Why Bonfire Cider Is the Flu-Fighting Potion You’ll Need to Keep Handy This Winter
Bonfire cider is a delicious drink with all the benefits of fire cider plus an added kick. This flu-fighting, immune-boosting beverage is especially popular this time of year, as everyone seems to be coughing and sneezing. The good news is you can make bonfire cider at home to stay healthy all season.
What is bonfire cider?
If you’ve ever made fire cider at home, you’ll notice that bonfire cider is quite similar. The base of bonfire cider is apple cider vinegar, a powerful elixir that has been known to balance blood sugar levels, blast belly fat, add shine to hair, soothe a sore throat, and detox the body naturally.
A traditional bonfire cider recipe also calls for ginger, turmeric, horseradish, onion, garlic, jalapeños, lemon, echinacea, cinnamon, rosemary, and manuka honey. That’s a lot of ingredients, right? Before we explore how to make bonfire cider at home, let’s talk about why each ingredient is necessary for creating this “ultimate flu-fighting torcher,” as best-selling health author Yuri Elkaim calls it.
Garlic and ginger are staples in Asian cooking, but beyond their uses in the kitchen, they’re also known for their anti-inflammatory properties. An October 2018 study published in the journal Antibiotics found that garlic essential oil showed “strong killing activity” against the bacteria that causes the inflammatory illness Lyme disease. Some health enthusiasts believe that a warm ginger bath will help you sweat out any nasty toxins.
Onions and horseradish, which are two polarizing foods for sure, are both chock-full of vitamin C. Everybody knows how important vitamin C is for the body’s immune defense. And both onions and horseradish are a great source of antioxidants: Manganese in horseradish plays a role in energy production for our body’s enzymes, while anthocyanins in onions reduce your risk of heart attacks.
Lemon is another great source of vitamin C to bolster your body’s immune system. The capsaicin in jalapeños makes them great anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich foods. Cinnamon and rosemary are both springs of antioxidants, plus cinnamon will keep your skin looking healthy even when you feel like garbage.
As for echinacea and manuka honey, the two ingredients you may know the least about, these healing foods will be your new go-tos. According to a December 2015 study published in the journal Current Therapeutic Research, Clinical and Experimental, echinacea is useful for reducing your number of sick days if you already have the flu. Superfood mankua honey is known for fighting infections and can ease a sore throat — just make sure you’re buying real manuka honey to reap its benefits.
How to Make Bonfire Cider
Once you’ve settled on a bonfire cider recipe, add all your ingredients to a container and let the mixture soak for about a month. Then, strain the liquid and discard herbs. Add manuka honey to taste and then refrigerate and use when needed. A spoonful straight up is delicious, but you can add it to soups and smoothies to mask the taste.
A month is a good amount of time to wait, so we suggest whipping up a batch soon. Trust us, your future sick self will thank you a month from now.
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