Guide
Apple cider vinegar tea: what it is and how it's made
Apple cider vinegar tea is liquid vinegar diluted in hot water or brewed tea — not a distinct, studied product. Here's how it's typically made and what still applies from the liquid-vinegar research.
"Apple cider vinegar tea" usually means one of two things: liquid apple cider vinegar stirred into hot water, often with honey, cinnamon or lemon, or an actual brewed tea — green tea or an herbal tea like nettle — with a splash of vinegar added. Neither is a distinct, studied product; both are ways of diluting the same liquid vinegar into a warm drink.
How it's usually made
Most recipes call for 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of liquid apple cider vinegar in a cup (about 8 oz) of hot water, sometimes with a brewed tea bag added instead of plain water. Honey, cinnamon and lemon are common additions for taste, not for any tested effect of their own in this combination — no trial has evaluated an "apple cider vinegar tea" recipe as a single product.
Does hot water change anything about the vinegar?
We haven't found research testing whether steeping apple cider vinegar in hot water changes its acid content or any other measured property compared with drinking it diluted in cold water. Anything said on that specific point would be a guess, so we're leaving it there.
The same dilution and contact concerns apply
A hot vinegar drink is still an acidic drink. The same practical points that apply to any diluted liquid apple cider vinegar apply here: dilute it (don't add vinegar to an already-small amount of water), and be mindful of how often teeth and the esophagus are exposed to it, especially if it's a daily habit. A lab evaluation of commercial vinegar tablets — prompted by a reported esophageal injury — found real variability in acid content between products, and a separate lab study found that direct, extended exposure of tooth enamel to several vinegar varieties led to measurable mineral loss. Full detail on both is in apple cider vinegar side effects.
A capsule skips the drink entirely
If the taste or the daily prep of a vinegar drink — hot or cold — isn't for you, a capsule delivers the dried, powdered form instead: no dilution, no cup, no direct liquid contact with your teeth. Our capsules carry 1,000 mg of organic apple cider vinegar powder per two-capsule serving, alongside inulin, a digestive enzyme blend and L. acidophilus, as low as $12.95 a bottle on subscription. No trial has tested a capsule dose specifically, so we're not claiming it does anything a vinegar tea would — just that it's a different way to take the same ingredient.
Questions people ask
Can I add apple cider vinegar to green tea?
Yes, as a matter of practice — people do. There's no trial testing that specific combination, so there's nothing to report about what it does beyond diluting the vinegar in a warm, flavored liquid.
How much apple cider vinegar goes in a cup of tea?
Most recipes use 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon per cup. That's within the range used in the liquid-vinegar trials described in apple cider vinegar dosage, which covers the researched amounts in more detail.
Related reading: apple cider vinegar powder vs. liquid, apple cider vinegar dosage, and apple cider vinegar side effects.
Sources
- Esophageal injury by apple cider vinegar tablets and subsequent evaluation of products A lab evaluation prompted by a reported injury tested eight apple cider vinegar tablet products and found wide, inconsistent variation in pH, acid content and labeling — with doubt that some even contained apple cider vinegar.
- In vitro study on dental erosion caused by different vinegar varieties using an electron microprobe A lab study exposing human tooth enamel directly to several vinegar varieties for up to 8 hours found mineral loss that varied by how long the contact lasted and which vinegar was used.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
