What Can You Mix Apple Cider Vinegar With to Make it Taste Better?

October 29, 2025 •

4 min read

According to a 2023 BBC article, apple cider vinegar has shown some antimicrobial effects and the potential to aid in lowering blood sugar. However, its sharp, acidic taste can be a major deterrent for many, making it difficult to incorporate into a daily routine. Learning what can you mix apple cider vinegar with to make it taste better is the key to enjoying its health benefits without the unpleasant flavor.

Quick Summary

This guide provides numerous simple and effective methods for improving the flavor of apple cider vinegar (ACV) using common ingredients. Learn how to combine ACV with natural sweeteners, fruit juices, herbs, and spices to create delicious tonics, teas, and mocktails. Find solutions to make your daily ACV consumption palatable.

Key Points

Add Natural Sweeteners: Balance the tartness of ACV with honey, maple syrup, or stevia for a smoother, more pleasant taste.
Infuse with Fruit: Mix ACV with fresh fruit juices like orange or pineapple, or muddled berries, to naturally sweeten and flavor your drink.
Incorporate Spices: Warm spices like ginger, cinnamon, and turmeric can complement ACV's flavor while adding complexity and additional health benefits.
Try Carbonation: Using sparkling water or club soda creates a fizzy, refreshing drink that can distract from the strong vinegar taste.
Blend into Smoothies: Mask ACV's flavor entirely by adding it to a fruit-and-vegetable-packed smoothie.
Make Salad Dressings: Use ACV in place of other vinegars for a tangy salad dressing that incorporates it into a savory meal.
Always Dilute: To protect your tooth enamel and esophagus, always dilute apple cider vinegar in water or another liquid before consuming.

Sweeten the Deal: Natural Ingredients to Mask the Tartness

One of the most straightforward ways to combat apple cider vinegar's potent flavor is by adding a natural sweetener. This helps to balance the tartness, making the drink much more palatable. A classic and effective combination is the ACV, honey, and lemon tonic, which creates a soothing and flavorful beverage.

Honey: A small amount of honey or maple syrup can drastically improve the flavor. Manuka honey is a particularly good choice due to its additional antimicrobial properties. The sweetness helps to counteract the sharpness of the acetic acid.

Maple Syrup: For a vegan alternative, maple syrup works just as well. It provides a rich, sweet flavor that pairs nicely with the tartness. Maple syrup also contains essential minerals like manganese and zinc.

Stevia or Monk Fruit: For those watching their sugar intake, natural sugar substitutes like stevia or monk fruit can provide the needed sweetness without the extra calories. A few drops are often enough to make a significant difference.

Recipe: Classic ACV & Honey Tonic

1 tablespoon raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar
1-2 teaspoons raw honey or maple syrup
8-10 ounces warm water
A squeeze of fresh lemon juice

Combine all ingredients and stir until the honey is dissolved. This is a simple and comforting drink, especially on a chilly day.

Fruitful Combinations: Adding Juice and Muddled Berries

Incorporating fruit juices or whole fruits is an excellent strategy to infuse flavor and vitamins into your ACV drink. The natural sugars in fruit help to make the tonic more enjoyable, while their vibrant flavors can complement the apple base of the vinegar.

Berries: Muddling fresh or frozen berries like raspberries or blackberries into your drink releases natural juices that taste delicious with ACV. Top with sparkling water for a fizzy, flavorful experience.
Orange or Pineapple Juice: For a tropical twist, mix ACV with a splash of orange or pineapple juice. The sweetness and tanginess of these juices overpower the vinegar's intensity while adding a refreshing quality.
Lemon or Lime: Just like in the classic tonic, a simple squeeze of lemon or lime juice can brighten the flavor profile and add a dose of vitamin C.

Recipe: Sparkling Berry ACV Mocktail

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
¼ cup mixed berries (muddled)
6-8 ounces sparkling water or club soda
Fresh mint leaves for garnish

Muddle the berries in a glass. Add ACV and ice. Top with sparkling water and garnish with mint for a sophisticated, healthy mocktail.

Spice Up Your Life: Warming Flavors

For those who prefer a less sweet and more complex flavor, adding spices can be a game-changer. The warming notes of spices can create a soothing experience and provide additional health benefits.

