Immune Boosting Elixir
Throughout centuries around the world, apples have been cultivated into vinegar and used for both food and medicine. Ancient folk remedies combining herbs with apple cider vinegar and honey have been documented since the time of Hippocrates. According to lore during the Bubonic plague, a group of thieves allegedly robbed graves of the deceased – but were protected from contagion by an immune-boosting concoction (made by their mother) that smelled of vinegar, garlic, herbs and spices.
Today, the tradition of drinking infused vinegar to protect from colds and strengthen our immune system continues, thanks to herbalists including Rosemary Gladstar. In the 1980s, she developed an herb and vinegar-based tonic she named “Fire Cider”, and shared her recipe with a group of aspiring herbalists. The popularity of Fire Cider elixirs has grown, with twists on Gladstar’s original recipe using readily available local ingredients – including Texas prickly pear tunas and local raw honey.
Inspired and ready to experiment on my own, I found classic ingredients from our local farmers markets, plus a Texas-made apple cider vinegar from Market Provisions. I plan to make more batches using peppers, onion, and garlic from my garden – I might even throw in extra herbs, just like the mama of those grave robbers!
Recipe
Fire Cider
Recipe and Photo by Mindy Myers, Rosemary Hollow Farm
Throughout centuries around the world, apples have been cultivated into vinegar and used for both food and medicine.
Mindy Myers is a farmer at Rosemary Hollow Farm.
