Fire cider is a fiery herbal vinegar made with apple cider vinegar, pungent roots, herbs and spices, then balanced with honey. Discover its fascinating folk-herbal history, what each ingredient brings to the jar and how to make - and actually use - my aromatic fire cider at home.

Elderberries always feel like one of the first little nudges towards autumn for me - even when I'm still very much holding onto summer. They sit beautifully between food and medicine, summer abundance and autumn preparation. Gathering them gives me a small job to do now that helps me begin imagining and preparing for the season ahead, without needing to hurry summer out of the door. They're unusually early here in the UK this year, so rather than rushing to turn them into syr