Ginger: Freshly grated ginger can add a powerful, pungent flavor that complements the tartness of ACV. It's also well-known for its digestive benefits.
Cinnamon: A dash of cinnamon not only adds a warm, spicy flavor but also contains antioxidants. It pairs perfectly with the apple notes, especially in a warm drink.
Turmeric: Known for its anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric can be mixed with ACV, honey, and a pinch of black pepper for enhanced absorption and an earthy, potent tonic.

Compare Your Options: Flavor Combinations at a Glance

To help you decide on your favorite new ACV mix, here is a comparison of different ingredient types and their taste profiles.


Mixing Ingredient	Taste Profile	Best For...	Additional Benefits
Honey / Maple Syrup	Sweet and smooth	Beginners, warm tonics	Natural sweetness, soothing effect
Lemon / Lime Juice	Bright and zesty	Refreshing tonics, detox drinks	Vitamin C boost
Berries (muddled)	Fruity, sweet, tart	Sparkling mocktails	Antioxidants, natural color
Ginger	Spicy, warming	Morning shots, digestive tonics	Aids digestion
Cinnamon	Warm, aromatic	Hot or cold apple-flavored drinks	Antioxidant properties
Sparkling Water	Effervescent, fizzy	Refreshing substitutes for soda	Distracts from vinegar taste

Savory Surprises: Incorporating ACV into Meals

Drinking ACV isn't the only way to consume it. Adding it to food is a simple and delicious method to get the benefits without the intense taste. The vinegar's acidity can be a fantastic addition to savory dishes, dressings, and marinades.

Salad Dressings: Swap your usual vinegar for ACV in a vinaigrette. A simple mix of ACV, extra virgin olive oil, and mustard can create a zesty and healthy dressing.
Marinades: Use ACV to tenderize meats and vegetables while adding a tangy flavor. It can work well in marinades for chicken, pork, or tofu.
Sauerkraut and Pickles: ACV is a natural for fermented foods. It can be used to make quick refrigerator pickles or added to homemade sauerkraut, which already has a naturally tart flavor profile.
Smoothies: Mask the flavor of ACV by adding a tablespoon to a fruit-heavy smoothie. The sweetness of fruits like bananas, apples, or berries can completely hide the vinegar taste, making it an easy addition to your morning routine.

Conclusion

Making apple cider vinegar taste better is not only possible but can also be an enjoyable creative process. By experimenting with natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup, infusing with fresh fruits such as berries or lemon, or adding warming spices like ginger and cinnamon, you can transform a challenging daily habit into a delightful one. For those who dislike the drink format entirely, incorporating ACV into salad dressings, marinades, or smoothies offers a seamless way to reap its health benefits without ever tasting it directly. Remember to always dilute ACV to protect your tooth enamel and esophagus, and to start with small doses as your body adjusts. With so many delicious options available, there's no reason to dread your daily tonic. For more ideas on how to use ACV in your daily routine, consider exploring various natural food blogs and recipe websites that cater to health-conscious cooking.

Optional Outbound Link

For further reading and additional recipes on how to use ACV in cooking, see the guides at Healthy Recipes 101.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most effective way to mask the taste is by mixing ACV with a combination of a natural sweetener (like honey or maple syrup) and a flavorful fruit juice (like orange, pineapple, or lemon). Adding warm spices like ginger or cinnamon can also help.

Yes, mixing apple cider vinegar with fruit juice is an excellent way to improve its taste. Sweet fruit juices like apple, pineapple, or orange can easily overpower the vinegar's tartness, making it more palatable.

Mixing ACV with honey creates a smoother, more pleasant-tasting tonic. Honey can help mellow the vinegar's intense flavor. Some proponents believe this combination can offer additional benefits for digestion and immune support.

No, it is highly recommended to always dilute apple cider vinegar with water or another liquid before drinking. Its high acidity can damage tooth enamel and irritate your throat and esophagus if consumed undiluted.

You can add ACV to homemade salad dressings, marinades, or use it in recipes for quick-pickled vegetables. A tablespoon can also be blended into a smoothie with strong fruit flavors to hide the taste completely.

Yes, adding a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to warm or hot water with a tea bag and some honey can create a soothing, flavorful beverage. Peppermint or ginger tea can work particularly well with ACV.

Water is the most common and simplest liquid for mixing. For better taste, options include fruit juice, herbal tea, or sparkling water. The best choice depends on personal flavor preference.