Apple Cider Vinegar Drink Recipes

Our apple cider vinegar drink recipes collection will add a fun twist to your health regimen.

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) has become a hot topic recently: people who have been taking daily doses of ACV are seeing great health improvements. We did our own research, and the result was surprising.

In today’s article, we share some of our findings regarding the health benefits of ACV. We also share some delicious, healthy drink recipes that you can make from it.

What Is Apple Cider Vinegar?

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ACV is a vinegar product made from crushed apples. Its production involves two stages:

• Fermenting apple juice to make apple cider, an alcoholic drink.
• Allowing selected bacteria to turn the alcohol into vinegar.

With most of the vitamins destroyed during the production process, ACV is fairly low in nutrients. However, its interaction with the body tells a different story, which we’ll discuss later on.

1. What Does Apple Cider Vinegar Taste Like?

Whether you use sweet or tart apples in the production, apple cider vinegar always turns out sour. This is because the bacteria have turned all of the sugar into extremely sour-tasting acetic and malic acid.

In fact, it’s so sour that even a whiff of the mixture is enough to make you pucker a little. It’s the brain’s way of protecting your mouth from acidic substances that it thinks you’re about to digest.

Because of such a high acid concentration, it’s recommended that the vinegar be diluted before drinking.

2. How to Make ACV Taste Good

Once it’s diluted, you can drink it as-is or instead, turn it into something delicious. There are many ways to do this, but it often starts with adding a sweetener like honey and a choice fruit juice.

If you have no idea what to add, we’ve got you covered. Here, we’ve collected nothing but the best apple cider vinegar drink recipes.

What Are the Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar?

1. Can Apple Cider Vinegar Help You Lose Weight?

One study on a group of Japanese obese patients in 2009 reported visible changes in the participants’ bodies. After a 12-week treatment, those who took a specified amount of vinegar each day saw a decrease in their waistline.

The study couldn’t explain the mechanism behind this, and so far, we haven’t been able to find a study that claims ACV can help you burn body fat. However, some people claim they tend to eat less after taking the vinegar because it reduces their appetite.

Even if this is the true mechanism, the real key to weight loss is calorie management, and you can do this more easily by following recipes with carefully calculated nutritional profiles.

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2. Is ACV Good for the Heart?

You’ll often see claims such as, “ACV can reduce fat,” and while it’s true, it might not be what you think.

The word ‘fat’ has many meanings, one of which is cholesterol. It’s produced naturally in the body and, for many reasons, the ‘bad’ type is sometimes produced more than necessary and can hinder blood flow.

In the same study as mentioned above, patients also had a lower ‘bad’ cholesterol level after the treatment. This research in 2021 also reported, “an improvement in HDL-C (‘good’ cholesterol) among non-diabetic participants,” after treatment of 15mL ACV a day for 8 weeks.

Based on these findings, we can see that ACV can potentially help with managing bad cholesterol. However, until more research is done, a healthier lifestyle with frequent exercise and low saturated fat intake remains a better remedy.

3. Does Apple Cider Vinegar Have Other Health Benefits?

Some sources also claim that ACV can:

• Control blood sugar
• Calm acid reflux

Although these claims are yet to be backed by official studies, they may be among the many ‘undiscovered discoveries’ that exist in the world of science. Until they are, it wouldn’t hurt to safely experiment with them and see the results for yourself.

Below, you’ll find some healthy, delicious apple cider vinegar drink recipes to help you get started:

Easy and Delicious Apple Cider Vinegar Drink Recipes

1. Best Recipe: Apple Cider Vinegar Drink

This is the best apple cider vinegar drink recipe we have. The ingredients are simple and it tastes good every time.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups water
• 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 oz ginger, sliced
• 1/8 tsp cinnamon
• 2 cups ice

Instructions:

• Stir all ingredients together and enjoy with ice.

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2. Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey (4 servings)

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Among all the recipes, we found this one to be the most unique. Honey balances out the tartness of the vinegar while the apples and cinnamon add a nice, glowing touch of fall flavors.

