This post is a sponsored post by Ball® Canning. All of my opinions and experiences are my own. Many thanks to the brands that support my work here on Maia Terra.

Recently we purchase 38 acres of land. This land was used mainly as a pasture for the old farmer’s cows. There are wild apple trees all across the property. The farmer we purchased it from had owned the land for about thirty years, and when we asked him if it had been an old orchard, he was actually unaware there were apple trees. There are hundreds of varieties of apples on the property. And here in the midwest, it has felt like fall has arrived early.

We have one apple tree at our cottage in town and we’ve never picked her apples this early. So we’ve spent the better part of this transition into fall, picking and tasting different apples on our land. We’ve turned some apple collected into applesauce we’ve canned and hopefully we will get the opportunity to press some of our collection into cider.

“The rose is a rose, 

And was always a rose. 

But now the theory goes 

That the apple's a rose, 

And the pear is, and so's 

The plum, I suppose. 

The dear only knows 

What will next prove a rose. 

You, of course, are a rose 

But were always a rose.”

― Robert Frost

Did you know apple is part of the rose family (roseacae) the subfamily almond. The Roseacae plant family provides us with so much edible goodness and herbal support, from apples to almonds, to roses and strawberries, this family is filled with abundance that protects our bodies + uplifts our souls. In this recipe I paired apple cider with another member of the rose family, hawthorn, Crataegus commonly called quickthorn, thornapple, May-tree. 

Herbal Allies

Apples are high in fiber, contain vitamin C, K and potassium and pectin. The high fiber and pectin aid digestion. Apples are well known to protect against high blood pressure, regulate cholesterol and protect against heart disease. Apple boost brain health as well.

Hawthorn berries are known also as a digestive aid, support for diarrhea, and a herbal cardio tonic aiding in the treatment of heart disease and high blood pressure. I also love the energetic use of hawthorn as an herb that protects the heart, soothes the heart + allows it to open up in time of grief and heartache.

For heart support, physically and energetically in this season of autumn, when we are saying goodbye to the light, warm of summer, and welcoming in cooler temperatures, grief can arise from the transition. This cider recipe not only provides nourishiment + warmth but also helps process the feelings of this liminal season. 

This recipe features herbal carminative supports commonly found in your spice cabinet or market shelves: fresh ginger, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves. Ginger also a wonderful digestive is a warming plant that boosts immunity and is anti viral in nature.  Cinnamon is “antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, antitumoral, blood pressure-lowering, cholesterol and lipid-lowering, and gastroprotective properties” (Herbarium from Herbal Academy). Clove has antiviral and antibacterial action and an affinity for the respiratory system clearing congestion in the lungs and sinuses.

Herbal Spiced Apple Cider

Ingredients

6 cups fresh apple cider

2-3 cups water (optional)

2 cinnamon sticks

3 star anise

One thumb sized piece of fresh ginger, peeled + sliced 

3 orange slices and/or orange peel

3 apple slices (optional)

1 teaspoon whole cloves

2 teaspoon cardamom pods

2 tablespoons of dried hawthorn berries  

Directions

Add all the ingredients to a saucepan or dutch oven on the stove top at medium heat. Bring to a quick boil. Once boiling, turn down to a very low simmer and cover for 30 minute. Turn off heat and let cool a bit before straining. Alternatively you can put all off your spices in mulling ball, muslin tea bag for easy removal. Serve warm in your Ball Flute Jar with a cinnamon stick, an apple slice or for a holiday party a splash of brandy.

This post is a sponsored post by Ball® Canning. All of my opinions and experiences are my own. Many thanks to the brands that support my work here on Maia Terra.