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Homemade Immune-Boosting Digestive Tonic

Homemade Immune-Boosting Digestive Tonic

Naturopath Lauren Glucina
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.
4.80 from 5 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Tonic
Cuisine Healthy, Herbal
Servings 1 litre

Ingredients
  

  • 2 or more cups 500ml + apple cider vinegar (unpasteurised)
  • ½ cup grated or chopped horseradish
  • ¼ cup grated ginger
  • ½ cup garlic cloves crushed
  • ½ cup onion chopped
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne powder or to taste – you want it HOT but not burning!
  • 2 lemons juice and zest
  • 10 Kawakawa leaves chopped
  • Good handful of fresh thyme
  • ¼ cup raw 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.
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