Ingredients: Apple Cider Vinegar, Jalapenos, Turmeric Root (Fresh), Garlic (raw), Ginger (Fresh), Lemon, Lemon Zest, Cayenne Pepper
STRONG BURNS-TOXINS An herb that detoxifies by helping your body metabolize toxins, as opposed to eliminating them.
Active Ingredients: Jalapenos, Turmeric Root (Fresh), Ginger (Fresh), Cayenne Pepper, Lemon Zest
Active Ingredients: Ginger (Fresh), Horseradish, Lemon, Lemon Zest
Active Ingredients: Ginger (Fresh), Horseradish, Lemon Zest, Lemon
Active Ingredients: Ginger (Fresh), Lemon, Honey
STRONG DIAPHORETIC An herb that induces sweating, often by dilating blood vessels close to the skin.
Active Ingredients: Apple Cider Vinegar, Garlic (raw), Horseradish, Lemon, Cayenne Pepper
STRONG FLUSHES-SINUSES An herb that relieves sinus congestion by flushing out mucus.
Active Ingredients: Turmeric Root (Fresh), Garlic (raw), Horseradish, Cayenne Pepper
STRONG WARMS-CHEST Warms the chest and lungs, clearing mucus and allowing for clear breathing. Often these herbs are hot, aromatic, and pungent.
Active Ingredients: Garlic (raw), Horseradish, Cayenne Pepper
Active Ingredients: Ginger (Fresh), Horseradish, Cayenne Pepper
STRONG EXPECTORANT Expectorants help you eliminate mucus from the lungs. These herbs often work by increasing the quantity of mucus, or thinning the mucus. Expectorants are indicated when phlegm congests the lower respiratory tract.
Active Ingredients: Apple Cider Vinegar, Garlic (raw), Horseradish, Cayenne Pepper, Lemon, Honey
STRONG DECONGESTANT An herb that reduces mucus production often by restricting blood flow to mucus membranes.
Active Ingredients: Garlic (raw), Ginger (Fresh), Cayenne Pepper, Lemon
STRONG MUCOLYTIC An herb that breaks apart mucus, liquefying the mucus.
Active Ingredients: Garlic (raw), Horseradish, Cayenne Pepper, Yellow Onion, Honey
STRONG BRONCHODILATOR An herb that encourages the widening or opening of the lung airways. They are helpful in wheezing and asthma.
Active Ingredients: Garlic (raw)
STRONG FLUSHES-MEMBRANES Herbs in this category stimulate mucus membranes to release fluids, flushing them out.
Active Ingredients: Apple Cider Vinegar, Yellow Onion, Lemon
STRONG ANTIMICROBIAL An agent that kills microorganisms or inhibits their growth. Antimicrobial is an umbrella term that can be broken down into specific categories of target microorganism, such as anti-bacterials, fungals, and virals.
Active Ingredients: Turmeric Root (Fresh), Garlic (raw), Horseradish, Lemon, Honey
STRONG ANTI-INFLAMMATORY Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.
Active Ingredients: Turmeric Root (Fresh), Ginger (Fresh), Cayenne Pepper
STRONG CARDIAC-STIMULANT Herbs that increase the heart rate. Useful in cardiovascular health, blood stagnation, and subjective feeling of heaviness in the chest area.
Active Ingredients: Jalapenos, Garlic (raw), Ginger (Fresh), Horseradish, Cayenne Pepper
STRONG ALTERATIVE Restores the proper function of the body by cleansing the blood and balancing blood chemistry. In Ayurveda terms, they pacify Pitta in rakta. They were traditionally used to revitalize and detoxify after a long winter.
Active Ingredients: Apple Cider Vinegar, Turmeric Root (Fresh), Lemon
STRONG VASODILATOR A vasodilator is an herb that widens the blood vessels by the relaxation of smooth muscle cells within the vessel walls, thereby increasing circulation systemically or to a local area.
Active Ingredients: Garlic (raw), Ginger (Fresh), Horseradish, Lemon, Cayenne Pepper
Active Ingredients: Garlic (raw), Horseradish
STRONG CHOLAGOGUE Cholagogues stimulate the production & release of bile from the liver & gallbladder. This refreshes and cleanses these organs, as well as increases bile in the small intestines.
Active Ingredients: Apple Cider Vinegar, Turmeric Root (Fresh), Garlic (raw), Lemon, Horseradish
STRONG LIVOTONIC An herb that strengthens the liver. It is helpful for people with a history of substance abuse, chronic liver issues from hepatitis and hemolytic anemias. Generally, liver tonics are oily, cool, sweet, mildly sour, or contain beta-carotene.
Active Ingredients: Apple Cider Vinegar
Active Ingredients: Ginger (Fresh), Lemon Zest, Cayenne Pepper
STRONG POLYPHENOLS Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants seen in many fruits and vegetables. There are more than 8,000 types.
Active Ingredients: Apple Cider Vinegar, Lemon
STRONG 5A-REDUCTASE-INHIBITOR Active Ingredients: Turmeric Root (Fresh)
STRONG POLYSACCHARIDES Active Ingredients: Garlic (raw), Horseradish, Yellow Onion
STRONG SULPHUR Active Ingredients: Garlic (raw), Horseradish, Yellow Onion
STRONG NITRIC-OXIDE Improves circulation by dilating blood vessels. Protects blood vessels from damage. Improves athletic performance, libido, immunity, and brain health.
Active Ingredients: Garlic (raw)
STRONG SULFATED-POLYSACCHARIDES Active Ingredients: Garlic (raw), Horseradish, Yellow Onion
Active Ingredients: Garlic (raw), Yellow Onion
MILD AROMATASE-INHIBITOR Blocks estrogen synthesis by inhibiting conversion of progesterone and testosterone into estrogen.
Active Ingredients: Horseradish, Lemon, Honey
MILD RUTIN Rutin is a flavonoid with anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Commonly used to treat conditions such as varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and high blood pressure.
Active Ingredients: Lemon
John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle through constitutional nutrition (Ayurveda & Greek Medicine). His approach is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful. John also directs the Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda, offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.
John's hobbies & specialties include advanced digestive disorders, medieval Catholic philosophy, & botany. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University. John, his wife Natalie and their 8 kids live in Asheville, NC
Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’
Do you like 'homemade fire cider'? Why or why not? What makes it unique? Is there something else you'd like to know about 'homemade fire cider'?
On MeWe
On Pinterest
On Facebook
On Twitter
On WhatsApp
On Email
Ingredients
Metabolic Effects & Herbal Actions
Instructions / Preparations
Similar foods and herbs
Constitutional Medicine Insights
Comments and reviews
