Time For Fire Cider!

I have gotten very excited lately about Master Tonic, formerly known as ‘Fire Cider’.  I’m a little wary of hot anything, but I tried this amazing blend of deliciousness at a health retreat one weekend.  All I can say is WOW!!  Its hot!  Sweet!  Potent!  And energizing all at the same time!  There’s a reason you only take a shot of it, and it packs a punch for sure.  Its healing, cleansing, and benefits the immune system!

Firecider is actually a copyrighted name now, even though this brew has been concocted throughout generations to enhance immunity, promote healing, relieve pain, and a host of other benefits.  So we will have to bypass the copyright laws and come up with another name for it.  I’m up for suggestions!

Now, let me stop and say I do not dispense medical advice, nor am I a physician.  I am only suggesting a delicious blend of foods in a raw vinegar base that have been reported (backed by scientific and clinical studies) to be healthful and support the immune system.  Tumeric, for example, has been shown to help with pain and inflammation, garlic has antioxidant boosting properties, and ginger is just great all around.  So, putting them all together just makes sense.  Taken every day or just with the onset of symptoms, its delicious, packs a whollop, and gives you a feeling of well being!

There are as many recipes for Master Tonic as there are people who make it.   And there are so many different health-promoting ingredients, I wanted them all!  After starting with the basic six ingredients, you can mix them, add more or less of any particular one, omit most any of them (the garlic, ginger and turmeric are basic and pretty much make up the standard mix).   Let your taste buds decide how you like it.  Here’s my recipe.  As you can see, I pretty much put the kitchen sink in my first batch, and liked it so much I just continued with it and add a new ingredient once in a while.  They are all healthful!  Dice all the ingredients fine and you’ll get more benefits from them.

Suzanne’s Master Tonic – Fire Cider

I put all the ingredients in an old one-gallon glass pickle jar, with wax paper or plastic wrap under the metal lid

1 large turmeric root, about 4-6 oz
1 large ginger root, 4-6 oz
6 oz horseradish root, minced or chopped very fine
2 garlic bulbs, diced (3 bulbs, even better!)
2 onions, chopped
1 lemon, sliced
1 cup pepper mash – I used a blend of peppers from my garden;  scotch bonnet, jalapeno, cayenne, tabasco.  More or less depending on how hot you like it

Raw apple cider vinegar, enough to fill the container

Raw honey, to taste.  At least a cup or more for this much liquid

1 orange, sliced – Optional

All the vegetables and roots are chopped up, placed in the jar, and covered with raw apple cider vinegar.  Fill the jar to the top.  Let this concoction site for one month to get the most intense flavor and defense properties.   Once its to your liking, strain, filter, and bottle in brown bottles, if possible.  It can keep in the fridge or in the cabinet.  I like mine cold.  You can add honey to the strained liquid to taste.

Now comes the really interesting part.  You can add anything you want!  Here’s my ingredients so far.  I chose each one for healing properties or anti-inflammatory abilities.  I add them all as I have them, sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on what is in my pantry or I happen to find.  Sometimes I try an ounce of this or that at the herb shop.  Find a great spice and herb shop and go happy in there!

Most are in the 2 tablespoon range, again more or less:

Hawthorne berries
Angelica root
Dandelion root
Burdock root
Schizandra seeds
Clove
Cinnamon bark
Oregano
Thyme
Rosemary
½ cup Elderberry
Stinging nettle leaves

And its as simple as that, to make your own healthy Fire Cider.  I hope you enjoy it, and leave me a note if you find another ingredient that you like!

I have also tried this fermented in a 3% salt brine instead of vinegar.  Same process, keep all the vegetables and herbs under the brine, weighted down.  Its delicious as well!  Fermenting has a whole different set of probiotics, whereas the vinegar is good for cleansing and healing.  Try both!

~Suzanne