29/10/2025
What Is Fire Cider? A Student Herbalist’s Take 🔥
As part of my six-year herbalism training, we’ve been exploring traditional remedies that have truly stood the test of time, and fire cider has quickly become one of my favourites (with a few of my own tweaks 😆).
Fire cider is a classic folk tonic that began in American herbalism in the 1970s, popularised by herbalist Rosemary Gladstar. She created it as a warming, immune-boosting raw vinegar infusion, designed to support circulation, clear congestion, and lift sluggish energy during the colder months.
Traditionally, it’s made with apple cider vinegar infused with roots, herbs, and spices such as ginger, garlic, onion, turmeric, chilli, horseradish, and lemon, with a little raw honey added to balance the heat. Every herbalist has their own twist that’s the beauty of it. You really can’t go wrong.
As you can see in the photo I didn’t add the horseradish, I’ve been generous with the ingredients to my liking. It has plenty of fresh lemon, elderberries, wild-foraged rosehips, tons of root ginger, turmeric and garlic. With a sprinkling of herbs, so every spoonful is bursting with goodness.
I created my version to be high in vitamin C and a rich mix of natural antioxidants, plant compounds, and minerals that help your body fight off colds and clear sluggish winter energy. You’re getting the benefits of garlic, ginger, turmeric, citrus, herbs, and berries all in such a small amount, something most people never get in a single day 🤔
Although traditionally it’s extremely hot and tangy (and best just to get down in one 😜), my version still has slight warmth but is balanced by the raw honey. The berries and star anise lift the flavour, making it far more palatable. I couldn’t deal with the full-strength version myself and actually hate anything hot 😵💫.
Together, the apple cider vinegar, honey, and herbs support digestion, gut balance, and circulation, offering gentle, natural immune support, the kind that’s hard to get unless you’re eating eight to thirteen 80g portions of fruit and veg a day, as other cultures do.
Stored properly, it can keep for up to 12 months in the fridge, or left in a dark cool place, thanks to the natural preserving power of vinegar and honey with the mother.
For me, making fire cider isn’t just about the ingredients. It’s about connection to Mother Earth and the rhythm and flow of the seasons, whilst harnessing the gifts she provides to strengthen our inner terrain.
The honey is also from a local producer who isn’t harming the bees, their flourishing 💫 Every part of my fire cider is 30 percent Biodynamic, 40 percent organic and 30 percent wild foraged.
I’m still in the early stages of my herbal journey, but creating remedies like this and connecting with herbal wisdom passed down through generations reminds me that our kitchens can also be our medicine cabinets. 🙏
If you’ve never tried it before, now’s the perfect season to do some research, and start brewing your own. 🌶🍋🌿💫