In this post I’m going to show you how to make a healthy, delicious, and refreshing drink using apple cider vinegar, that tastes surprisingly like a Snapple!
I’ve taken up a lot of habits in my lifetime, some of them have even been worthwhile! Today I’m going to share with you a new habit of mine that I’ve been doing regularly for about a month now: Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV).
Now don’t go scrunching up your face. This is old time medicine according to my grandparents. Folks have been doing it for ages, all the way back to Hippocrates, who considered ACV to be medicine and used it to treat ailments.
This is just one of the ACV drinks I’ve been drinking lately but folks on Instagram said they’d like some of my recipes so I’m starting here. I decided to call it VinTea because it is a Vinegar based Tea drink that just makes your taste buds sing. Think of what a splash of lemon juice does to a drink and you’ll understand the effect you get by adding ACV, they do pretty much the same thing but with slightly different flavors. I have other VinTeas I may bring you later on but this is one my husband enjoys as much as I do so it’s a good start.
There have been several studies showing the benefits of ACV, just do a quick internet search to find dozens. Some have shown it helps contribute to weight loss, others have proven that it regulates blood sugar when taken with or before a meal. For me, personally, I can tell you that these drinks have helped me curb my desire for junk food and cokes (which is Alabama for all carbonated beverages). Use that good kind with the “mother” at the bottom (Braggs is my favorite) and you’re getting a powerful dose of probiotics with every sip. I can use any of these reasons and more to encourage you to drink it, but today’s reason is that this Cherry VinTea is absolutely delicious!
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I’ll start in on the recipe in just a second but I need to update y’all on a few goings on in my life first. If you’d like just the recipe, jump ahead to the next picture now and start there.
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You’re still here? Well goodness, thank you, I sure do appreciate it! Let’s chat!
This is spring break for my kids. What does that mean? Well, pretty much that they don’t have school and that’s about it. Now how they use that time, well that is up to them. Katy and her friend, Sara Jane, have been busy blowing bubbles, playing dolls, drawing with sidewalk chalk, and today they are starting an online computer programming class.
Brady has been practicing his snare. He starts in the house and then when I need a break from it, he heads out into the yard for a bit. Eventually, though, he comes back in because he is afraid our neighbors will mistake his constant drumming for machine gun fire and think the neighborhood is under siege. See what a considerate young man I’m raising?
Many of you have been following our ordeal of losing our dog and, literally, thousands rejoiced with us when she came back last Friday so I thought I’d share that news here in case any of you didn’t know.
This past Friday, my husband went to take the dogs out (yes, we have an extra dog now, more on that in a minute). As soon as he opened the door, Sweetie rushed up the back stairs and into the house. He yelled “SWEETIE’S BACK!”. I was sitting in another room at my computer and I just froze, because for nearly two weeks I had held my breath every morning hoping he would say that, so part of me thought I was imagining it.
Then, I heard it a second time “SWEETIE IS BACK! SHE’S HERE”. I heard her little paws clicking on the floor as she ran in search of me and then a tiny black figure burst into my lap. There was a moment of disbelief even then, but such joy at the same time! This sweet puppy, that I had prayed over, fretted over, went through so many possible scenarios in my mind over what could have happened to her, and just begged God to keep her safe no matter where she was, was back.
Our entire house erupted with joy, even from the “new guy”. Sweetie was even affectionate with the whole family, licking faces and wagging her tail. This isn’t her usual behavior. She is affectionate with me but pretty reserved when it comes to everyone else.
We have a special bond because I am the one who went and picked her up from the vet after she was rescued from a puppy mill. At that point, she had never been petted or loved on. She would go completely stiff and look terrified if you even reached to touch her. For the first several weeks, it was just me and her here (with our other dog, Zoey, of course) and I would sit in a chair near her crate and work on my computer, speaking softly and reassuringly to her throughout the day. After about the first week, she came up and sat beside me one day. I let her sit there for a few minutes and then reached down to pet her. WHOOSH she was gone, back into her crate. The next day, she came up again. I didn’t try to pet her but just let her sit beside me, up against my leg as I worked and talked to her. She and I did that dance for a few days until she finally let me pet her without running off. By the second week, she was actually enjoying being loved on and from there this dog has made a remarkable turnaround into being one of the most affectionate pups I have as far as I’m concerned.
