Healing Sugar-Free Apple Cider Drink

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.