APPLES for immune health

The health-giving properties of apples have long been appreciated. Did you know, for example, that it was the 19th-century Welsh saying “Eat an apple before going to bed and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread” that gave us our much-quoted idiom about eating an apple a day to keep the doctor away? Elixir No.9 is my nine-ingredient twist on traditional ‘Fire cider’, an immuneboosting, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, decongestant, antioxidant and antibacterial powerhouse of a remedy. There are many similar recipes out there, but the one component they have in common is organic apple cider vinegar*. The other ingredients vary but I have tried to include those you may have growing in your garden.

ELIXIR NO.9

800ml organic apple cider vinegar 50g peeled and grated root ginger

50g peeled and grated fresh horseradish 50g peeled and grated turmeric root 1 medium-sized onion, peeled and chopped 4 large garlic cloves, peeled and grated 2 chillies, seeds included, chopped 2 lemons, zest and juice

½ tsp black peppercorns

Pack all the ingredients, apart from the apple cider vinegar, into a clean jar. Slowly pour in the apple cider vinegar, making sure it completely covers the fresh ingredients. Shake well and store in a cool, dark place. Shake the jar weekly for at least four weeks. Strain the elixir through a piece of muslin, then bottle and label your liquid gold, which keeps for well over a year in a cool, dark place. We take our elixir neat by the tablespoon as soon as we feel a cough or cold coming on.