Well now, she’s like that with everyone, not just me. Even if she wasn’t though, we’re still thrilled to have her back. It really does feel like the prodigal dog returned!
I took her to the vet and found that what I thought was a rash on her stomach is severe bruising, but her bloodwork was fine and she has no broken bones or signs of pain. Still, under the vet’s suggestion we are giving her an antibiotic and pain pill for a bit just as a precaution. Poor baby was gone twelve days and we may never know what happened to our Sweetie but I can confidently say that everyone involved is glad she’s home!
And now for the other guy… Pick. During one of my many trips to Animal Control to look for Sweetie, this little charmer caught my eye. I took a video of him and came home to post it on my Facebook wall in hopes of someone going and adopting him (you can see it by clicking here). Well wouldn’t you know it, I just couldn’t get him off my mind and so the next morning I told Katy “I think we should go get that dog and foster him. We can let him live here while we see about finding him a home.”
Katy was all for it and we immediately agreed that “Pick” was his name due to the “Pick me Pick me Pick me!” dance he was doing the day before when we met him (in that video).
Of course, Pick did not seem the least bit surprised when we showed up. I believe he knew that he was going to be our dog the moment he saw us. We brought him home and he immediately charmed every single member of our family. Even Brady, who isn’t much of a dog person, kept saying “Ma, I love this dog! We have GOT to keep this dog!”. When Ricky came home, Pick ran to the door in excitement and did his little “Pick Me” dance until Ricky picked him up, where he covered his face with doggie kisses and wagged his tail. Keep in mind, this was the first time Pick had ever met Ricky! My poor husband never stood a chance.
The next day, not even 24 hours after filling out the papers to foster him, we filled out the papers to adopt him. That was Thursday. Sweetie came home Friday. I think this was God’s plan all along.
You can see photos of Pick, Sweetie, and our happy little family all reunited again on my Instagram by clicking here if you’d like.
Sweetie was surprised at meeting Pick the first time and she’s made sure he knows the pecking order, but Pick is perfectly happy with that and he and Sweetie have become friends. Zoey welcomed him to the family by giving him a bath (she is our little mother hen dog and bathes every animal in this house, including the cats), and we are all settled in together, everyone home where they need to be, with one more little soul to love.
I’m so grateful for them all, and especially for you and all of your prayers, understanding, and encouragement while we searched for our missing Sweetie.
And Now, as promised, my VinTea recipe!
To begin with, you need Apple Cider Vinegar (preferably this brand)*, Black Cherry Berry Tea (all the grocery stores I have checked have it), and sweetener. I am using Truvia but you can use Splenda, sugar, or even honey if you like.
*I have found Bragg’s at Krogers and Walmart. It is getting to be pretty mainstream now so you should be able to find it near you. I pay about $5 for this bottle and a bottle lasts me about two weeks with heavy drinking. ~giggles~ Hey y’all, look at me, I’m a heavy drinker! hee hee.
Place two tea bags in a quart jar or coffee cup and pour about a cup or a cup and a half of hot hot water over them. Allow to steep for a good bit, about fifteen minutes. You want this stuff strong!
I just start out with a quart jar because it has plenty of room for me to add ice and my other ingredients, then fill it up the rest of the way with water. Stick a straw in and you’re good to go!
Plus, quart jars are cheap, easy to find, and have a multitude of uses so I always feel like canning jars are a great investment.
After it has brewed toss out your bags and add your sweetener. We want to add this while it is warm because some sweeteners are not as easily dissolved as others.
Stirry! Stirry! Stirry!
Add in your Apple Cider Vinegar.
I’m just adding about two tablespoons, or two good splashes if you will. You can add less or more depending on your tastes but I wouldn’t start out with more than two tablespoons in a quart jar. You don’t want it to taste like you’re drinking Easter egg dye. Don’t worry!! It won’t!!! Seriously!! Oh man, now I’ve just made some you panic. Hang in there, be brave, be strong, be adventurous with me.
