The official kick-off to fall is just days away, and I don't know about you, but I'm psyched to start ordering hot over cold brews for my morning fix. Coffee shop regulars such as myself have grown accustomed to ordering piping hot PSLs (for all intensive sipping and 'gramming purposes), but let the record show pumpkin isn't the only flavor autumn has to offer, and it's about time apple gets a piece of the limelight, too. If you're looking to go against the social grain, swap sweet brews for something a little sour with apple cider vinegar drink recipes instead.
Apple cider vinegar is great for your body and, when paired with the right ingredients, can taste divine. Now, for the record, I am 110 percent #TeamPumpkin once September rolls around, but even though I gravitate toward the seasonal spice, there's no denying grab-and-go pumpkin drinks yield a lot of sugar and fat. This is because of the minimal amount of real pumpkin purée in these drinks, so while they may taste good (and they do, they really, really do), they aren't the healthiest autumnal delicacy.
By now you've definitely come across (or at least heard about) loved ones or influencers either sneaking apple cider vinegar into meals or guzzling back straight shots of ACV with breakfast with a furrowed brow. ACV is certainly an acquired taste on its own, but finding ways to sneak it into your diet is immensely beneficial to your health, as regular consumption can lower blood sugar levels, help clear irritated skin, curb sugar cravings, and the list goes on.
I'll be honest, ACV is pretty disgusting solo (you definitely have to have a unique palate to enjoy the raw taste), but there are plenty of delicious recipes out there that mask its potent bitterness and, instead, provide a refreshingly good-for-you drink to keep you healthy and your taste buds happy.
1. Apple Cider Vinegar Tea
Hot drinks that taste like dessert are a foodie fall staple. To keep the tradition going, Pompeian's recipe inspired by warm apple pie calls for all the goods like Pompeian organic ACV, cinnamon, and honey for an authentic sour-meets-sweet treat.
Unlike most ACV bottles, Pompeian's batch is distributed unfiltered to preserve the "mother" of the vinegar, which is essentially where the bulk of healthy bacteria and antioxidants can be found.
2. Fire Lemon Cider
If you're looking for something to light the fire first thing in the morning, this ACV lemon cider should do the trick.
Add Pompeian organic apple cider vinegar along with lemon juice and cayenne pepper to a mug of boiling hot water to either kickstart your day, or enjoy as a nighttime detox.
3. Ginger Switchel
Apple cider vinegar is amazing for tummy troubles, so if you're looking for a drink that's delicious with a fair amount of medicinal properties, look no further.
Emily Han's ACV drink recipe for The Kitchn features ground or grated ginger (also amazing for digestion), all-natural sweeteners (maple syrup and honey for a traditional sugar taste, molasses for a taste reminiscent of gingerbread), and water. This mixture takes longer to brew than hot drinks you can whip up in minutes, so it's important that after you blend all the ingredients together, you let it sit covered in the fridge anywhere from two hours to 24 hours.
4. Cranberry ACV Mocktail
This delicious mocktail from the VegKitchen is like a crisp fall day in a cup.
Combining apple cider vinegar, unsweetened cranberry juice, seltzer, and liquid sweetener to taste, it's a healthy thirst-quencher to have with lunch, dinner, or for serving at autumn-themed festivities.
5. A Green ACV Smoothie
And last, but certainly not least, if you're looking to reap the benefits of ACV but have little to no interest in the taste, spooning a serving into your go-to green smoothie will mask any hint of bitterness, granting you all the gut and skin health regardless.
Plus, you need the veggies anyway, so it's a double win.
