Cold weather usually brings lots of fun and happy things (the holidays! apples! pumpkins! squashes!), and also… COLDS, which are not so fun! Luckily - I’ve got a plan for that! And it is called the Magic Cold Elixir, or “Adult Apple Cider” as I like to think of it! You may have seen it in my Instagram stories over the last few years… it deserves its own blog post because it is THAT good, that easy, and that effective - at least for me, it seems to be!
This recipe is my version of Julia Turshen’s Cold Elixir from her lovely cookbook, Small Victories. I use the same ingredients but I’ve changed the technique to maximize use of the ingredients and allow for more sweet/sour flexibility-by-the-cup. This drink is DELICIOUS so you definitely do not need to be sick to make it! I think it tastes like an adult version of apple cider - not as sweet, with a kick of tart and spice. It would probably also be great as a mixer for a bourbon cocktail. Mainly though, I make it as part of my preventative cold regimen, so in that case, here’s what to do:
AS SOON AS you feel the tiniest of tickles in your throat, or the slightest of sniffles, you make and drink the elixir all day or as often as possible. I repeat - you must do this THE SAME DAY that you feel the tiniest bit off! Don't wait! So - make a pot of elixir, and then also - get 10 hours of sleep! I did this last week and it worked like a charm, per usual. Tiny tickle —> two days of elixir and extra sleep —> tickle gone, cold: AVOIDED!
Maybe it’s placebo, but if it is, I don't care - I swear it works! And even if I do end up with the full blown cold, this definitely makes me feel better, even if just comforted versus actually healed. I hope it will help you too!
There’s a video of me making this in the highlights on my Instagram profile if you want to watch!
Enjoy, and I hope you stay healthy (and cozy) this season!
xo,
Jess
PS. In April 2020, my Magic Cold Elixir got this RAVE REVIEW from Ashley:
“I drank your elixir religiously when my whole family had covid symptoms a couple weeks ago and we all became hooked… and healthy again!”
^If THAT’s not an endorsement to try it, I don’t know what is!!
Magic Cold Elixir
adapted from Cold Elixir by Julia Turshen in Small Victories
Takes ~20 minutes + ongoing warming/mixing, makes a big batch
Ingredients:
2.5 quarts water to start
2 cinnamon sticks
1 large piece of fresh (or frozen) ginger - 3-5 inches long, ideally organic
dash of cayenne pepper
pinch of salt
honey, to taste per cup
apple cider vinegar, to taste per cup
Equipment: 3-quart pot or bigger and ideally - a muddler
Instructions:
Fill pot about 3/4 full with water - I use a 3-quart pot and fill it with about 2.5 quarts of water. Cut ginger into a few pieces lengthwise, leaving skins on; add to pot. Break cinnamon sticks in half and add to the pot. Add a dash of cayenne and about 1/2 tsp salt.
Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat and simmer for at least 15 minutes. I like to use a muddler to press down on the ginger to release more of its flavor. You could also use a wooden spoon for this. The liquid should turn a reddish brown color.
After simmering, ladle the liquid into a large mug to fill about 3/4 of the way. Add 1 T of apple cider vinegar and 1 T of honey and stir until honey is dissolved. Taste and adjust flavors to your liking. ~1 T of each is my preference, but if if I’m drinking it all day, sometimes I’ll do less or no honey as the day goes on.
Reheat the liquid as needed throughout the day, or you could move it to a slow cooker to keep it hot all day. I usually keep adding water, muddling the ginger + cinnamon to release more flavor, adding dashes of cayenne, and re-simmering over the course of 3-4 days. When the liquid no longer turns reddish brown/bronze, that means you’ve extracted all the flavor, and it’s time for a new batch. I just keep the pot on the stove covered for as long as it takes me to drink a batch, but you could also strain it and move the liquid to the fridge if you prefer. This is also great cold - although, if you like it sweet, then you’ll want to dissolve honey in the hot liquid before chilling it.