This drink is delicious. Honest!
Now, fill your glass up with ice (some of it will melt), add water to get it to the top, pop in a straw and enjoy your VinTea!
- 2 Black Cherry Berry tea bags
- 2 Tablespoons Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar
- Sweetener to taste (I use 3 packs of Truvia. You can use sugar, honey, splenda, etc)
- In quart jar, steep two tea bags in a cup of hot water for fifteen minutes. Remove tea bags.
- Stir in sweetener and apple cider vinegar until sweetener is dissolved.
- Fill glass with ice and water until it reaches the top. Enjoy!
“I don’t mean to interrupt people. I just randomly remember things and get really excited!”
~Unknown 🙂
Yum 
Just tried the tea it’s delicious. Thanks. I have it every afternoon it’s so refreshing.
I am so glad you liked it Agnes!!!
So delicious! I would love to see more of these apple cider drink recipes!
I hope to get some made up soon 🙂
Thanks for sharing this recipe. I just started drinking acv for its health benefits, and this looks like a good recipe to help “the medicine go down!” I look forward to seeing your other acv beverages.
It definitely helps Sheri!!! I hope you get to try it soon!
I just made this recipe, and it’s soooooo good! (Also super-glad that Sweetie is back!)
I am so glad you tried it Margaret!! Thank you , we were over the moon when she showed back up!!
I was hoping that you would answer my question that I sent on March 27 about what store to buy the Dark Cherry Berry tea bags. Please answer if you can. Thanks, Patsy
I got mine at Walmart, but have also seen them at Kroger. Hope that helps.
I’m so glad you posted this tea recipe! I’ve made it almost every day since I read it. My stores around here seem to have the varity of Berry teas and not a box of black cherry alone. But I’ve tried it in several berry flavors and they’ve all been very good!
I am so glad you liked it!!!!
Made this and loved it!! I used Wal-Mart brand apple cider vinegar. I used four tea bags and made two quarts and added the vinegar with the ice. GREAT!! Love your recipes, family stories and uplifting posts. I look forward to your posts every day! Have a blessed Easter.
Your wonderful story re Sweetie and Pick has brought tears to my eyes. This is a very sad day in our household as our beloved Beagle, Holly, has reached the end of her life’s journey. 14 1/2 years of love and joy. We will say goodbye, as a family, this afternoon and rejoice that she was ours even for such a short time. We still have Chase, our yellow Lab, who I affectionately call “The Beast”. He loves his family, but heaven help anyone else. Bye bye my sweet girl. My Holly heart is broken. Prayers for this afternoon please.
Carol I am sure I speak for all keepers of furry children when I say that my heart knows your pain and wishes you peace today and in the days to come. Animals give us such enormous love, without thought of themselves, every moment they’re with us. It almost feels like they know their lives will be relatively short so they bestow enough love to last us long after they leave us. It sounds like your Holly was a treasure. Memories of her will stay with you and warm your heart for years to come.
Take very gentle loving care of your Holly heart.
Cannot wait to try this tea!! Can you tell me what changes you have noticed in yourself since you began drinking this tea?? Thnx!
I’m not Christy, but I will tell you I’ve used the Bragg’s vinegar for a few months. I get frequent migraine headaches (at least two or three a month), and I’ve not had a headache in two months!! That’s huge! Can’t say for certain if it’s the vinegar, but I haven’t done anything else differently. It also seems to have curbed my hunger, and it’s helped with digestion. (More regular. I know, TMI). It’s helped my husband’s heartburn, too.
I made the black cherry tea with the apple cider in it and my husband and I both love it. Hope. You put more recipes using apple cider. I also made the strawberry ream cheese pie and it was heavenly.
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Thank you so much Sherry, I am so glad you are enjoying the recipes!!!