Best served warm on chilly days, this drink is the perfect remedy for body and soul.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp honey
• 2 cups warm water
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
• 2 oz red apple sliced

Instructions:

1. In a large pitcher, mix together 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 2 tbsp honey, 2 cups warm water, 1 tsp lemon juice, and 1/4 tsp cinnamon powder.
2. Add sliced apples in and serve.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar and Lemon Juice (4 servings)

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This drink is just like your regular lemonade, but with an extra tanginess of ACV and the wonderful aroma of lemongrass, it proves that nutritious drinks can taste amazing.

We served it hot, but some of our crew also loved it over ice.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 cups warm water
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp honey
• 2 oz lemongrass, cut into stalks that fit your serving glass
• 6 fresh mint leaves

Instructions:

1. Add the mint leaves and sugar to a large pitcher and crush them with a wooden spoon. Stir in water, vinegar, honey, and lemon juice, until the sugar dissolves.
2. Pour the drink into serving glasses. Add stalks of lemongrass and serve.

4. Orange Juice Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey (1 serving)

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These cool orangey refreshers will rouse your senses and give your immune system loads of nutrients. We love that everything is so well-balanced, removing the need for too much additional sweetener.

Once mixed, the drink can be served right away or chilled in the fridge.

Ingredients:

• 16 fl ozorange juice
• 1 1/2 tbspapple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsphoney
• 1 cupwater

Instructions:

1. Combine all the ingredients: In a large pitcher, add 16 fl oz orange juice, 1 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 2 tbsp honey, and 1 cup water. Mix well to combine.
2. Serve: You can enjoy the drink right away or chill it in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving.

5. Apple Cider Vinegar and Grapefruit Juice (4 servings)

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Grapefruits are just larger, prettier oranges, so consider this a refreshing, less concentrated version of the recipe above. It’s super refreshing and tasty.

This drink can be served at room-temp, chilled, or with ice.

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 12 fl oz grapefruit juice
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
• 4 fresh mint leaves, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Combine all the ingredients (except for the mint) in a large pitcher. Chill or add ice, if desired.
2. Pour into serving glasses, garnish with mint leaves, and serve.

6. Apple Cider Vinegar and Pineapple Juice (4 servings)

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This tropical take on ACV with pineapple and lime juice is the perfect solution to the summer heat. Like many drinks on this list, it’s packed with beneficial vitamins and loads of antioxidants.

For this recipe, ice is a must.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp mint leaves, about 7-8 leaves
• 16 fl oz pineapple juice, from 18-20 oz pineapple
• 1 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp lime juice
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 2 cups ice, or more

Instructions:

1. Crush the mint leaves in a large pitcher and crush them with a wooden spoon.
2. Combine all ingredients in the pitcher (except for ice). Refrigerate until serving.
3. Add ice to serving glasses. Pour the drink over and enjoy.

7. Apple Cider Vinegar and Grape Juice (4 servings)

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If you want something that looks and tastes a little fancy, just add grapes to the mix. Since the fruit tastes great on its own, you don’t need to add a lot of ingredients.

To harvest that lovely purple color, you’ll need to do some cooking. It’s only 10 minutes and the result is rewarding.

Ingredients:

• 40 oz grapes
• 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tbsp honey
• 8 fresh spearmints
• 2 cups ice

Instructions:

1. Add the grapes, water, honey, vinegar, and mint leaves to a saucepan. Simmer everything on medium-low heat for 10 minutes. Set aside and leave to cool.
2. Pour the mixture into a blender and blend until smooth. Place a cheesecloth over a bowl and pour the juice over it. Squeeze the cheesecloth to extract any remaining juice into the bowl. Discard the residue (or save for later use).
3. Pour the juice into a pitcher and serve over ice.

8. Apple Cider Vinegar and Turmeric (4 servings)

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With turmeric added, the drink not only takes on a beautiful golden hue but also possesses amazing health benefits, and tastes awesome too.

This tasty concoction should be served warm.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp honey
• 3 cups warm water

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients together in a large jug. Whisk until the honey dissolves completely and everything is well combined.
2. Enjoy fresh or chill in the fridge before serving if preferred.

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9. Apple Cider Vinegar with Ginger, Lemon, and Honey (2 servings)

This iced drink is for ginger tea lovers. It’s served cold but delivers the warmth of ginger and spices, making for a super fragrant, refreshing beverage.

