Nature’s Spicy Remedy for Cold Season

If you're looking for a way to warm up, boost your immunity, and connect with the land all at once — fire cider might just become your new favorite tonic. Rooted in folk herbal traditions, fire cider is a potent, vinegar-based infusion made with spicy roots, herbs, and often a touch of sweetness. The best part? You can make it with ingredients you forage from your local landscape.

At The Foraging Bee, I love sharing ways to bring wild wellness into our homes. Here’s a simple, customizable guide to making your own fire cider with foraged (or homegrown) ingredients.

What Is Fire Cider?

Fire cider is a traditional herbal remedy popularized by Rosemary Gladstar in the 1970s. It's designed to stimulate circulation, clear congestion, and support the immune system. The base is raw apple cider vinegar infused with powerful plants — and it’s both a health tonic and a culinary powerhouse.

Foraging Your Fire Cider: Wild Ingredients to Look For

Here are some common (and powerful) wild or garden-grown ingredients you can forage depending on the season and your region:

Spicy and Medicinal Roots

Wild garlic or ramps – antiviral, antibacterial, and great for respiratory support
Horseradish root – opens up sinuses and fights infection
Ginger root – anti-inflammatory (can be grown or occasionally wild in warm climates)
Wild onions or nodding onion – pungent and warming

Immune-Boosting Herbs and Additions

Yarrow – wildflower with antiviral and fever-reducing properties
Rose hips – packed with vitamin C
Thyme, oregano, or bee balm – antimicrobial wild herbs
Pine needles – citrusy, rich in vitamin C, and antimicrobial
Dandelion root or nettle leaf – detoxifying and nutrient-dense

The Fire Cider Recipe (Foraged Edition)

This is a loose recipe — feel free to experiment and trust your instincts. Nature’s medicine doesn’t always follow exact rules!

Ingredients:

½ cup wild garlic or garlic cloves (chopped)
½ cup onion or wild onion (chopped)
¼ cup horseradish root (grated)
¼ cup ginger root (grated)
2–3 hot peppers or a pinch of wild pepper
¼ cup rose hips (fresh or dried)
A small handful of pine needles (chopped)
A sprig of thyme, bee balm, or yarrow
Peel from one wild citrus fruit or a small handful of zest
Raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar
Raw honey (optional, added after straining)

Instructions:

Add all your chopped and grated ingredients into a clean glass jar. Fill it about ¾ of the way full.
Pour in enough apple cider vinegar to completely cover the ingredients.
Seal tightly (use parchment paper under metal lids to prevent corrosion).
Store in a cool, dark place and shake daily.
Let infuse for 3–4 weeks.
Strain through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer into a clean jar.
Add raw honey to taste, if desired.

How to Use Fire Cider

Take 1–2 tablespoons daily as an immune tonic.
Mix with hot water for a warming tea.
Use as a salad dressing base or drizzle over roasted veggies.
Add to marinades or soups for a zesty kick.

Seasonal Fire Cider Variations

Get creative and align with the seasons:

Spring: nettles, dandelion root, chickweed
Summer: wild mint, bee balm, elderflower
Fall: rose hips, goldenrod, wild apples
Winter: pine, cedar tips, dried yarrow

Connect with the Land, One Sip at a Time

Fire cider is more than a health tonic — it’s a way to connect with the seasons, honor traditional wisdom, and take your wellness into your own hands. Whether you’re harvesting garlic from the garden or gathering rose hips on a crisp autumn walk, every ingredient tells a story.

So next time you're out foraging, bring a basket, gather with intention, and try your hand at crafting this fiery, foraged remedy.

Let’s 🐝 curious, stay wild, and keep exploring.
– Mark Vanderende | The Foraging Bee

How to Make Your Own Fire Cider with Foraged Ingredients