In today’s health-conscious world, we’re always on the lookout for natural remedies that can help boost our immune system and keep us feeling our best especially during the winter months. Enter Elderberry Fire Cider, a powerful concoction with a mix of potent ingredients designed to help fend off colds and flu.

Every year late in the summer the wild elderberry starts showing up on the roadsides near our farm. As we get the mail, and go for walks down the dusty, gravel road we watch it mature. First tiny little seeds, then they grow larger and green up, and eventually, they turn into a plump little deep purple berry. Once this happens, we have to act fast because it’s not just us, who is watching these little berries develop. So are the birds!

We harvest up as many as we can fit in our baskets and bring them home. We love making Elderberry Syrup, and immune-boosting Elderberry Gummies for the kids (and the adults love them too) and we even save a few to add to our fall batch of Elderberry Fire Cider. You could make fire cider without them, but I love the deep purple color it turns and the added antioxidants!

I make sure to grab what’s left out of our garden in the fall to quickly make up a batch before cold and flu season hits because this needs to brew for a few weeks before it’s nice and ready.

What is Fire Cider?

Elderberry fire cider is a traditional herbal tonic that combines a variety of immune-boosting ingredients, such as elderberries, garlic, onion, ginger and more which then are infused in apple cider vinegar. We make this powerful concoction to help strengthen our family’s defenses against illness during the colder months. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, this cider is known to support digestion along with providing immune support. 

The Recipe for Elderberry Fire Cider

How to make your own batch of immune-boosting fire cider with elderberry.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup fresh or dried elderberries
• 1/2 cup fresh ginger, chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh horseradish, grated
• 1/2 cup fresh garlic, crushed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2-3 hot peppers, chopped
• 1 lemon, zest and juice
• 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper
• 1/2 tsp Dried Rosemary
• 1 quart (32 ounces) raw apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup honey (optional, for sweetness)

Fire Cider Benefits: How is each ingredient helpful?

Every ingredient works together to benefit your overall health!

• Elderberries: The star of this cider – high in vitamin C and many other antioxidants, good for heart health, and lowers inflammation

• Ginger: Accelerates digestion and can treat nausea. Like grabbing a Ginger Ale Soda when you are sick!

• Horseradish: Horseradish is actually very nutrient dense! Zinc, Calcium, etc. It also has antibacterial components.

• Garlic: Overall boost to immune function and helps regulate blood pressure and cholesterol

• Onion: Known to be beneficial to bone strength as well as warding off different diseases

• Hot peppers: Aids in your hearts circulatory system

• Lemon Zest and Lemon Juice: Both help flush to body of toxins

• Cayenne Pepper: Helps aid and increase digestion

• Dried Rosemary: Supports both your circulatory and immune systems and helps with muscle pain

• Apple Cider Vinegar: Helps kill bacteria in your body

• Honey: Full of antioxidants + raw honey / raw local honey helps boost the immune system

For more information on each of these ingredients check here

Instructions:

1. In a quart-sized glass jar, (I love my Weck glass jars with a glass lid for this) combine the elderberries, ginger, horseradish, garlic, onion, hot peppers, and lemon zest.
2. Pour the apple cider vinegar over the ingredients, ensuring they are fully covered.
3. Seal the jar with a plastic lid or use a piece of parchment paper or wax paper between the jar and a metal lid to prevent corrosion.
4. Let the mixture sit in a cool, dark place for about 4-6 weeks, shaking it daily.
5. After the infusion period, strain the liquid into a clean glass bottle.
6. Add honey (if desired) and shake well.
7. Your homemade elderberry fire cider is ready to use!

How to Use Your New Elderberry Fire Cider

Incorporating this into your daily routine.

We take a small shot (about 1-2 tablespoons) of our cider daily to help boost your immune system, especially during the cold and flu season. You can also mix it with water, just or even use it in a salad dressing, marinade, or soup!

Watch How I make Our Family’s Fire Cider

and continue to follow us along on our instagram! @heartysol

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Questions People are asking about Elderberry Fire Cider

Elderberry fire cider is a fantastic natural remedy to help fortify your immune system. With this easy-to-follow recipe and our answers to some common questions, you can start making your own batch of this powerful cold-fighter to keep you feeling your best year-round. So, gather your ingredients, get brewing, and boost your immunity with homemade fire cider!

More Elderberry Posts!

Making Elderberry Syrup

Immune-Boosting Elderberry Gummies

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