Tradition, not Trademarks: The Story of Fire Cider

By Kirsten Cowan, L.Ac

You may have heard of Fire Cider - a remedy developed in the late seventies right here in Northern California by herbalist Rosemary Gladstar. Gladstar and her students combined warming ingredients like ginger, horseradish, and garlic with apple cider vinegar and honey into a spicy brew to warm and support the system during our cold, damp winters. She included the recipe in several of her books, and her students, and eventually herbal enthusiasts all over, began making their own versions. Individual herbalists and small companies made and sold their versions of Fire Cider in communities around the world.

Trademarking Tradition

In 2012, a company in Massachusetts quietly applied to trademark the name ‘Fire Cider’ for its products. None of the owners of the company were trained as herbalists or knew the history of the name they were using. The trademark was granted, and the company began sending notice of copyright infringement threats to a myriad of small makers around the US who were selling Fire Ciders.

Free Fire Cider

Shire City Herbals, the company that had trademarked Fire Cider, refused to back down, even after learning the true history of the name, insisting they now ‘owned’ it. In response, Rosemary Gladstar and a group of herbalists filed to cancel the trademark on the grounds that Fire Cider was a generic term in use by hundreds, if not thousands, of people for decades, and could not be trademarked by any individual or company. The group ‘Tradition not Trademark’ was founded to raise funds, pursue a boycott of Shire City Herbals, and ultimately cancel the trademark. Their slogan was ‘Free Fire Cider!” A five-year legal battle ensued, and on September 30, 2019, the judge ruled that Fire Cider should not have been trademarked - because it belongs to everyone.

A Victory Beyond Fire Cider

The decision has been celebrated as a victory for much more than the herbalists selling their own Fire Ciders at farmers' markets and small shops. The judge’s ruling set an important precedent that names and terms in traditional use cannot be claimed by a single company. The determination of Rosemary Gladstar and her companions who fought in court, and the support of a huge community of herbalists and activists (including many of us at Energy Matters) who donated, boycotted, and raised awareness, turned back a legal wrong and created a legacy of freedom.

Fire Cider Day

You can make your own fire cider in the fall to sip during the cold winter months, or any time of year for immune support. Herbs are infused in vinegar for about a month to create a tasty tonic. Fire Cider Day on February 2 came to prominence during the Free Fire Cider campaign, and is a great time to make or try it. Find recipes in Rosemary Gladstar’s book Fire Cider! 101 Zesty Recipes for Health-Boosting Remedies Made with Apple Cider Vinegar by Rosemary Gladstar and friends. (affiliate link). You can also buy fire cider at local farmers' markets, health food or herbal stores.

Source, Source

Making Fire Cider 

This fiery tonic isn’t for everyone! I especially wouldn’t recommend it for people with sensitive digestion, acid reflux, or IBS. Check out Rosemary Gladstar’s book Fire Cider! 101 Zesty Recipes for Health-Boosting Remedies Made with Apple Cider Vinegar by Rosemary Gladstar and friends. (affiliate link) for more guidance and variations. 

Wintertime recommendations from traditional Chinese medicine include avoiding cold or raw foods or drinks, and drinking warming teas like ginger with red dates. Have you tried fire cider? What’s your version?

Here’s a classic recipe inspired by Rosemary Gladstar at Mountain Rose Herbs - they offer a few tasty variations on their blog.

Kirsten Cowan L.Ac, Clinic Manager

“After recovering from a mysterious illness in my 20’s through Traditional Chinese Medicine, I devoted myself to holistic healing. Now as Clinic Manager, I bring that same passion for gentle, effective care to creating a supportive and empowering experience for every patient.”