By Thérèse Bolat
Here is another delicious homemade remedy to support your health!
Why Use Cider Tonic?
Use this tonic daily during cold and flu season to reduce your chances of catching any of those awful bugs floating around. If you do get sick, it will often shorten the duration. For example, if you feel the sniffles starting, increase your daily dosage from 1 to 2 or 3 tablespoons throughout the day.
Use this tonic daily to reduce symptoms of seasonal or environmental allergies. Take a tablespoon per day throughout allergy season (or long-term) and you will notice improvement!
Take this tonic with meals to help support digestion.
Cholesterol troubles? The ingredients in cider tonic have been shown to lower bad cholesterol levels!
How to Make Cider Tonic
Raw apple cider vinegar (I use Bragg’s)
1 bulb garlic
(not just 1 clove, the whole bulb of garlic)
1 Onion
Ginger root (about the size of your palm)
Turmeric root (or add 1 tbs turmeric powder to each jar)
Horseradish root (about the size of your palm)
Chili peppers (I use whatever type I can find – the really spicy ones are best, but skip this if you don’t like spicy things and prefer something more mild)
Fresh Organic Thyme (or Rosemary)
Raw Honey (optional)
2 medium canning jars (12-16 oz) or 1 larger jar (24-32oz)
Collect any and all of the above ingredients. If you cannot find something, that is ok! You will still get fantastic benefits!
Start with gloves – and onion goggles if you have them!
Be very careful as you prepare the ingredients – do not touch your face after chopping chili peppers. It will burn!
Peel and chop garlic, ginger, horseradish, turmeric, and onion.
Slice the peppers keeping them larger than the above ingredients.
Place all ingredients into mason jars to almost full (do not pack down).
Fill the jars with raw apple cider vinegar.
Not done yet.
Next, if adding honey, (which I think really brings out the flavor) add all ingredients from ONE jar into a saucepan.
Gently heat to warm the mixture – just enough to melt the honey. (The reason you filled the jar first — and now have to dump it into a pan– was to see how much apple cider vinegar was needed).
Allow it to just begin to simmer (do NOT boil the mixture), turn off the heat and add about a tablespoon of honey. Mix until the honey has blended in nicely.
Add a few sprigs of fresh organic thyme to the empty jar. I empty one capsule of Standard Process Cayenne Pepper into the empty jar as well.
Pour the mixture from the saucepan back into the jar. Top it off with enough apple cider vinegar to completely cover the herbs.
Place waxed or parchment paper over the opening of the jar, before adding the lid. The vinegar will corrode a metal lid otherwise.
Cover tightly and label clearly. Set on the counter (away from sunlight) to steep for 2-8 weeks, shaking once per day or so. I know 2-8 weeks sounds strange. The longer you let it sit, the stronger it will be. I usually start using it (without straining) after 2 weeks, but have let it sit much longer.
How to Use Your Cider Tonic
If you are like me, you won’t be able to let it just sit there for the full 8 weeks. That’s ok. I start using it much sooner, too.
Basic Option
After 4-8 weeks, strain out the liquid. I use cheesecloth for this. The liquid is your cider tonic. The solids can be used right away in food, or added to compost.
Store the tonic in a glass amber jar if possible.
Take one tablespoon added to a small amount of water per day. It will be spicy! I recommend you follow that up with a glass of water.
I prefer to add one tablespoon directly to my morning smoothie. It gives it just a little kick 🙂
How I Use Cider Tonic
I often start using the mixture long before it’s truly finished. I open the jar, scoop out a spoonful of herbs, and then close it back up. If you do this, just be sure those herbs in the jar are still covered completely by apple cider vinegar. Add a bit extra if needed.
I add those herbs to food because, in addition to the health benefits, it adds so much flavor. Be creative, but here are my favorites:
Add a spoonful to homemade salad dressing
Add a spoonful to homemade soup
Top your eggs, meat, poultry, or vegetables with those delicious spicy herbs.
Enjoy!
Hi Therese,
What is the ratio of Apple Cider Vinegar to the rest of the ingredients?”
Thanks,
Ana
Hi Ana,
You want to add just enough ACV to fill each jar and cover the herbs completely. There’s no specific ratio. It’s similar to pickling or fermenting vegetables – you’d fill the jar with veggies, then add the liquid until the jar if full.
Hope that helps!