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 1/2 cups water
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp ginger juice from 1 oz ginger

Instructions:

1. Combine all the ingredients in a large pitcher.
2. Whisk until well incorporated.
3. Pour into serving glasses. Enjoy it chilled over ice if preferred.

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10. Apple Cider Vinegar and Cranberry Juice (1 serving)

This gorgeous drink is a delicious cocktail of just pure cranberry juice, lemon juice, water, and vinegar. It packs antioxidants and is free of additional sweeteners.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup cranberry juice
• 1/2 cup cold water
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp lemon juice, or lime juice

Instructions:

• Combine all the ingredients.
• Mix well and serve cold or with ice.

11. Apple Cider Vinegar and Apple Juice (1 serving)

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It’s not just the all-apple theme that we love. With vanilla and cinnamon, this drink tastes like apple pie with every sip.

If you don’t have liquid vanilla stevia, vanilla extract will work just fine. It won’t have the same sweetness, but we believe the apple juice contains more than enough anyway.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp apple juice, from about 2 oz fresh apples
• 6 fl oz cold water
• 4 drops liquid vanilla stevia
• 1 sprinkle of cinnamon
• 1-2 cubes of ice, or more

Instruction:

Combine all in a glass and serve with ice.

12. Apple Cider Vinegar Done in Three Ways (4 servings)

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This 3-in-1 recipe makes three delicious drinks that are all free of added sugar. Instead, they have stevia; a safe, plant-based sweetener that you can easily get at most supermarkets.

The one we love most is cherry limeade, a sweet and tangy brain-freezer:

Ingredients:

• 3 cups water
• 1/2 cup frozen cherries
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• 5 drops stevia

Instructions:

Add all to a blender and blend until smooth. Serve right away.

13. Plain Apple Cider Vinegar and Water (1 serving)

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This drink is literally diluted apple cider vinegar, meant for those of you who enjoy something a little more simple and pure. It may not taste wonderful, but it’s super easy to make.

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup water

Instructions:

Stir the two together in a cup and drink. You can serve it over ice.

FAQs

1. When Is the Best Time to Drink ACV?

A glass of apple cider vinegar drink before a meal can make you feel satiated and possibly help with weight management. Other than that, the result is the same no matter when you drink the beverage.

2. Can I Drink Apple Cider Vinegar every day?

Yes, you can. It’s recommended that you dilute the vinegar before drinking, and be mindful of the amount of sweetener in your drink.

3. How Much ACV Should I Drink Daily?

There’s currently no clear advisable amount of ACV consumption. Major components of apple cider vinegar, acetic and malic acid, are not considered necessary nutrients for the body.

4. Can Apple Cider Vinegar Go Bad?

Vinegar sometimes produces a slimy substance that emerges out of nowhere. It doesn’t indicate that the vinegar is spoiled, but instead, an interesting phenomenon.

As a product of the fermentation process, vinegar contains a certain amount of bacteria, and if left for long enough, they’ll form this slimy substance. Manufacturers often fish it out afterward to ferment the next batch so you don’t get to see it when you buy the product.

Although they’re bacteria, they are not harmful to our bodies. You can add it to wine, cider, or alcoholic liquids to make your own vinegar at home.

5. How Long Does Apple Cider Vinegar Drink Last?

The vinegar itself lasts forever as it’s too acidic for harmful bacteria to grow. However, once they’re used in foods and drinks, the environment becomes less acidic and the food or drink should be safely stored.

Generally, cooked foods and drinks can last for about 5 days in the fridge and up to three months in the freezer.

6. Can You Use ACV to Make Buttermilk?

Yes, you can. Any acidic, edible substance can be added to whole milk to make buttermilk, as the acid curdles the proteins.

The process is simple: stir 1 tablespoon with 1 cup of whole milk, and allow the mixture to sit. After 10 minutes, curds will appear, and then you’ll need to give it a good stir to make buttermilk.

It’s worth noting that the buttermilk will smell like vinegar — that’s why people often use lemon juice, with a milder fragrance. It’s fine, however, to use this buttermilk in cooking as the smell tends to be masked by other ingredients.