Turmeric and Apple Cider Vinegar Drink: Recipe, Benefits & What Science Says

A turmeric and apple cider vinegar drink combines two ingredients that have become staples of the wellness world.

Apple cider vinegar brings sharp acidity and acetic acid.

Turmeric brings its distinctive golden color and naturally occurring curcuminoids, including curcumin.

Together, they make a bold drink that can be mixed with water and optionally balanced with honey, lemon, or ginger.

But does combining turmeric and ACV actually make the drink healthier?

Let's separate what has been researched from what the internet has invented.

Turmeric and Apple Cider Vinegar Drink Recipe

Ingredients

• 8–12 ounces water
• 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 teaspoon honey, optional
• Squeeze of fresh lemon, optional
• Small pinch of black pepper, optional
• Ice, optional

Directions

1. Add the turmeric to a glass.
2. Pour in the water and stir thoroughly.
3. Add the apple cider vinegar.
4. Add honey or lemon if desired.
5. Stir again and drink.

Turmeric doesn't dissolve completely in water, so some settling is normal. Give the drink another stir if the turmeric begins collecting at the bottom.

If you've never consumed diluted ACV before, start with 1 teaspoon instead of a full tablespoon.

What Does Turmeric and Apple Cider Vinegar Taste Like?

It's strong.

Apple cider vinegar is sharp, sour, and fermented.

Turmeric is earthy, slightly bitter, and peppery.

Combining them creates a drink with a noticeably more savory flavor than an ACV drink made with fruit juice or honey.

That's why many people add a small amount of honey, lemon, or ginger.

For other ideas, see our guide to six easy Fairchild's Apple Cider Vinegar recipes.

Potential Benefits of a Turmeric and Apple Cider Vinegar Drink

The key thing to understand is that turmeric and apple cider vinegar have largely been researched separately.

There isn't strong clinical evidence demonstrating that mixing turmeric and ACV creates an entirely new or synergistic health effect.

So let's look at each ingredient.

1. Turmeric Contains Curcumin

Turmeric comes from the plant Curcuma longa.

Its characteristic yellow-orange color comes from compounds known as curcuminoids. Curcumin is the best known and most extensively researched of these compounds.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health notes that turmeric and curcumin have been studied for several conditions, but also emphasizes that there isn't enough evidence to definitively conclude that oral turmeric or curcumin is beneficial for most health conditions for which it is promoted.

That's an important distinction.

Interesting research isn't the same thing as proof of a cure.

Read the NCCIH overview of turmeric.

2. Turmeric Has Been Studied for Inflammation

Curcumin has attracted considerable research attention because of its biological activity.

Laboratory and human studies have examined its relationship with inflammatory processes, metabolic health, joint discomfort, and other conditions.

However, NCCIH describes the clinical evidence for turmeric supplementation in inflammatory conditions as insufficient to make broad treatment claims.

So saying turmeric is being researched for inflammation is accurate.

Saying this turmeric-ACV drink “eliminates inflammation” is not.

NCCIH: Turmeric and Inflammation Research.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar Has Been Studied for Blood Sugar

Apple cider vinegar has a separate body of research.

A 2023 randomized clinical trial involving people with type 2 diabetes reported improvements in several glucose and lipid measurements during daily ACV consumption. The authors noted that larger and longer studies are still needed.

Read the clinical trial on PubMed.

A systematic review and meta-analysis has also examined ACV in relation to glycemic and lipid measures.

Read the review on PubMed.

Again, this does not turn ACV into diabetes medication.

People taking medication that affects blood glucose should not substitute vinegar for established medical treatment.

4. The Drink Can Be a Low-Sugar Beverage

A basic turmeric and ACV drink made with water contains no need for large amounts of added sugar.

That's useful for someone who simply wants a strongly flavored beverage without drinking soda or another heavily sweetened drink.

Honey is completely optional.

If you use it, a teaspoon is usually enough to soften the aggressive combination of turmeric and vinegar.

Does Turmeric and Apple Cider Vinegar Help With Weight Loss?

This combination gets marketed heavily for weight loss.

The evidence is much less dramatic.

Apple cider vinegar has been investigated in relation to body weight and metabolic measures, but there is no credible evidence that adding turmeric suddenly transforms ACV into a powerful fat-burning beverage.

And it certainly doesn't selectively burn abdominal fat.

If weight loss is the goal, the fundamentals still dominate:

• Overall calorie intake
• Food quality
• Protein and fiber
• Exercise and daily activity
• Sleep
• Long-term consistency

A turmeric-ACV drink can fit inside that lifestyle.

It isn't a substitute for it.

Does Turmeric and Apple Cider Vinegar “Detox” Your Body?

There is no convincing clinical evidence that this combination performs a special detoxification process.

Your body already has organs—including the liver and kidneys—that perform critical roles in processing and eliminating substances.

The drink doesn't need a detox claim to be worthwhile.

It's simply a combination of turmeric, diluted apple cider vinegar, and water.

What About Digestion?

Both turmeric and apple cider vinegar are frequently promoted online for digestion.

But broad claims like “repairs your gut” or “heals your digestive system” go well beyond the available evidence.

In fact, both ingredients can cause digestive discomfort in some people.

NCCIH notes that oral turmeric can cause side effects including stomach upset, acid reflux, nausea, diarrhea, or constipation.

Apple cider vinegar's acidity may also be uncomfortable for people who are particularly sensitive to acidic foods or beverages.

