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Fire Cider

ByKristen Wood Last updated

4.91 from 61 votes

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My homemade fire cider recipe is a spicy, warming herbal tonic made with apple cider vinegar, ginger, garlic, turmeric, cayenne, honey, and aromatic herbs and spices. Learn how to make traditional fire cider at home with this easy recipe.

A hand holds a glass jar filled with pickled vegetables and herbs, reminiscent of a homemade fire cider recipe; loose herbs and a cloth are visible on a wooden table in the background.
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A Note From Kristen

I’ve been a self-taught herbalist since I was a teenager, and making herbal remedies at home has been part of my life for decades. It’s also what eventually inspired me to create my botanical-focused site, Schisandra & Bergamot. Fire cider is one of those recipes I’ve returned to again and again, tweaking the ingredients and proportions along the way. This version is my own special blend, and after plenty of experimenting, I feel like I finally got it just right. It’s fiery, warming, a little sweet, and packed with the herbs and spices I love working with. I hope you love it too!
~Kristen

Wooden table with dried herbs, garlic cloves, ginger root, a halved onion, and cinnamon stick—classic ingredients for a fire cider recipe—arranged on top of a blue cloth.

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“I really love this. I add a little bit to my green tea in the morning and it gives me a little boast!”
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Overhead view of a jar filled with dried orange flower petals, surrounded by star anise, garlic cloves, measuring spoons, and scoops of dried herbs on a wooden surface—perfect ingredients to inspire your next fire cider recipe.
A jar of pickled vegetables sits on a wooden surface surrounded by garlic, ginger, herbs, a blue cloth, and wooden spoons with spices—classic ingredients often found in a traditional fire cider recipe.

What is Fire Cider?

Fire cider is a spicy herbal vinegar tonic popularized by herbalist Rosemary Gladstar in the 1980s. Traditionally, it’s made by steeping pungent roots, herbs, and spices in apple cider vinegar for several weeks, then straining the mixture and adding honey.

Recipes vary, but common fire cider ingredients include ginger, garlic, onion, horseradish, hot peppers, and warming spices. The result is a potent, tangy, sweet, and spicy herbal infusion that can be taken by the spoonful or incorporated into drinks and recipes.

A hand holds a jar of homemade pickled vegetables and herbs in brine, inspired by a classic fire cider recipe, with garlic, dried spices, and a cloth under the lid on a wooden table.
A hand holds two pieces of star anise above a jar of ground spice, with measuring spoons, dried herbs, and garlic cloves in the background—ingredients that could easily be part of a warming fire cider recipe.
A jar filled with sliced ginger, ready for a fire cider recipe, sits on a wooden table surrounded by garlic cloves, measuring spoons with dried herbs, a blue cloth, rosemary, and a cinnamon stick.

What Is Fire Cider Used For?

Fire cider is traditionally enjoyed as an herbal tonic, but its bold, tangy flavor also makes it surprisingly versatile in the kitchen. Here are some of my favorite ways to use homemade fire cider:

  • Take it by the spoonful or as a small shot. I like 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time, either straight or diluted with a little water.
  • Make a salad dressing. Whisk fire cider with olive oil for an easy vinaigrette or bread dip.
  • Add it to drinks. Stir a splash into water, juice, tea, or smoothies.
  • Mix it into mocktails or cocktails. Its spicy, sweet, and acidic flavor adds a nice kick.
  • Use it in savory dishes. Add a splash to stir-fries, soups, marinades, roasted vegetables, or grain bowls anywhere you might otherwise reach for vinegar.
A glass jar filled with herbs and liquid sits on a wooden surface, evoking the beginnings of a classic fire cider recipe, with a wooden spoon of herbs and garlic cloves nearby.
A glass jar filled with a yellow spice blend inspired by a classic fire cider recipe and topped with a star anise, placed on a dark surface with measuring spoons and loose spices in the background.
A bowl of light brown liquid is being held above a jar of spices, with garlic, ginger, and herbs on a wooden surface in the background—a perfect setup for preparing a homemade fire cider recipe.

