Kombucha
This fantastically simple to make tonic is your delicious winter illness preventative care package.
Just a small shot of this mighty elixir each day helps your body boost the immune system with these incredibly powerful herbs. It is a revered potent herbal tonic in traditional medicine practices, stemming from the ancient wisdom of our ancestors.
Ingredients
For The Infused Vinegar - use organic ingredients if you can
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½ cup fresh ginger root (chopped)
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½ cup fresh horseradish root (chopped)
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½ cup fresh turmeric root (chopped)
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½ cup white onion (chopped)
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¼ cup garlic cloves (chopped)
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2 jalapeno peppers (chopped, any chilli will do - depends on how much heat you can handle!)
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2 organic lemons (zest and juice)
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1 tsp whole black peppercorns raw apple cider vinegar (ACV)
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Rosemary, thyme, cinnamon (optional, make it to your taste)
Method
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Add the ginger, horseradish, onion, garlic, jalapeno and lemon juice/zest to a clean jar.
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Pack them down lightly so that the jar is about 3/4 full. Place the heavier items on top - like the ginger - jalapeños float. If you have a fermenting weight, feel free to use it.
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Fill the jar with apple cider vinegar over the roots/vegetables. You want everything to stay under the liquid to prevent spoilage.
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Put the lid on. (If you're using a metal lid, line it with parchment paper.)
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Place in a dark, room temperature cabinet for 4-6 weeks.
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When the cider is ready, shake well and then strain the roots/veggies using a cheesecloth or mesh strainer, then pour liquid into a clean jar. If desired, add raw honey to taste.
Tips & Tricks
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I recommend you do add honey to further enhance the immune boosting effect and taste profile.
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Start with ¼ cup and adding one tablespoon at a time until it reaches the sweetness level you prefer.
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Consider gently heating a small amount of your Fire Cider to assist with dissolving the honey, then mix it into your batch. If you keep the temperature below 50 centigrade/125 Fahrenheit, you can maintain the raw benefits of the "mother" in your Apple Cider Vinegar.
Ideas on how to consume
I love to take mine as a shot on its own as I enjoy the flavour and the burst of heat it brings. You can also enjoy it added to your herbal teas, or just by itself with some hot or warm water.
I also enjoy adding it to my salad dressing - especially a delish winter cabbage and kale slaw.
I've even added it to my stir fry, pouring it on top of my veggies just before serving.​
Heck, you could even have a Fire Cider Martini!
Creating the Elixir
Vinegar is a wonderful way to extract minerals and beneficial compounds from veggies.
Some of the properties released into this delicious tonic are as follows - Apple Cider Vinegar - supports healthy blood glucose levels, lowers cholesterol levels, supports a healthy microbiome due to the probiotics it contains.
Meet the ingredients....
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Onion - packed with antioxidants like vitamin C and quercetin plus minerals like potassium and sulfur, onions are fabulous for supporting digestive health and immune function.
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Garlic - this immune boosting, blood pressure lowering, cholesterol lowering all round good guy in the veg family is a powerful addition to this tonic.
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Chilli - Hot peppers are rich in capsaicin, which assists the body in managing inflammation. Supports the immune system, metabolism, cardiovascular system, has anti-inflammatory properties, vitamins, minerals.....
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Lemon - chock full of Vitamin C, an antioxidant, which helps protect cells from damage. Vitamin C also helps your body make collagen for your skin, helps your body absorb iron, and supports your immune system. The skin contains a compound called limonene that has mood lifting, digestion supporting, and immune system benefits.
....the stars of the show
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Turmeric - Curcumin, the main compound in turmeric, has been shown to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and other properties. Traditionally in India, it was used for respiratory infections - and is, in my book, a marvellous companion to our respiratory health along with breathwork.
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Black pepper - contains piperine and enhances curcumin absorption in the body by up to 2,000%, combining the spices magnifies their effects. They may reduce inflammation and improve digestion.
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Ginger - contains Gingerol, a natural component of ginger root, benefits gastrointestinal motility ― the rate at which food exits the stomach and continues along the digestive process. Eating ginger encourages efficient digestion. Also a great anti-inflammatory.
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Horseradish - Rich in folate and a compound called sinigrin, studies have found that horseradish helps the body break up congestion and calms inflammation.