Thank you so much for posting this!! My husband is able to drink his acv in plain water and I can NOT do that. Just made it this morning with very berry herbal tea and NuStevia for sweetener. Is it the best drink I’ve ever had? No, but it is pretty tasty and I’ll be able to get all the benefits. It will be very refreshing on these warm Bama days. 🙂 Thank you!!
i was so very pleased sweetie came home! And also that pick found a family home with you. AlthoughLove is not rationed but you seem to have plenty in your home. That’s because you know the love and grace of God. May he bless you and your growing family people and dogs. I lost one of my dogs to heaven 2 weeks ago, I rescued her starved and beaten 21years ago. Our constant companion ever since. Been to the rescue centre to get a new companion for our 7 year old retriever. But it was a little too soon. We will try again when the kids go back to school next week. I share your joy at sweeties return. Your prayers worked. When a mother prays God listens. X
Thank you so much for your sweet thoughts and prayers Eileen. I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I am heart-broken for you and will be praying for healing and help in finding you the right companion for your retriever and family.
I am utterly fascinated by this tea recipe! When I saw the title, silly me thought VinTea = Vintage Tea. Like an old fashioned recipe? I will try to find the Black Cherry Berry tea at the store this weekend, but I know they sell Bragg’s apple cider vinegar.
Congratulations on Sweetie coming back and on getting Pick! 3 dogs, wow 🙂 Sounds like it worked out great, is Sweetie feeling better now? Trying not to think about what caused the bruising. We just got our first dog 2 1/2 weeks ago. She turns 11 weeks tomorrow! It’s weird, it feels like we’ve had her for a really long time, but it hasn’t even been a month. As a puppy, she of course requires a ton of time and care and can be frustrating, but I’m being honest when I say my quality of life has really improved since we got her. I’m not sure why exactly, but it has! Before I even read your post, I thought how nice it would be to make this iced tea and drink it out on the porch while my girl runs around the yard this spring and summer. I’ll definitely have to make it!
My husband and I are diabetics, and I don’t use any kind of sweeteners, real or artificial, can this be made without sweetener?
It sure can, it’ll just picker your mouth up a bit 🙂
I got my Bragg’s apple cider vinegar at Dillon’s (Kroger) in the health food area, not the regular vinegar aisle. I also was able to find the exact tea bags at that same store. I do not have any mason jars so I used a look-alike, plastic, insulated, Aladdin mason jar cup I had. It is only a 16oz size so I used two teabags, two packs of truvia and three teaspoons of acv. Turned out delicious 🙂 Thank you. I was taking the ACV not mixed with anything each morning and though I took it, it was horrible to me and I wanted a recipe to put it in so this could not have come at a better time.
Thanks so much for ths recipe! I’m already addicted. My mom-in-love gave me a bottle of Bragg’s and said to take a shot glass every morning. Well, Gyaaahh! Awful stuff if you take it straight! I made your VinTea with raspberry-pomegranite tea (couldn’t find the cherry either), and it’s delish! I’ve tried several different sweeteners, and I like honey the best. It just goes so well with tea. I can now enjoy the benefits my mom-in-love “Braggs” about without doing the sour pucker dance all over my kitchen. Thanks, Christy!
Made two batches this morning. One Black Cherry and another with Wild Berry Zinger (bought a sampler box). Wild Berry Zinger was my favorite of the 2. Made it with stevia but will try honey next time. The stevia didn’t “sweeten” it up enough. Looking forward to try the other teas.
Ohhh, I bet the Wild Berry Zinger was good!!! I need to try it!!
This is addicting! I’ve made it with several different flavored teas and all are good. I drink this all day and love it. Thank you, Christy, for sharing this recipe!!
I am so glad to hear that you like it Melise!!!
My favorite flavor tea to use for this so far is red zinger.
🙂
I just tried this a couple of weeks ago and now am totally addicted. Over the Memorial Day weekend several relatives tried it, liked it, but said they missed the fizz. My husband was one of these. So yesterday I bought some club soda and I left a little room in the glass with the tea and ice and added some soda. Now he loves it. I still like mine without the fizz. I can’t keep it made up fast enough. BTW, I put a large cup under my Keurig and add the hot water that way. You can slide out the base a little to make sure the water goes in the cup correctly.
