Can anyone else feel fall? I know itās still only August, but I swear I can already smell autumn in the morning haha.
Another sign of the changing season is that most of the herbs are going by in the garden now- so I decided to save a bit of summery goodness for the winter via a batch of fire cider
@Shadeweaver Hahaha youāre right- the taste is something ferocious Iām hoping itās fierce enough to scare away any looming sickness, while still being manageable to drink! Fingers crossed!
@rebecca28 Good luck and happy crafting, Rebecca- I hope your fire cider turns out well!
Ooh, have 4 jars going right now, first attempt and they are supposed to be finished around the 9th. Iāll take some pics in the morning and share.
I used a quick recipe I found here using common kitchen spices Speedy Fire Cider and Iām hoping it turns out well. Recipe is for 1 quart (there are 5 of us here who will be using it as a tonic etc.) so I did 4 quarts and I substituted the birdās eye chiliās with jalapeno (love my jalapenoās).
They had some awesome ideas for using it besides a spoonful as a tonic and ideas for using the pulp:
āFire cider can be taken straight by the spoonful, added to organic veggie juice (throw in some olives and pickles for a non-alcoholic, healthy bloody mary!), splashed in fried rice, or drizzled on a salad with good olive oil. You can also save the strained pulp and mix it with shredded veggies like carrots, cabbage, broccoli, and fresh herbs to make delicious and aromatic stir-fries and spring rolls.ā
If is doesnāt turn out well I am going to give the traditional Rosemary Gladstar one a try Fire Cider scroll to the bottom for a printable if you like.
Oh and @BryWisteria look for some of these, they come in regular jar mouth and wide mouth and are a game changer for acidic liquids and canning jar lids:
Also lil tidbit of research for everyoneā¦ Sometimes you will see people listing recipes that call for apple cider vinegar with āthe motherā, this is what āthe motherā is: Apple cider vinegar with āthe motherā contains a higher amount of beneficial compounds like acetic acid, enzymes, proteins, and friendly bacteria due to its unfiltered nature. On the other hand, vinegar without āthe motherā goes through a filtering process that removes these elements.
The mother is what is in the ACV that makes it good for your digestive system.
Very exciting! I hope your batches turn out wonderfully- please let us know what you think of the final result when they are ready!
And thank you so much for the recipes and printable pages- those are awesome to have. That is so nice that they are preserving (and sharing) Gladstarās recipe with herbalists of the future!
The piece of parchment paper I used to protect the lid is working but is certainly not the best option available haha. Iāll keep an eye out for these lid jars- they sound great for working with vinegar/acidic products!
Wow 4 jars of Fire Cider! I have troubles getting through 1. Iād share it with others, but once someone tries it they look at me like Iām trying to kill them.
Rosemary is the Grandmother of Herbalism and she has an amazing amount of recipes. If you are into herbalism she still teaches a beautiful, gentle approach.
The plastic caps for mason jars are the best. I use them all the time. No more rusty rings and lids.
Am I correct in thinking that Fire Cider is sort of likeā¦an immune booster during the colder months? And of course, when made with witchy intentions, can be magically boosted?
Itās recommended to take a spoonful (either mixed with water or, if youāre particularly fierce, straight) when you begin to feel the first signs of a cold. Some people take it periodically throughout the cold season to prevent illness before it can sink in.
Looking at it herbally, itās loaded with powerful immunity herbs and ingredients- things with anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties, etc. Then of course a bit of magickal intent while crafting heightens those properties and can add an extra shroud of protection to whoever drinks it.
Fire Cider (along with the similar Four Thieves Oil) are great medicines to have on hand in winter!
Ohh okay, that makes sense! It reminds me of this liquid tincture I take when I start to feel sick called The Wellness Formula!
These are the ingredients.
Elderberry Fruit
Echinacea (E. purpurea & E. angustifolia) Root
Coptis Root
Yin Chiao Formula (honeysuckle flower, forsythia fruit, peppermint leaf, schizonepeta aerial parts, licorice root, prepared soy bean, platycodon root, bamboo shoot, phragmites root, and burdock seed)
Ginger Root
Cinnamomum spp. Bark
Elder Flower
Eleuthero Root
Horehound Aerial Parts
Isatis Root
Bayberry Root Bark
Itās prettyā¦uhhā¦spicy but it works really well! I think when itās gone, Iāll make some fire cider and put it in the dropper bottles that the Wellness Formula comes in.
The Fire cider takes a month at least, make it now, make a quart and if you donāt need it all it means you and yours are healthier than you thought you would be. By the time you strain out a quart you only have about a pint anyways
When you take it, do a shot straight up and chase it with whatever cuts the horrible taste and burning, but know that NO virus or bacteria will live to see another day.
Wow, this is one loaded formula! Elderberries and flowers, echinacea, ginger, and so much more- I havenāt even heard of some of these herbs before! I wonder what purpose the soy bean serves? I can imagine itās a pretty spicy flavor haha- Iād love to hear how they compare once youāve tried the fire cider!
You, my friend, are a very strong and brave soul
Iām a baby and I mix it with water haha. It lengthens the time of suffering, yes, but it also cuts the amount of suffering by a lot. Pick your poison, I suppose- although to be fair, this is only poison for viruses, bacteria, and other ickies you want out
All the more for you, my dear!
I wonder if it would work as an offering for Loki? Do you think He would appreciate a shot glass of something like this? It certainly has a chaotic flavor!
Itās definitely a spicy formula I think they changed something about it recently because this new bottle I have is extra spicy compared to my last one. Iām curious to see how the fire cider compares to this, too! The Wellness Formula also comes in tablets - they taste horrible but they work so well!
Ya know, thatās a really good questionā¦ I know there are some studies that show soy can be beneficial for cholesterol, blood pressure, and other medical issues. Iām not sure what role it plays here, though, especially since itās in the Yin Chiao Formula.
So, I did some digging ā because of course I did lol ā and I found this website (History of Yin Qiao Herbal Formula | AcuAtlanta Store News) that actually gives a breakdown of the ingredients, how theyāre used, and why in regard to Traditional Chinese Medicine. Iām not sure how reliable the website is, but it doesnāt give me any red flags! Hereās what it says about the soybean as an ingredient.
Uses: Clears wind cold or wind heat, irritability from febrile disorders. Biomedical: Mild diaphoretic.
That makes a lot of sense given that the Wellness Formula is mainly used to treat colds and upper respiratory illnesses.
I have troubles getting through 1. 
Iād share it with others, but once someone tries it they look at me like Iām trying to kill them.
By the time you strain out a quart you only have about a pint anyways 
I know there are some studies that show soy can be beneficial for cholesterol, blood pressure, and other medical issues. Iām not sure what role it plays here, though, especially since itās in the Yin Chiao Formula.