It's All About The Ingredients

Why? Why would you ever put those ingredients in Apple Cider Vinegar and drink it?!

It's not a gross as it sounds, the first time I read about fire cider I was disgusted by the ingredients and thought "No, why would anyone consume that?"  Fast forward many years later and I look forward to creating and trying out new flavor combinations.  There are a handful of standard ingredients that go into each batch I make however, so let's discover the "WHY".

Horseradish:

An interesting looking character to say the least, horseradish is a very large root thriving in darkness. It's considered one of the "forever" vegetables because once you plant it in the ground you will never get rid of it. A member of the Brassicaceae family, it has huge, amazing, fragrant leaves that can also be used any way you would use garden greens, like salads, soups, steamed, raw...

Though popular in condiments, not many would ever really say they LOVE it. Horseradish has that intense, kick in the pants wasabi burn, clearing your sinuses and bringing tears to your eyes if you overdo it - or shred it in your food processor. When it's cut or grated raw, enzymes from the plant’s cells produce allyl isothiocyanate or mustard oil which can irritate the eyes and the mucus membranes.

Horseradish is very high in vitamin C, as well as folate, calcium, potassium, magnesium, manganese and dietary fiber. It also contains other useful organic chemicals, oils and enzymes such as glucosinolates which are known to help protect against cancer. Horseradish is full of beneficial nutrients including essential minerals and phytochemicals which are responsible for the root’s distinctive aroma.

In sum, horseradish has documented anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory compounds and is believed to have anti-cancer properties. Why wouldn't you want this in your diet? We order fresh horseradish roots and plant them in huge pots in the garden so they can start growing again. We use the live and freshly harvested roots and the greens in our recipes.

Onions:

Let me just start by saying that I am not a fan of raw onions. We use red onions in our recipes although I first started with mild, sweet onions thinking that anything else would be too much for me. I graduated to using organic red onions because these deep purple/red beauties are rich in anthocyanins, meaning they may be cardio-protective and helpful in cancer risk reduction.

These antioxidants, which are also found in red, purple, and blue fruits like berries, grapes, and cherries, may help combat chronic illnesses like osteoporosis, cancer, and heat disease according to researchers. Reports also show red onions are also rich in quercetin, which has been shown to fight inflammation, protect against cell damage, block the growth of cancer cells, and potentially lower blood pressure.

Ginger:

Oh man do I love ginger! Ginger goes with everything in my kitchen, frozen, cooked, minced, raw, pickled, sliced, fermented, you name it. I love the way it kind of tickles my nose and has a sweet yet spicy flavor. Ginger is warming and energizing and is great for your health too.

In addition to its commonly known anti-nausea benefits, ginger has anti-bacterial properties and studies have shown that fresh ginger shows potential antiviral properties against respiratory tract infections. In terms of minerals, it has iron, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc and sodium. Its vitamins include vitamin C, folate, vitamin B6, riboflavin and niacin.

*Ginger is not recommended for use during pregnancy, especially for people close to labor, with a history of pregnancy loss or vaginal bleeding, or with clotting disorders. ** Our recipes include a lot of ginger!

Garlic:

They say vampires hate the stuff, to be honest I kind of do too, unless it's been cooked or roasted into mush. I totally appreciate the depth it gives to foods but if I can taste garlic on its own in any dish it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth, literally, not to mention the way it comes out of your pores the next day. With that being said, here are the reasons I include generous amounts of it in my fire ciders:

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. For educational purposes only.

**Please speak to your doctor about any specific health concerns, we are not giving medical advice on this page. Some fire cider ingredients have contra-indications with some medications and medical conditions. I am not a medical professional nor make any representations as such**