This warm lemon, cinnamon and apple cider vinegar drink with a pinch of cayenne is a spicy, tangy way to start the day. It’s often shared online as a “Chinese detox drink for a flat belly,” but it isn’t a traditional Chinese remedy, and no drink can flatten your belly or cleanse your blood.
We’ve updated the recipe to be honest about what it is: a warming, low-calorie morning drink you can enjoy if you like bold flavors.
Spicy Lemon Cinnamon Morning Drink Recipe
Ingredients (1 serving)
- 1 cup (250 ml) hot water (not boiling)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1–2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (preferably Ceylon)
- A small pinch of cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon honey (optional)
Instructions
- Add the lemon juice, apple cider vinegar and cinnamon to a large mug.
- Pour in the hot water and stir well.
- Let it cool slightly, then stir in the honey if using.
- Sprinkle a small pinch of cayenne on top and stir before drinking.
What This Drink Can and Can’t Do
It can: give you a warm, flavorful, low-calorie drink to replace a sugary one, and help you get some fluid in the morning.
It can’t: burn belly fat, cleanse your blood or remove toxins. Your liver and kidneys do that, and no single food targets fat in one area.
Good to Know
- Always dilute apple cider vinegar. Undiluted vinegar can damage tooth enamel and irritate your throat.
- Reflux or stomach ulcers: lemon, vinegar and cayenne can all trigger heartburn. Skip this drink or try it with food, and avoid it right before bed.
- Medication: if you take diabetes medication, insulin or diuretics, ask your doctor before drinking apple cider vinegar daily.
- Cinnamon: common cassia cinnamon contains coumarin, which in large daily amounts can affect the liver. Ceylon cinnamon contains very little.
- Protect your teeth: use a straw, rinse with water afterward and wait about an hour before brushing.
More Warm Drinks
- Apple Cider Vinegar Lemon Drink: What It Really Does
- Warm Lemon Cinnamon Bedtime Drink
- Lemon Ginger Morning Drink
Save this recipe to your Pinterest board for chilly mornings!