Warm Your Soul with Gui Zhi Apple Cider Delight

Who doesn’t love a warm cidery beverage as the year begins to cool and grows darker?  Well, we’ve got a super yummy and immune invigorating recipe to share with you that’s based on a foundational and very well known herbal formula in Chinese medicine called Gui Zhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction). Traditionally, in many cultures, cinnamon is used for diseases in a variety of different organ systems with one commonality that you may be able to guess...wherever it goes, it warms the way.  It can invigorate the yang function of both the Kidney and Spleen organ systems while also dispersing pathogens from the most superficial layers of the body.  This modified decoction/cider is the perfect harmonizer of the inner and outer energies of the body so that we are optimally equipped for the seasonal shift.  

Gui Zhi (Cinnamon) Apple Cider Delight

Ingredients

for 4 servings

• 6 gala apples, or fuji apples, cored and cubed
• 1 green apples, cored and cubed
• 1 Asian pear (optional)
• 1 Gui Zhi Tang blend packet (cinnamon, white peony, jujube, licorice), 70g - available at Olanani
• 1 ginger, thumb sized, peeled
• 2 teaspoons whole clove
• 1 pinch kosher salt
• 8 cups water
• Optional: Honey or sweetener

Note: You can make this as a decoction (tea form) by leaving out the fruit.

Cider Preparation

1. Place the apples, herbs, fresh ginger, and salt in an 8-quart (7.5-liters) slow cooker. Pour the water over the fruit and herbs.
2. Cover and cook on high for at least 8 hours, or overnight on low (up to 24 hours).
3. Remove the solids from the cider, pressing the pulp to extract as much liquid as possible.
4. Whisk in honey or sweetener if desired.
5. Serve hot, or store in the refrigerator to serve later. Reheat before serving.
6. Share and Enjoy!

Decoction Preparation

1. Place herbs in slow cooker.  Pour water over the herbs, cover and leave to steep for 20 minutes.
2. Cook herbs on low boil for 20 mins or until liquid has cooked down by half.
3. Strain the solids from the liquid.
4. Whisk in honey or sweetener if desired.
5. Serve hot, or store in the refrigerator to serve later. Reheat before serving.
6. Drink up!