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Our fire ciders started as a home remedy...
Every winter, we would pull out a gallon jar and whip up a large batch of fire cider to help boost our immune system through the winter months. After crafting a single bottle for a friend, what started as a family remedy soon rippled into a local sensation. Before long, our once quiet kitchen transformed into a thriving hub of Fire Cider production.
After moving to our Farm on Central, we sat down and asked ourselves, What can we grow? And, as it turns out, we could grow almost all of the ingredients we used. Over 80% of what’s in the bottle now comes from our small family farm!
Today, we're blessed to share our fire ciders with people from all over the country, and we've had fun creating new variations of our original remedy!
Want to learn more about this fiery concoction?
A fascinating history
Fire Cider has a rich history that dates back to the time of the European plague, linked to a concoction known as Four Thieves Vinegar. This blend was reputed to have protected thieves from the plague as they robbed the sick.
Centuries later, this brew found a champion in Rosemary Gladstar, a revered herbalist who, in the 1970s, introduced her students to Fire Cider—her take on this historical concoction. Gladstar’s blend combined apple cider vinegar with the fiery quartet of garlic, onion, ginger, horseradish, and hot peppers, mellowed by the sweetness of honey. Her formula ignited a wellness movement that rekindled the fire of this ancient remedy.
However, the path of Fire Cider has been not without legal review. In a modern-day skirmish reminiscent of lore, the term “Fire Cider” was claimed as a trademark by an startup, igniting a battle not for survival, but for the soul of herbal tradition. The herbal community rallied, a legal maelstrom ensued, and in a landmark victory for folk medicine, the courts ruled in 2019 that “Fire Cider” was a generic term—a win for Rosemary Gladstar and the community at large.
How to use it?
Standard Protocol:
- Most folks take 1-2 tablespoons at a time, up to 4 times a day when feeling the crud come on. Maintenance dosing is a tablespoon every day, although some will alternate it with elderberry syrup.
- We take it whenever we feel we are getting a cold, sore throat, the rona, flu, or respiratory illness. It can also be good for breaking up any nasal congestion, especially the Super Sassy!
Other ways to use it:
- For kids or the not so adventurous among us, we tend to mix 50/50 with elderberry syrup or any juice (grape is a favorite as it tends to also settle the tummy)
- Add it to your herbal tea and sweeten it with honey. This can be good for sipping throughout the day if you are under the weather. Check out our Ginger Tea as a great base.
- Make a hot toddy! Go ahead, drop some in hot water with whiskey, lemon and honey – enjoy while also boosting your health!
- As a dressing, we enjoy this with salad every week- we mix it with olive oil, some mustard, salt, and thyme. Some may mix in some additional honey as well. Toss this with greens, Parmesan, bacon and candied nuts for a real treat!
What's in each bottle?
While the ingredients vary by each blend and batch, here are a few of the potent fire cider essentials:
- apple cider vinegar
- garlic
- onions
- ginger
- horseradish
- black pepper
- hot pepper
- organic lemons
- honey
- thyme
- sage
- rosemary
- ginger greens
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