How To Make Fire Cider
Learning how to make fire cider at home is a simple way to create this traditional herbal vinegar tonic using ingredients you can grow or find locally. This homemade fire cider combines garlic, onions, ginger, horseradish, hot peppers, citrus, herbs, and apple scrap vinegar for a spicy, tangy infusion. I especially love using garlic from my own garden—learn how to grow garlic at home! Let it infuse for 4–6 weeks, then strain and enjoy. It’s perfect for stocking your pantry or refrigerator with a homemade staple to have on hand year-round.
Quick Look: How To Make Fire Cider
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 15 minutes
- 🍳 Ferment Time: 28 days
- 🕒 Total Time: 28 days, 15 minutes
- 👥 Servings: 50
- 📊 Calories: ~1 kcal per serving (based on nutrition panel)
- 🔥 Cook Method: No cooking required
- 👩🍳 Flavor Profile: Spicy, tangy, and slightly sweet with bold, zesty heat and a strong, pungent kick.
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy – beginner-friendly, simple mixing and infusion.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Simple ingredients – Fire cider is made with everyday ingredients like garlic, onions, ginger, citrus, hot peppers, herbs, and apple cider vinegar.
- Easy to make – There's very little hands-on work. Chop the ingredients, cover them with vinegar, and let them infuse for several weeks.
- Flexible recipe – You don't have to have every ingredient on hand. Fire cider is very forgiving, so you can adjust the ingredients based on what you grow or have available.
- A great addition to your fermentation recipes – If you enjoy making traditional fermented foods at home, try my Best Sauerkraut Recipe and Fermented Jalapeno Recipe next.
- Perfect for the homestead – Many of the ingredients can be grown in your own garden or purchased locally, making this a great from-scratch homestead recipe.
- Make it once and enjoy it for months – A large batch will keep for up to a year when stored properly, making it an easy homemade staple to keep on hand.
- Spicy and flavorful – The combination of hot peppers, ginger, garlic, horseradish, citrus, and herbs creates a bold, spicy, tangy flavor that can be adjusted to your taste.
Ingredients
For a full list of ingredients needed to make this recipe, see the recipe card below.
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How To Make This Fire Cider Recipe
Step 1: Add the ingredients. Roughly chop all the ingredients and place them in a gallon mason jar. Pour the apple cider vinegar over everything and tightly seal the jar.
Step 2: Let it infuse. Store in a cool, dark place for 4–6 weeks, giving the jar a shake occasionally if desired.
Step 3: Strain and sweeten. Strain the fire cider into a clean jar and stir in raw honey if desired.
Step 4: Store and enjoy. Store in your pantry or refrigerator for up to one year. Traditionally, fire cider is enjoyed by the tablespoon as a spicy herbal vinegar tonic.
Tips for How To Make Fire Cider
- Label your jar with the date you started the infusion so you know when it is ready to strain.
- Use fresh ingredients for the best flavor. Homegrown garlic, onions, peppers, and herbs work especially well.
- Make sure everything stays covered with vinegar while it infuses to help prevent mold or spoilage.
- Use raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar if you want to keep the recipe as traditional as possible.
- Adjust the heat by adding more or fewer jalapeños or other hot peppers.
- Let it infuse for the full 4–6 weeks for a stronger, more flavorful fire cider.
- Add honey after straining so you can adjust the sweetness to your liking.
Fire Cider Recipe FAQs
Fire cider is made with ingredients such as garlic, ginger, onions, peppers, herbs, and apple cider vinegar, many of which can be part of a healthy diet. However, there isn't good evidence that fire cider itself can prevent or cure colds, flu, or other illnesses. Think of it as a traditional homemade herbal tonic rather than a proven treatment.
You can, but because fire cider contains acidic apple cider vinegar and spicy ingredients, it may be harsh on your throat or stomach. Diluting it with water is a gentler option. Regularly drinking undiluted vinegar can also contribute to tooth enamel erosion.
Fire cider is commonly stored in a cool, dark pantry after straining because its main ingredient is vinegar. For the best quality, however, you can store it in the refrigerator, especially if you've added honey or prefer to be cautious. Always use a clean jar and discard it if you notice mold, an unusual odor, or other signs of spoilage.
Properly prepared and stored fire cider can last for many months. This recipe recommends using it within one year. Keeping it in a clean, tightly sealed jar helps maintain its quality.
For this recipe, allow the ingredients to infuse in the apple cider vinegar for 4–6 weeks. The longer it infuses, the stronger and more developed the flavor will become.
Yes. Add raw honey after straining the fire cider and adjust the amount to your taste. Honey helps balance the strong vinegar and spicy flavors.
It can. The combination of vinegar and spicy ingredients may cause stomach irritation, heartburn, or acid reflux in some people. If you are sensitive to acidic or spicy foods, start with a small amount or dilute it with water
Anyone who has problems tolerating acidic or spicy foods should use caution. If you take medications or have a medical condition that could be affected by apple cider vinegar or herbal ingredients, it's best to ask your healthcare provider before making fire cider part of your routine.
Because fire cider is very acidic and spicy, it isn't something I'd recommend giving to young children without guidance from their healthcare provider. If honey is added, remember that honey should never be given to children under 1 year old.
Traditional fire cider is generally infused in vinegar rather than fermented. The ingredients sit in apple cider vinegar for several weeks, allowing their flavors and compounds to infuse into the vinegar. This distinction is useful for your site's fermentation cluster because fire cider pairs naturally with fermented foods, but it isn't technically the same process as making sauerkraut or fermented salsa.
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Fire Cider Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Gallon mason jar
- 1 sharp knife
- 1 cutting board
- 1 Strainer
Ingredients
- 3 oranges, sliced
- 4 lemons sliced
- 4 1 inch chunks of ginger root
- 4 pieces horseradish root, peeled
- 10-12 jalapeno or chili peppers, sliced
- 4 onions, sliced
- 8-10 cloves of garlic, peeled
- 2 chunks of turmeric root, or 2 tsp. of powdered turmeric
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 3 sprigs of fresh rosemary
- 2-3 quarts raw apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup honey, optional
Instructions
- Roughly chop all ingredients and add them to the gallon mason jar.
- Pour apple cider vinegar over the contents.
- Place a lid tightly on the jar.
- Store the jar in a cool, dark place.
- Allow to sit for 4-6 weeks.
- Strain the liquid into a clean jar.
- Stir in the raw honey, if preferred.
- Store fire cider in a cool place like your pantry cupboard or refrigerator for up to one year.
- Take 1-2 tablespoons in a shot glass, up to four times a day, to help prevent sickness or speed up recovery time.
Notes
- Keep the ingredients covered. Make sure the apple cider vinegar completely covers the chopped ingredients during the infusion.
- Use fresh ingredients. Fresh garlic, onions, peppers, ginger, and herbs will give your fire cider the best flavor.
- Adjust the heat. Use more or fewer hot peppers depending on how spicy you like your fire cider.
- Give it time. Let the mixture infuse for the full 4–6 weeks for the strongest flavor.
- Label the jar. Write the date on the jar so you know when your fire cider will be ready to strain.
- Add honey after straining. This makes it easier to adjust the sweetness to your preference.
- Dilute before drinking if needed. Fire cider is strong and acidic, so mix it with a little water if drinking it straight is too harsh.
- Store it properly. Keep strained fire cider in a clean, tightly sealed jar in a cool, dark place or in the refrigerator for longer-term storage.
Definitely going to try this out, thanks for sharing!