Our hand crafted concoctions, including our locally famous Fire Cider & Winter Syrup, are currently crafted for our own use only, and of course as special gifts for family and friends. But you can start your own healing garden with an array of unusual herbs and time-tested native plants from the Emporium.
Fire Cider is an old traditional New England Folk Medicine that is also called Health Tonic, Fire Tonic or Master Tonic.
Though these claims have not been proven or tested by the FDA, those who have used this home remedy for decades swear by its many amazing health benefits,
including:
-- Preventing and speeding recovery from colds and flu
-- Reducing inflammation in the body
-- Helping to detox, especially after holiday indulgences
-- Killing bacteria and yeast in the body
-- Improving blood circulation and lymph flow
-- Curing migraines
The taste - and smell - of Fire Cider can take some getting used to 😸 ! It can be taken in many different ways...take 1-2 teaspoons full daily right out of the bottle, use it in hot water with honey and lemon to make a tea, use as a salad dressing or drizzle on cooked greens or vegetables or to make marinades. You can even mix it with vodka or rum with a splash of lemon or make a fiery tequila cocktail by mixing fresh lemon and lime juice with equal parts tequila and fire cider and splash of orange liqueur.
Our Fire Cider is made with all organic ingredients that typically include Apple Cider Vinegar, Garlic, Onions, Hot Peppers (mix of Habanero, Thai and Hot Paper Lantern), Horseradish, Ginger, Turmeric and an array of freshly harvested herbs. These things are all bottled up together at the New Moon and allowed to steep in darkness through two Full Moon cycles before being strained and mixed with local, raw honey.
Elderberries have been used in herbal medicines since medieval times. Medical studies have shown elderberries to be highly effective in reducing the duration and intensity of the flu and other winter ailments. Explore more about the Amazing American Elderberry on our Blog HERE.
We use elderberries in our Fan Favorite Winter Syrup. To make the syrup we brew a proprietary blend of Elderberries with Rose Hips (gathered from native roses) and Hibiscus Flowers (gathered from our native Swamp Mallow) and an array of warm spices like ginger, cinnamon, cloves and star anise. Once the syrup is sufficiently steeped it is strained and blended with local, raw honey to create a syrup.
Use the syrup in a variety of ways. It can be taken by the spoonful when you feel a cold coming on or drizzled over pancakes, yogurt or ice cream for a treat. It is also wonderful added to a warm cup of tea or as a flavoring for a fun spirited holiday cocktail. Here are a couple of favorite recipes.
Holiday Spritzer
Mix Sparkling Wine with a drizzle of Elderberry Syrup. Garnish with mint sprigs and a squeeze of fresh lime.
Elderberry Vodka Tonic
Mix 2 parts vodka with 1 part Elderberry Syrup. Add soda water to taste and garnish with fresh citrus of your choosing.
Beach Plum - Prunus Maritima - is a shrub that should be in nearly every area coastal landscape. It thrives in sandy, lean soil and is a keystone plant - packing huge ecosystem punch!
A few years after planting these treasures that provide vital early bloom for pollinators you’ll be rewarded with loads of won small plums! The more shrubs you plant the better harvest you can expect.
Beach plum jelly is the common product concocted from this ripe fruit, and it is a hot commodity in the Northeast each fall and winter! But when we researched the amount of work that goes into making of even a single jar we knew we had to find a simpler way to use these wonder fruits!
Beach Plum Liquor - now you’re talking! A perfect beverage for holiday celebrations! 🥂 Here’s the recipe:
2 quarts beach plums
2 cups sugar
1 bottle vodka
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Muddle the beach plums, sugar & lemon & let sit for 2 hours. Add to large mason jar. Pour in vodka, cover and let sit for 1-2 months (shake well once a week).
Strain well removing fruits, bottle up and enjoy!