Warm Apple Cider Vinegar and Cinnamon Sipper
Warm water steeped with a cinnamon stick and fresh ginger, finished with apple cider vinegar and lemon.
Why you'll love Warm Apple Cider Vinegar and Cinnamon Sipper
This tastes like a warm, tart cider. A cinnamon stick and slices of fresh ginger steep in hot water until it smells like a spice shop, and a spoonful of apple cider vinegar and a squeeze of lemon go in at the end. It is bright, warming, and light.
The vinegar goes in last, off the heat, because boiling vinegar drives off its fruity aroma and leaves only the sharpness. Steeping rather than boiling the cinnamon keeps the drink sweet-smelling instead of bitter, and a cinnamon stick gives a cleaner flavor than ground cinnamon, which sinks and turns the cup cloudy.
Sip it with a meal or in the afternoon in place of a sweet drink.
Quick overview: This Warm Apple Cider Vinegar and Cinnamon Sipper takes 2 min of hands-on time and about 10 min in all and makes 2 servings, each 1 mug (about 1 cup). You'll need a saucepan.
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 4 thin slices fresh ginger
- 2 tbsp raw apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp allulose, optional Label: allulose, and nothing else
Instructions
- Steep: Bring the water to a simmer in a small saucepan with the cinnamon stick and ginger. Turn off the heat, cover, and let it steep for 5 minutes.
- Finish: Lift out the cinnamon stick and ginger. Stir in the apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and allulose if using.
- Taste: Taste and add a splash more water if it is too tart for you.
- Serve: Pour into two mugs and drink warm, with a meal or between them.
Storage and leftovers
The steeped cinnamon and ginger water keeps for 4 days in the refrigerator.
Warm it gently and add the vinegar and lemon just before drinking.
Variations
- Iced: Chill the steeped water and pour it over ice with the vinegar and lemon.
- Sparkling: Steep the cinnamon and ginger in 1/2 cup water, cool it, and top it with sparkling water.
- Clove: Add 2 whole cloves to the steep for a mulled-cider taste.
- Orange: Use a strip of orange zest in the steep and orange juice in place of the lemon.
Notes and tips
- Add the vinegar off the heat: It keeps the vinegar's apple aroma.
- Drink it through a straw: Vinegar is acidic, and a straw keeps it off your teeth. Rinse with plain water afterward.
- Dilute it well: Apple cider vinegar is always mixed into water, never taken straight.
- Check the label: Raw apple cider vinegar should read apple cider vinegar, and nothing else.
Nutrition and mindful eating
- Apple cider vinegar brings acetic acid, which gives it its tang, and the raw kind carries the cloudy mother from fermentation.
- Cinnamon and ginger give the cup a sweet, warm smell, so it satisfies the way a sweet drink does.
- Lemon adds vitamin C and brightness.
- Warm drinks between meals help you stay hydrated through the cooler months, when cold water is less appealing.
- As you sip, notice the sweet smell of the cinnamon against the sharp vinegar, and check whether a warm, tart drink in the afternoon quiets the pull toward a snack.
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this Warm Apple Cider Vinegar and Cinnamon Sipper? Start here, with the questions people ask most.
Is it okay to drink every day?
Diluted like this, with a meal or between meals, yes for most people. Drink it through a straw and rinse with water afterward to protect your teeth.
What is the mother?
The cloudy strands in raw vinegar, made of the yeast and bacteria that fermented it.
Can I use ground cinnamon?
Yes, 1/4 teaspoon, though it will settle at the bottom of the mug.
Can I drink it cold?
Yes. Chill the steeped water and pour it over ice.
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