Homemade Fire Cider with Raw Honey

As the air turns crisp and the days grow shorter, many of us turn to comforting rituals to stay warm and well—blankets, herbal teas, and immune-boosting remedies. One of the most beloved folk traditions for the cold and flu season is fire cider—a tangy, spicy, and slightly sweet tonic made from everyday ingredients steeped in apple cider vinegar.

What takes fire cider from intense to irresistible? Raw honey.

Whether you’re a longtime herbalist or just curious about natural remedies, this guide will show you how to make your own homemade fire cider with honey—right in time for sniffle season.

🧄 What Is Fire Cider?

Fire cider is a traditional herbal remedy that combines pungent, spicy, and warming ingredients like garlic, onion, ginger, horseradish, and hot peppers. These are steeped in raw apple cider vinegar for several weeks, then strained and sweetened with raw honey.

The result is a potent immune-boosting tonic that supports digestion, clears sinuses, and may help fight off colds and other seasonal bugs.

🌿 Why Add Raw Honey?

Honey isn’t just for flavor—it adds its own antimicrobial and soothing properties, especially when raw and local. It:

• Balances the sharpness of vinegar and spice

• Soothes sore throats

• Adds enzymes, antioxidants, and trace minerals

If you’re using Vermont raw honey, you’re also getting a taste of the land and flora that bees have gathered from throughout the seasons—making your fire cider even more grounding and nourishing.

Shop Raw Honey 

🍋 Fire Cider Recipe with Raw Honey

🧺 Ingredients:

Feel free to adjust based on what you have on hand.

• 1/2 cup fresh grated horseradish root

• 1/2 cup chopped onion

• 1/4 cup minced garlic

• 1/4 cup grated fresh ginger

• 1 fresh hot pepper (like jalapeño or cayenne), chopped

• Zest and juice of 1 lemon or orange

• 1–2 sprigs fresh rosemary or thyme (optional)

• 1 tsp black peppercorns

• Raw apple cider vinegar (enough to fill your jar)

• Champlain Valley Apiaries raw honey to taste (usually 1/4–1/2 cup, added after infusion)

Shop Raw Honey 

🥣 Instructions:

1. Prepare your ingredients and place them all into a clean quart-sized glass jar (like a Mason jar).

2. Fill the jar with apple cider vinegar until the ingredients are completely covered. Use a piece of parchment or wax paper under the lid to prevent the vinegar from touching metal, or use a plastic lid.

3. Shake well and label the jar with the date.

4. Let it infuse in a cool, dark place for 3–4 weeks, shaking every day or two.

5. After 3–4 weeks, strain out the solids through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth. Compost the solids.

6. Add raw honey to taste (start with 1/4 cup and adjust). Stir well until fully incorporated.

7. Pour your finished fire cider into a clean jar or bottle and store in the fridge or a cool pantry.

🥄 How to Use Fire Cider

• Take 1–2 tablespoons daily during cold season for prevention

• Increase to every few hours at the first sign of illness

• Add to hot water or tea for a spicy-sweet boost

• Use in salad dressings, marinades, or over roasted veggies

• Mix with seltzer water for a fiery, fermented tonic

⚠️ A Note on Safety

Fire cider is a powerful tonic—if you have acid reflux, ulcers, or are sensitive to spicy or acidic foods, try it diluted or consult your healthcare provider. Always use clean, food-safe containers and ensure your ingredients are fresh.

🐝 Final Thoughts

Fire cider is more than just a home remedy—it’s a celebration of the healing power of food, the traditions of herbal wisdom, and the beauty of local ingredients like raw honey. 

So go ahead, make a batch. Your future self (and your immune system) will thank you.

Shop Raw Honey