I tried this today with Peach and its really nice and refreshing.
I can see this being my go to morning tea. (cheaper than McD and better for me too).
I am so glad you liked it Dawn!!!
Just tried this today with the Wild Berry Zinger. I only used 1 tablespoon of ACV in it, but it’s still a bit to “pickley” for me. I think I’ll have to skip this one.
I can’t wait to try this! I also wanted to say that I never get tired of your “Pick” stories and pictures! He’s got as much personality as you, Christy!
I hope you enjoy it Rhonda!! He is definitely full of personality, we are just crazy about him!
Man, this is good stuff! I don’t even have a Coke every day now. I’ve got my mom and husband drinking it now, too. I only do 1 tablespoon of Braggs because I’m a lightweight. 😉 I just made a jar using the blueberry tea out of the sampler box and it is my new favorite flavor, followed by raspberry zinger. Thanks for sharing and I’m looking forward to your other Vintea recipes.
I am so glad you like it Julie!!!
Thanks for the recipe! It is delicious. I may try other flavors, too.
So glad you liked it Carol!!!
I have used every flavor in the celestial seasonings fruit tea box. Delish! I also double the recipe and use it as a concentrate. Quick fix for the day.
That’s just what I was going to ask, if other flavors work as well. I don’t have the black cherry one but have other flavors on hand.
I use all sorts of flavors and have yet to find one I don’t love 🙂 Peach is my absolute favorite though.
Hi Christy: I purchased the vinegar and tea to make this. Do you stir the sediment back into the vinegar before you use in the recipe or do you leave the “mother” stuff at the bottom.
Thank you kindly!
I usually shake my bottle a bit before using but either way is totally fine 🙂
Hi!
My husband had severe gout and I’ve had osteoarthritis 45 years. In my teens, my stepmom taught me the benefits of ACV for LOTS of things. I’d take a teacup filed halfway with ACV,the rest of the way with hot water (same temp as coffee) and a healthy glob of raw local honey, every morning. I’ve probably taken as total of 6 to 12 individual tablets that were Rx in all those years. But the REAL ‘miracle’ drink evolved when we were on the Smokies and my husband forgot his gout meds. We went into a health food store we stumbled on and the sweet lady there heard us talking, saying ‘I don’t mean to interrupt but my husband had it real bad. Now he drinks equal parts BRAGG’S ACV, hot water, raw honey, AND pure cherry juice. She said that real, pure cherry nice is kind of expensive but nowhere near what his Rx was AND he’d been got free for a number of years. My husband and I both tried it. After a while, he didn’t get it anymore either, plus it helped my arthritis.
I’m liking forward to seeing more of your teas and other users for ACV.
Oh wow. I have a friend who is dealing with gout issues so I will pass this information on today! Thank you so much!
Interesting! I’m an avid iced tea drinker. This looks like the ideal beverage. I am diabetic with blood pressure issues as well as cholesterol issues. Love finding healthy ideas to boost my health!
Making this for the first time today. Looking forward to tasting it.
I hope you like it Beth, let me know what you think!!
Christy, This sounds like a refreshing drink. I will have to look for the tea . I do have different teas that are a berry tea. I may try also.
My question is, I have some fruit drinks like Cranberry & Raspberry. Just wonder if I could do this with them? I don’t drink a lot of the juice but I bought it for a family gathering and now I’m left two containers of juice.
Absolutely, it’s wonderful with juice! 🙂
Save a glass for me. That sounds so good.
Will do Jackie!!
Did anyone notice any weight loss because they say apple cider vinegar is suppose to help with weight loss.
I drink ACV everyday and it has gotten rid of my heartburn. I mix a teaspoon of ACV with a cold glass of water (8oz). My husband now drinks it too and has gotten the same benefits. So wonderful that you have posted this recipe for apple cider vinegar.
Hey Roberta! That is great to hear. I appreciate you letting us know and chiming in. This will be helpful to others, too!