Listen to your body instead of assuming discomfort means the drink is “working.”

Should You Add Black Pepper?

You'll often see turmeric recipes containing black pepper.

Black pepper contains piperine, and piperine has been studied for its ability to affect curcumin bioavailability.

For a simple culinary drink, however, you don't need to turn your kitchen into a supplement laboratory.

If you like the flavor, add a very small pinch.

If not, skip it.

What Is the Best Apple Cider Vinegar for a Turmeric Drink?

Any food-grade apple cider vinegar can work.

For someone who wants a strong, traditional raw ACV, our preferred option is Fairchild's Organic Apple Cider Vinegar.

Fairchild's is labeled:

• Organic
• Raw and unfiltered
• Unpasteurized
• With the Mother
• Full strength
• No water added

Its bold ACV flavor stands up well to turmeric, ginger, honey, and other strongly flavored ingredients.

Explore the Fairchild's Apple Cider Vinegar collection.

If you're unsure what “raw,” “unfiltered,” and “the Mother” actually mean, read our guide to raw apple cider vinegar with the Mother.

Turmeric ACV Drink Variations

Turmeric, Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey

Add about 1 teaspoon of honey.

The sweetness helps balance both the bitterness of turmeric and the acidity of ACV.

Turmeric, Apple Cider Vinegar and Lemon

Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for a brighter, more citrus-forward drink.

Turmeric, Apple Cider Vinegar and Ginger

Add freshly grated ginger for an even spicier version.

Turmeric, ACV, Honey and Ginger

Combine:

• Water
• ACV
• Turmeric
• Ginger
• Honey

This creates a homemade drink similar in concept to many commercial wellness shots.

AppleCiderVinegar.com also carries The Twisted Shot Organic Apple Cider Vinegar Wellness Shots, which combine ACV with turmeric, ginger, honey, cinnamon, and cayenne.

When Should You Drink Turmeric and Apple Cider Vinegar?

There's no established magic time.

You can drink it:

• In the morning
• Around a meal
• In the afternoon
• Whenever it comfortably fits your routine

You don't need to drink it on an empty stomach for it to “work.”

If the acidity bothers your stomach when consumed without food, drinking it around a meal may be more comfortable.

Can You Drink Turmeric and Apple Cider Vinegar Every Day?

Some people incorporate culinary amounts of turmeric and diluted ACV into their regular diets.

But more is not necessarily better.

NCCIH notes that conventionally formulated oral turmeric or curcumin is likely safe in recommended amounts for periods of two to three months, but turmeric may cause gastrointestinal side effects and certain concentrated or enhanced-bioavailability curcumin products have been associated with liver injury.

Those concentrated supplements aren't equivalent to sprinkling a small amount of turmeric into a drink, but it's another reason not to assume that “natural” means unlimited quantities are harmless.

Read NCCIH's turmeric safety information.

Don't Drink Apple Cider Vinegar Straight

ACV should be diluted.

Vinegar is acidic, and repeatedly bathing your teeth in acidic beverages isn't a great idea.

If you regularly drink acidic beverages:

• Dilute the ACV.
• Don't swish it around your mouth.
• Avoid sipping it continuously for hours.
• Rinse your mouth with plain water afterward.
• Stop if it consistently causes irritation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much turmeric should I put in apple cider vinegar?

For a simple drink, ¼ teaspoon of ground turmeric in 8–12 ounces of water is a practical starting point.

You don't need enormous amounts.

How much apple cider vinegar should I use?

Start with 1 teaspoon of ACV if you're new to it.

People accustomed to diluted ACV may use around 1 tablespoon in a large glass of water.

Can you mix turmeric and apple cider vinegar together?

Yes.

Turmeric and apple cider vinegar can be mixed together in water. Because ground turmeric doesn't fully dissolve, stir the drink occasionally.

Can I add honey?

Absolutely.

A teaspoon of honey makes the earthy, acidic drink considerably easier to enjoy.

Is turmeric and apple cider vinegar good for inflammation?

Turmeric and its constituent curcumin have been studied in relation to inflammatory processes, but current evidence does not justify claiming that a turmeric-and-ACV drink treats inflammatory diseases.

Does turmeric and apple cider vinegar burn belly fat?

There is no good evidence that this combination selectively burns belly fat.

Is this a detox drink?

It's better described as a turmeric and ACV drink than as a “detox.”

There isn't convincing evidence that the mixture uniquely detoxifies the human body.

The Bottom Line

A turmeric and apple cider vinegar drink is a simple way to combine the sharp flavor of ACV with the earthy taste of turmeric.

A basic recipe is:

8–12 ounces water + 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar + ¼ teaspoon turmeric.

Add a small amount of honey, lemon, or ginger if you want more flavor.

Both turmeric and ACV have interesting research behind them individually.

What hasn't been demonstrated is that combining them creates a miracle detox, fat burner, or treatment for disease.

That's exactly how we approach ACV at AppleCiderVinegar.com: separate legitimate evidence from hype.

Explore The ACV Library for more ACV recipes, research, brand guides, and answers.

Sources

• AppleCiderVinegar.com — Six Easy Fairchild's ACV Recipes
• AppleCiderVinegar.com — What Is Raw Apple Cider Vinegar With the Mother?
• NCCIH — Turmeric: Usefulness and Safety
• NCCIH — Turmeric and Inflammation Research
• PubMed — Randomized Clinical Trial of Apple Cider Vinegar
• PubMed — ACV Glycemic and Lipid Meta-analysis