Autumn is the season of harvest for all sorts of plants – echinacea, elderberries, and, of course, apples! We source our apples and raw apple cider vinegar found in our zero-calorie, zero-added sugar FIRE Raw Apple Cider Tonic from a co-op of family owned farms and apple orchards. We’re here to bring you a step-by-step guide on how our favorite apple orchards use sustainable, traditional methods to turn apples into raw apple cider vinegar!
How is raw apple cider vinegar made?
First, the whole apple fruit is used by the orchard, ensuring zero waste in the process of making the raw apple cider vinegar. The unused scraps of the apples are given to animals or composted. After the ripest apples are harvested, they are pressed into juice. No sugar or preservatives are added.
The juice is then transferred to barrels or glass jars where yeast is added immediately, then the mixture is sealed off to any outside air and left to ferment. This process usually takes between two and three weeks, and the end result produces apple cider!
To transition the cider into cider vinegar, the airlock is opened and the cider mixture decanted. Following this, a substance known as “Mother of Vinegar” is added to begin the process of turning alcohol into acetic acid. When the vinegar has reached the desired level of acidity, a third of it is bottled unfiltered before the barrel or jar is refilled with cider to begin the process again.
Is raw apple cider vinegar beneficial to your health?
Yes! Studies have shown that raw apple cider vinegar aids in weight loss, reducing cholesterol, and improving symptoms of diabetes. Other studies suggest that for people with diabetes, consuming raw apple cider vinegar may reduce blood sugar levels. However, if you have diabetes, please consult with your doctor before drinking raw ACV.
Additionally, raw apple cider vinegar contains minerals and nutrients such as magnesium, iron, phosphorus, manganese, amino acids, and antioxidants that promote full-body health. Fermented foods such as raw ACV contain beneficial bacteria that support your gut microbiome to improve digestion, immunity, and even mental health.
Due to its antibacterial and antifungal qualities, apple cider vinegar also makes a fantastic skin toner to help keep your face free of acne. Our farmers even mix some of their vinegar with water to improve the skin health of their animals!
Andi Lynn’s FIRE Raw Apple Cider Tonic contains all the health benefits of freshly-harvested, in-season apple cider vinegar, with the added flavors and benefits of vegetables such as garlic, turmeric, ginger, and more. These vegetables and herbs are locally sourced and sustainably grown, and are well-used in traditional medicine for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities.
Learn more about the tasty recipes you can make with our FIRE cider tonic to boost your immune system and gut health! Click here for our FIRE deviled egg recipe, or here for a tasty, healthy Louisiana-style virgin Bloody Mary!