What Is Fire Cider?

Fire cider is technically an oxymel, a traditional herbal remedy made by steeping various fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices in a base of vinegar and honey.

Some popular ‘cidah’ ingredients include onions, lemon, oranges, apples, horseradish, hot peppers, herbs, ginger, thyme, sage, rosemary, turmeric, and cinnamon. However, it’s kind of like the wild Northeast: almost anything goes.

To give it that special Mainer twist, you can add Maine sea salt, elderberries, bee balm, cranberries, spruce tips, blueberries, blackberries, or local maple syrup.

How to Make It (Basic Method)

It’s probably best to take a small-batch approach to fire cider to allow more opportunities to fine-tune your personal flavor preferences.

Fill a glass jar with your chosen ingredients, then cover the mix with four cups of raw apple cider vinegar. Store in a cool, dark place for three to four weeks, shaking daily. After about a month, strain it into a different jar, add the honey, and store it in your fridge or pantry.

Coastal Fire Cider Ingredients

How Do I Take Fire Cider?

The simplest option—and one preferred by many Mainers—is to take a shot or spoonful daily. If the flavor is too strong, add water, honey, or maple syrup. You can also use it as a marinade or salad dressing, add it to soups and stews, mix it into tea or cocktails, or incorporate it into your favorite version of a hot toddy.

Story by Sylvia Bourgoin. Sylvi is a metalhead, an Aquarius, a budding gardener, a coffee addict, and a work in progress. A former obituarist, she is now a full-time freelance writer. She lives in Maine with two tuxie cats, an overgrown rose garden, and a lot of books.