By Alyssa, CN Buyer and herbalism student
Aquarius is the true wild card of the zodiac. Aquarian’s are distinctly unique- no two you meet will be the same! So in the true spirit of Aquarius, this tea is actually not much of a tea at all… it features Herbal Revolution’s Fire Cider and Topo Chico Sparkling Water. This drink is iced but it will warm you up! It’s tart but it’s sweet! It’s airy but it’s liquid! The sign of Aquarius rules our circulatory system and many ingredients in the fire cider including ginger, horseradish, turmeric, garlic, rosemary, and habanero pepper are known to help boost circulation and increase blood flow.
During the colder months boosting our circulation with herbs like the ones mentioned can help us to fight off that chilled to the bone feeling that can be difficult to shake. Also included in this beverage are both burdock and dandelion root. Many herbalists work with these roots in the springtime (yes, we are almost there!) to assist our organs in their role of filtering toxins from the body. Naturally in the spring time our bodies start to eliminate any toxins that have built up during the winter- burdock and dandelion roots can help to move this process along. Lastly, honey, onions, and hyssop add some sweetness to this otherwise spicy and tart concoction, making it a balanced beverage base. The fire cider is also locally made in Union, Maine, so you can feel great about supporting local farmers.
Fire Cider is based off of a traditional immune-supporting herbal remedy. There is in fact a very similar honey-based recipe traditionally used in the Caribbean, and I’m sure many more around the world! However, the term Fire Cider itself as well as the base recipe was originally coined (or at least popularized) by Rosemary Gladstar, an essential figure in modern American herbalism. Rosemary Gladstar starting using the name and recipe in the late 1970s and taught it to her students for many years. About ten years ago, there was an attempt to trademark the name Fire Cider, which prompted Gladstar and a few other herbalists to form a group called “Tradition Not Trademark” in an attempt to keep the name Fire Cider available for public use. Gladstar and the others’ efforts ended up being successful, making Fire Cider known as a legacy product, which is considered to be a generic term and unable to be trademarked. I thought that this whole ordeal was very Aquarian in nature: putting innovative structures in place with humanitarian intentions. Herbalism at its core has always been by and for the people- just like Aquarians!
To make this beverage, all you need to do is mix 1or 2 tablespoons of the Herbal Revolution Fire Tonic into 8-12 oz of Topo Chico, add ice, stir, and enjoy!
The information in this blog post is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.
More from Alyssa @vrgohrbls on instagram!