Botanical Bulletin

THE FIRE CIDER TRIAL

Prominent herbalist Rosemary Gladstar sent out a triumphant announcement in the beginning of 2019, eager to share that a court date had finally been set for Shire City Herbals’ trademark infringement claims against three independent herbalists.

The case concerns a folk remedy often called “fire cider,” a pungent herbal drink made from apple cider vinegar, garlic, onion, and horseradish, along with variable amounts of such ingredients as lemon, honey, and cayenne (usually tailored to the maker’s needs and tastes). Unpleasant as it sounds, many