Can an Apple Cider Hot Toddy Actually Help With Cold or Flu Symptoms?

A hot toddy is traditionally made with hot water, lemon, honey, and a splash of brown liquor, and has long been treated as a folk remedy for colds and sore throats.

Adding apple cider to your hot toddy, often spiced with cinnamon or cloves, is the newest concoction said to fight off a cold. Apple cider contains antioxidants that people claim can support your immune system, but the alcohol may have the opposite effect.

Apple Cider and Honey May Offer Some Benefits

Apple cider itself offers some nutritional value. It contains polyphenols, antioxidant plant compounds that help neutralize free radicals, which play a role in inflammation and immune function, said Kristen Carli, MS, RD, a registered dietitian at WOWMD.

Honey, a common addition to hot toddies, may provide additional support. “If you add honey, you may also receive the antimicrobial benefits as well,” Carli said. Honey may help reduce cough frequency and severity, particularly at night.

“Although some of the ingredients of hot toddy (such as honey) may hold health benefits, it doesn’t mean that this drink should be a part of your holiday health routine,” said Staci Gulbin, MS, MEd, RDN, a registered dietitian.

Warm Drinks Can Help Soothe a Sore Throat

Elements of the drink may help you feel better when you’re sick.

“While not exactly an immune-boosting drink, the warm temperature of a hot toddy may soothe symptoms of a sore throat,” said Carli. “The warmth may promote relaxation, ease throat irritation, and improve congestion.”

Warm beverages can help thin mucus and encourage drainage, which may temporarily ease sinus pressure.

Alcohol May Suppress the Immune System

However, the alcohol in a hot toddy can complicate things.

Alcohol can temporarily suppress immune activity and interfere with sleep, another key pillar of immune health. While an occasional small serving is unlikely to significantly weaken your defenses, it doesn’t actively support them either.

In other words, an apple cider hot toddy won’t prevent colds or flu, and it’s not a substitute for evidence-based immune supports like adequate sleep, nutrition, regular exercise, and vaccination.

Safety Considerations

Alcohol in apple cider hot toddies can worsen dehydration, disrupt sleep, and irritate the digestive tract. It may also interact with medications commonly taken during illness, such as acetaminophen or sleep aids.

Sugar content is another consideration. Apple cider and honey both contain natural sugars, which are fine in moderation. But in larger amounts, they can contribute to blood sugar swings and inflammation without offering added immune benefits.

For children, pregnant people, or anyone avoiding alcohol, a non-alcoholic hot apple cider with honey and spices offers a safer alternative with similar comfort benefits.