Healing Sugar-Free Apple Cider Drink

by ALEXA

I was one of those moms who allowed their kids to get accustomed to drinking juice instead of water. It’s been a hard habit to break but we’re getting there. Today, naturally decaffeinated, stevia-sweetened teas are one of our favorite alternatives to juice.

Back in the day, one of my kids’ all-time favorites (and mine, too) was apple cider. This time of year I find myself craving it. So when I spied The Republic of Tea’s new Hot Apple Cider Tea at our local Natural Grocers I knew it was a must-buy.

On the drive home from the grocery store, sipping on one of those oddly addicting Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar Drinks, inspiration came. Later that day, I brewed some of the tea and spiked it with some apple cider vinegar and a few drops of liquid stevia. Voila! I had pretty much recreated the taste and flavor of the beverage I had enjoyed on the way home! Best of all, I faked the kids out. They thought it was apple cider!

For the reasons why you might consider adding raw, unfiltered organic apple cider vinegar to your diet, check out this recent post over at Cook IT Allergy Free. We’ve added it to ours to combat candida overgrowth (read more about candida albicans here). Candida loves an acidic environment. Now, you’d think that raw apple cider vinegar would have an acidifying effect on the body, but on the contrary it is alkalizing and helps bring overall body pH into balance. And what better a way to help kill off candida than to create an environment it simply cannot thrive in?

Happy sipping!

On the left—Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar Drink that I have grown to love. To the right—all the ingredients you need to make your own.

Sugar-Free “Apple Cider”

Gluten-Free | Casein-Free | Dairy-Free | Egg-Free | Fish-Free | Nightshade-Free | Peanut-Free | Potato-Free | Rice-Free | Shellfish-Free | Soy-Free | Tree Nut-Free | Wheat-Free | Grain-Free | Sesame-Free | Sweetener-Free | GFCF | Vegetarian | Vegan

Makes:  About 5 cups
Prep Time:  10 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups boiling WATER
3 The Republic of Tea® Red Tea Caramel Apple or Hot Apple Cider TEA BAGS (the Red Tea rocks!)
3 additional cups WATER
2 tablespoons Bragg Organic Raw APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
30 drops NuNaturals Pure Liquid Vanilla STEVIA (or your favorite stevia) to taste

Directions:

1. In a large glass jar, pour boiling water over tea bags and steep 5-7 minutes.

2. Remove tea bags (sometimes I just leave them in) and add remaining ingredients.

3. Serve warm or chilled over ice.

The Republic of Tea® states that both teas referenced in this post are gluten-free. As is always recommended, read labels at time of purchase.

More Good Stuff

20 comments

Alisa November 30, 2011 - 6:10 am

Brilliant Lexie! I am SO pinning this!

Reply
Amy Medling November 30, 2011 - 11:15 am

Thanks so much for this brilliant recipe. I am a health coach who helps women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Apple Cider Vinegar is a key part of my program to help women control their blood sugar. I often get the complaint about the taste and recommend a splash of POM juice to mask the taste. I love this idea and think my followers will too. I will be sending them your way to see this recipe. Thank you!

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Ricki November 30, 2011 - 1:16 pm

I'm so excited that I can drink this! Haven't had apple cider in ages. Thanks, Lexie! 🙂

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Lexie November 30, 2011 - 1:56 pm

Thanks Amy, Alisa and Ricki!

xoLexie

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Mid November 30, 2011 - 2:41 pm

I am one of those PCOS readers and also I know the holistic values of ACV = Apple cider vinegar…when you have a sore throat or hint of a cold coming on, drink just 1-2tsp once or twice a day..GONE almost instantly…of course, I need to wash it down with some tea and fruit, but it works!! Thanks for this recipe, I too saw the tea in the grocery store right before Thanksgiving and I wondered how it would taste ; ) I've also pinned you…

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Hannah November 30, 2011 - 3:05 pm

You rock! Ive gotta go shopping today and ill keep my eye out for the tea. Xo

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Alta November 30, 2011 - 5:17 pm

This is SUCH a great idea. I have fallen in love with those Bragg's drinks. Just finished up a ginger one, in fact. I think I need to find these teas!

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Shirley @ gfe November 30, 2011 - 5:46 pm

How brilliant, Lexie! Love this idea and recipe! 🙂

xoxo,
Shirley

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Debi November 30, 2011 - 7:33 pm

Amazing, Lexie! I love Kim's sipper and with the cold weather, this will be a great treat. 😀

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Ricki December 1, 2011 - 12:35 am

Had to come back to say I'm sipping on a glass of this right now. I made it with herbal apple-cinnamon tea and it ROCKS. Love it! Brilliant recipe, Lexie! 😀

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Maggie December 1, 2011 - 2:07 am

Thanks for this recipe Lexie. I need to hop on the acv drink train! I let my kids drink apple cider, the stuff we get at about market is just pressed apples. I'm good with that! It's pretty thick so I usually put some water in it too.

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Power Over PCOS December 1, 2011 - 2:07 am

Thanks for the great recipe! I'll share it online for my PCOS subscribers 🙂

I've written an article about ACV and how to use it (see below), and I think this recipe is another great way to enjoy the benefits.
http://poweroverpcos.com/blog/2010/10/apple-cider-vinegar-acv-for-pcos/

~ Julie

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Kim(Cook It Allergy Free) December 1, 2011 - 5:04 pm

How funny! I have been meaning to make my own version of the Bragg's drinks. We buy a few bottles every time we are Sprout's and the boys think it is such a treat! But those darn drinks are pricey. This is a brilliant brilliant recipe. You have done my work, my friend!

Thanks so much for sharing my ACV link too, my friend! I love that we are always on the SAME wavelength. xoxoxoxo

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Andrea December 6, 2011 - 12:52 am

I'm hooked! Thanks so much for this simple recipe…it really does taste just like hot apple cider!!! I use one Hot Apple Cider Tea bag, 1 tsp. ACV and 4 drops of vanilla stevia for my mug of tea…perfect.

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Lexie December 6, 2011 - 1:42 am

Andrea, I am with you! I am so hooked, too. I just keep a pitcher in the fridge or even on the counter and drink it through the day. And seriously, next time get the Republic of Tea's Rooibos RED TEA Apple Caramel, oh my! That's been the best … even better than the plain Apple Cider flavor. Thanks for taking the time to send in your "review." : )

xoLexie

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Denis Paxton December 6, 2011 - 5:51 am

Thanks for sharing this recipe! Already bookmarked it. I'll ask my wife to try it.

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hannah December 10, 2011 - 4:26 am

I made this tonight!! Sophia now lovelingly refers to this as "juice" and she LOVES it! For those of you who dont know Sophia shes 18 months.. So this is perfect for every age!!!

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Lfond December 12, 2011 - 4:18 am

Wow! I'm glad I found you. This sounds delicious. I can't wait to try your recipes.

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Cara Phillipo August 8, 2012 - 2:25 pm

I cannot wait to try this and recommend it to my patients:)

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Lexie August 9, 2012 - 4:19 am

Thank you Cara! Took a look at your site. Super!! I will post another tea-based recipe like this one shortly. Tried a bunch of the Celestial Seasonings teas to come up with some new flavors. xoLexie

Reply

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