Key Ingredients

A few quick notes on the ingredients that matter most. Find the full ingredient list and instructions in the recipe card below.

  • Ginger: Fresh ginger root gives fire cider its characteristic warming, peppery bite. Dried ginger root or 1 tablespoon ground ginger can be used in a pinch.
  • Onion and garlic: These pungent aromatics give the infused vinegar a bold, savory flavor. Red, white, or yellow onion will all work.
  • Turmeric: I use dried turmeric root for its earthy, slightly bitter flavor and beautiful golden color. You can substitute chopped fresh turmeric or 1 tablespoon ground turmeric.
  • Lemon peel: Dried lemon peel adds a bright citrus note that balances the stronger savory ingredients. Fresh lemon, lime, or orange zest also works well.
  • Rosemary: Dried rosemary adds an aromatic, woodsy flavor. Fresh rosemary, thyme, or oregano can be used instead.
  • Star anise and cinnamon: These warming spices add a subtle sweetness and complexity that make this particular fire cider recipe a little different from more traditional versions.
  • Cayenne pepper: Cayenne provides the fiery heat fire cider is known for. For a milder version, use less or leave it out. Red pepper flakes or whole dried chiles also work.
  • Apple cider vinegar: This forms the base of the fire cider and extracts the flavors of the herbs, roots, and spices as they steep. I recommend raw apple cider vinegar for this recipe.
  • Raw honey: Honey is stirred in after straining to soften the vinegar’s sharp acidity and balance the heat with sweetness. Maple syrup or agave nectar can be used for a vegan fire cider.
A glass jar filled with herbs in liquid sits on a wooden table, surrounded by garlic cloves, dried herbs, a cinnamon stick, and a blue cloth—classic ingredients for any traditional fire cider recipe.

How to Store Fire Cider

Once strained, transfer your fire cider to a clean, airtight glass jar or bottle. I prefer to store homemade fire cider in the refrigerator, where it will stay fresh for several months. Always use clean utensils when serving it, and discard the fire cider if you notice mold, an unusual odor, or other signs of spoilage.

For the best flavor and quality, keep the jar tightly sealed between uses.

A wooden scoop of dried rosemary rests on a wooden table next to a jar of infused liquid—perhaps destined for a fire cider recipe—and a piece of blue cloth.

Kristen’s Top Tips

  • Give it time. The flavor becomes deeper and more complex as the ingredients infuse, so resist the urge to strain it too early.
  • Shake the jar regularly. This helps redistribute the herbs and spices throughout the vinegar as they steep.
  • Keep everything submerged. Press any floating ingredients back beneath the vinegar to ensure an even infusion.
  • Taste before adding all the honey. After straining, add the honey gradually and adjust until the balance of tangy, spicy, and sweet tastes right to you.
  • Label your jar. Add the date you started the infusion so you don’t have to remember how long it has been steeping
A jar filled with mixed dried herbs and a spoon, surrounded by garlic cloves and scoops of dried spices on a rustic wooden surface—perfect for crafting your own fire cider recipe.

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Spices, ginger, garlic, star anise, and a bowl of tea are arranged on a wooden table with a blue cloth, evoking the warming ingredients often found in a traditional fire cider recipe.
A hand holding a glass jar filled with pickled vegetables, herbs, and spices—reminiscent of a classic fire cider recipe; scattered ingredients and a wooden scoop are in the background.

