How to Make Fire Cider and Enjoy Its Immune-Boosting Benefits

Mix a few simple ingredients to create a homemade tonic that keeps you warm and helps fend off colds and flu.

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Spicy and invigorating, fire cider is a simple homemade tonic made with vinegar and honey that warms the body and supports immune health through the colder months.

Blended with ingredients such as ginger, garlic, onions, and cayenne—known for their warming, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties—fire cider is inexpensive to make and a handy pantry staple during fall and winter. Similar to making honey-fermented garlic and herbal winter cordials, making fire cider is an easy way to support wellness and vitality.

History of Fire Cider

The practice of infusing herbs, spices, and vegetables in vinegar dates back to ancient Persia, Greece, and Rome. Fire cider gained popularity in the United States in the 1970s after herbalist Rosemary Gladstar developed her famous blend using garlic, onion, horseradish, ginger, and cayenne, and coined the term “fire cider.”