About the Recipe
Ingredients
(This is to make a 1-liter jar or two 500 mL jars. If using two 500 mL jars, divide in half between them both)
6 slices orange
4 large cloves of garlic
6 slices lemon
1/4 cup sliced and peeled ginger
1/8 cup sliced and peeled turmeric
1/4 cup sliced red onion (not diced)
1 tbsp. black or red peppercorns
apple cider vinegar to fill the jar(s)
After it has had the chance to ferment​
Honey
Water
Preparation
Choose your jar(s) to sterilize with boiling water and carefully pour inside and around the rim and dump out
Repeat with the lid as well
Leaving the peels on, slice the oranges and lemons in complete circles
Peel the garlic cloves and cut them into quarters
Using a spoon, peel the ginger and turmeric by holding the root in one hand and scraping with the spoon with the other.
Cut ginger and turmeric in 5mm slices
Peel red onion, cut off both ends a bit, and then cut in half. Slice 5mm half moon pieces
Place all ingredients into your jar or jars. You can make it look pretty by placing the lemon and orange peels on the outside with everything else inside of them.
Sprinkle the peppercorns in
Pour in apple cider to fill to the top
Place lid on top to seal
Leave in a cool dry place (not in the fridge) for two to 4 weeks
Wait 2-4 weeks before proceeding to the next steps! (The minimum time to really reap the benefits is two weeks, and the maximum time I would recommend to let it sit out before possible issues arise is four weeks)
Strain the jar into another jar of the same size.
Next, it is up to you and how you would like to enjoy the tonic.
I would recommend preparing the whole tonic if you think you will be having some each day (especially if it is the season for illnesses) or if there is more than one person in the household who will be enjoying the beverage.
If this is more of a maintenance tonic you will be taking once or twice a week I would leave it as it is and only prepare it as needed.
It can also be enjoyed as it is as a shot, but be warned it is quite potent on its own, but adding some honey can make all the difference
However, you decide to prepare it, adding honey and water will make it more palatable and enjoyable. I usually dilute the fire cider to a 3:1 ratio of cider to water and about 1/4 cup of honey per 1 liter or approximately 2tsp of honey if I am making the tonic as needed. This can all be to taste though, as there is no wrong way of doing it!
Enjoy and stay healthy this coming and all future colder seasons!
Whenever possible try to choose organic ingredients, and always wash well. The slight fermentation will help eat away at some of the pesticides if you cannot purchase organic items, but there will still be residues.