Homemade Fire Cider Recipe

Author: Kristen Wood
33kcal
4.9 from 61 votes
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Prep 5 minutes
Infusion Time 21 days
Total 21 days 5 minutes
This homemade fire cider recipe combines apple cider vinegar with ginger, garlic, turmeric, warming spices, cayenne, and honey for a bold, tangy, sweet, and spicy herbal tonic.
Servings 24 servings
Course Beverages, Lifestyle, Vegan
Cuisine American, Herbal
Diet Diabetic, Gluten Free, Halal, Hindu, Kosher, Low Calorie, Low Fat, Low Lactose, Low Salt, Vegan, Vegetarian
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Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup ginger root sliced
  • 1/2 onion chopped
  • 8 garlic cloves crushed
  • 2 star anise pods whole
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 tablespoons dried turmeric root
  • 1 tablespoons dried lemon peel
  • 1 tablespoon dried rosemary
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper ground
  • apple cider vinegar to cover
  • 1/2 cup raw honey
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Method

  1. To a large clean jar (see notes below) add all ingredients except vinegar and honey.
    A jar with sliced ginger, surrounded by garlic cloves, dried herbs, a cinnamon stick, and measuring spoons on a wooden surface with a blue cloth—these ingredients are perfect for preparing a traditional fire cider recipe.
  2. Fill jar of ingredients to the top with apple cider vinegar.
    A glass jar filled with dried herbs and orange flower petals sits on a wooden surface, suggesting the beginnings of a fire cider recipe, with loose herbs and garlic cloves arranged in the background.
  3. Place a lid tightly on the jar. If using a metal lid, place a paper muffin liner or cheesecloth over the jar before screwing the lid on to prevent the acid in the vinegar from reacting with the metal in the lid.
    A glass jar covered with a paper lid contains preserved ingredients for a traditional fire cider recipe, sitting on a wooden surface with spices and a blue cloth in the background.
  4. Place the jar in a cool, dark place to sit for 4 weeks.
  5. When four weeks has passed, strain the liquid into a clean jar and stir in the raw honey.
  6. Keep in a cool dark place or in the refrigerator for up to one year. Enjoy!

Notes

I like to use a one quart jar for this recipe, but there is wiggle room to go larger or smaller with this recipe. Just be certain to fill the jar to the top with vinegar!
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Nutrition

Serving2tablespoonsCalories33kcalCarbohydrates7gProtein0.2gFat0.1gSaturated Fat0.03gPolyunsaturated Fat0.02gMonounsaturated Fat0.02gSodium2mgPotassium51mgFiber0.4gSugar6gVitamin A21IUVitamin C1mgCalcium9mgIron0.4mg

Nutritional information is automatically calculated using a third-party calculator and is an estimate only.

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Kristen is a writer, photographer, recipe developer, and certified functional nutrition expert. She is also the author of Fermented Hot Sauce Cookbook, Vegetarian Family Cookbook, and Hot Sauce Cookbook for Beginners. Her work has been featured in various print and online publications including Elle, NBC, Chicago Sun-Times, Martha Stewart, MSN, New York Daily News, Healthline, and many more. Kristen is also a syndicated writer for The Associated Press.

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9 Comments

  1. Can you use the discard of the food part of the fire cider after draining liquid into another jar?

    Reply

    1. Hi, Willow! Thank you for visiting. Yes, most certainly! You can blend it into smoothies, add to soups, mix into stir-fries, etc. I know some people even dehydrate and pulverize it to make a tasty medicinal powder. I hope this helps!

      Reply

  3. 5 stars
    I’m really intrigued by this idea and always have these ingredients to hand so I can’t wait to try it. We need all the help we can get in the cold months.

    Reply

  4. 5 stars
    I love this drizzled over my roasted vegetables, so good! And the health benefits are amazing!

    Reply

  5. 5 stars
    I really love this. I add a little bit to my green tea in the morning and it gives me a little boast!

    Reply

  6. If I added the honey to the dry ingredients before adding the vinegar, should I discard the whole thing?

    Reply

    1. Have you already added the vinegar, too? If not, you can infuse the ingredients in honey and let it sit for 3-4 weeks (this makes a fermented honey base). Then add the vinegar as the last step. If you already added the vinegar, then mix it all well and let it sit to infuse in the fridge instead. I hope this helps!

      Reply