A super simple yet potent homemade immune-boosting digestive tonic – it’s fire cider with a twist. For congested sinuses, coughs and colds over winter. Note this takes about 20 minutes to prep but 4 weeks to infuse.
2or more cups500ml + apple cider vinegar (unpasteurised)
½cupgrated or chopped horseradish
¼cupgrated ginger
½cupgarlic clovescrushed
½cuponionchopped
¼teaspooncayenne powderor to taste – you want it HOT but not burning!
2lemonsjuice and zest
10Kawakawa leaveschopped
Good handful of fresh thyme
¼cupraw Manuka honey
Instructions
Place the horseradish, ginger, garlic, onion, lemon juice and zest, kawakawa leaves and thyme in a sterilised 1 litre glass jar. Cover with apple cider vinegar.
Place a piece of baking paper over the mouth of the jar, then screw on the lid tightly. You want to have the baking paper as a barrier, as the apple cider will erode the metal lid.
Shake well. Add the cayenne now and taste – if you love your spices you may want to add a pinch more.
Fasten the lid and let sit out of direct sun for 4 weeks, shaking vigorously once daily.
After 4 weeks, decant the infused vinegar into a new jar, and compost the plant material. Add honey – either the full amount, or to sweeten just to your liking. Shake well.
Enjoy a tablespoon daily as a digestive and immune tonic, or use the vinegar to make dressings with extra punch!
Notes
If you can, try and grate the horseradish, it will release much more flavour than simply chopped.