Golden Fire Cider Tonic

Cold and flu season are upon us, unfortunately. But good news: I’m bringing you this recipe just in time! This homemade elixir is the ultimate immune system booster. Think of it as a preventative safeguard against getting sick. Like a flu shot, but more holistic. It’s packed FULL of all kinds of spicy, earthy, and otherwise, um,.. pungent ingredients. It’s long been a remedy for keeping good health and each ingredient brings unique properties. I love the added turmeric since it’s a powerhouse for soothing inflammation in the body. I recommend trying to find the best quality ingredients you can here. The citrus should definitely be organic, if you can find it, since the skins will be making prolonged contact with the vinegar, which we’ll ultimately be drinking. Conventional citrus is usually treated with pesticides and nasty chemicals we don’t want to be consuming. We’re trying to stay heathy here, not get sicker! Fresh horseradish and turmeric can both usually be found next to other tuberous roots in most grocery stores these days. Look for them by the chiles, ginger, and exotic ingredients area. For honey, I recommend definitely using a raw and unfiltered variety as it will still have the nutrients and antimicrobial and antifungal properties intact. Local-to-you honey is a bonus as well if you can find it as it will help combat allergies, since it will contain traces of local pollens to your area. But go for quality more than anything.

Another plus about this tonic: it’s very simple to make. The hardest part is waiting for it to finish steeping, which takes around 4 weeks, in order to reap the full benefits of all the ingredients. But I promise it’s worth the wait! This recipe makes a generous batch, about 1 quart, which should yield you about a month’s worth if you take about an ounce a day, like me. I love having a little tonic to sip on in the afternoons as part of my daily routine now and it feels great knowing I’m also doing my body good! It also makes a wonderful and very thoughtful gift. My dad has a compromised immune system and unfortunately gets sick quite easily, especially during flu season, so I made a double batch and am gifting him a bottle. Bonus: he loves garlicky, spicy things so this will be right up his alley! I can’t wait to see how it helps him stay healthy this season! Let me know if you make this and hope you enjoy! Cheers to good health!

Also, just a little disclaimer: while I fully support healing and maintaining your body holistically and naturally, I am in no way dispensing professional medical advice.

Golden Fire Cider Tonic

makes about 1 quart

1 c fresh ginger root, peeled and thinly sliced into coins
1 c fresh turmeric root, peeled and thinly sliced into coins ( I recommend wearing gloves while handling as it stains EVERYTHING!)
1 c fresh horseradish, peeled and cubed into 1/2 in cubes
1 medium onion, peeled and cubed into 1/2 in cubes
2 heads garlic, peeled and cloves smashed
4 sprigs fresh rosemary, washed
1-2 fresh habanero peppers depending on how spicy you’d like it, halved
1 T pepper corns
2 lemons, washed and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 orange, washed and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
4 cinnamon sticks
3 c raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar (or more to top off jar)
1 c honey, preferably raw, unfiltered, and local to you

Add all the ingredients except the vinegar and honey in a large jar, at least 2 quarts in size, packing the ingredients down with your hands, if necessary. Once all the ingredients are packed in tightly, pour over the vinegar and top off with more if necessary, until everything is submerged. Close up the jar tightly and allow to sit a room temperature for 4 weeks, giving the jar a good shake once a day. Once 4 weeks are up, drain the jar through a fine mesh strainer over a large bowl or pitcher. Discard the solids. Whisk in the honey until fully dissolved. Transfer to a large, clean glass jar or bottle with an air-tight lid. Store at room temperature. It should keep for about a year but you shouldn’t keep it around that long, you should be drinking it! So drink up to good health!